The devastating consequences of asbestos exposure

When a person falls ill, sometimes there is no explanation for what has caused an illness. But in other circumstances, the cause can be linked back to exposure to a toxic substance. This is often the case when it comes to asbestos-related illnesses, including asbestosis and mesothelioma. Victims of these conditions have the right to pursue a personal injury claim against the party or parties responsible for the exposure.

Asbestos is a toxic fiber that can easily be inhaled when it is disturbed and kicked up into an airborne dust. Often, victims of asbestos illnesses worked in areas where products that contain asbestos (which can include insulation, floor tiles, drywall, house paint and even brake pads) were manufactured or used on a regular basis. It can take as little as one month of exposure for asbestos to cause irreparable damage to a person’s health.

Health problems associated with asbestos exposure can be devastating. Not only can cancers like mesothelioma be quite aggressive, they can also lay dormant in a person’s body for decades before symptoms can be identified. By that point, treatment may no longer be effective and a person may only have a matter of months to live.

Because victims of asbestos-related diseases were often exposed to asbestos decades before a diagnosis is ever confirmed, there may be some challenges in tracing the source of exposure. However, with legal support and the help of an experienced attorney familiar with asbestos illnesses, victims and their families can pursue the compensation to which they may be entitled.

Source: Social Work Helper, “Mesothelioma: Understanding the Effects on Health,” Lisa Coleman, Jan. 8, 2014