North Carolina Asbestosis Lawyer

North Carolina Asbestosis Attorney

Asbestosis is a permanent condition that results from long-term exposure to asbestos fibers, which can happen whenever asbestos insulation is disturbed, broken, drilled into, or allowed to rot away. The end result can be a painful illness for those who inhale these fibers. Conditions like asbestosis and mesothelioma can only come about from prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers, and you may be owed compensation. A North Carolina asbestosis lawyer who knows the asbestos exposure claims process can help.

Where Does Asbestosis Come From?

Asbestosis is an aggressive lung disease that’s caused by decades of prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers. Despite asbestos no longer being a major ingredient in American insulation products, it was prevalent in thousands of homes, buildings, and factories throughout the 20th century, according to government sources. Many older buildings still have asbestos in them, which makes it a problem today.

Asbestosis can range in severity. It depends largely on how much asbestos fiber you may have inhaled over time as a result of your workplace, your home, or the areas you frequently visited throughout your life. Even living with someone who has dealt with asbestos on a daily basis could make you susceptible to asbestos-related health conditions. It can take anywhere from 10 to 20 years for asbestosis to develop in your body. In some cases, it might take even longer.

While these asbestos fibers may be damaging your lungs beyond repair, you may not even be aware that anything is happening until it is far too late to minimize the damage. An experienced asbestosis lawyer can help you develop a timeline of when you may have been exposed and determine who exactly is to blame for your current condition. At that point, you can start working on a claim.

For asbestosis to develop in your body, you must inhale the microscopic fibers present in asbestos dust that falls from disturbed asbestos. The fibers may then attach themselves to small air sacs in your lungs called alveoli. While in your alveoli, the fibers will cause persistent irritation to your lungs, which will eventually become inflamed. The end result is a case of asbestosis, which is a progressive disease that cannot be eradicated.

What Are the Symptoms of Asbestosis?

The symptoms of asbestosis can vary depending on the severity of the condition at hand, and these symptoms may not show up until decades after your initial bout of asbestos fiber inhalation. Still, if you start to develop any of the following symptoms, you should reach out to a medical professional as soon as you can:

• Your fingertips start clubbing. In these cases, your fingertips may start to appear rounder than they usually do, and they may start to spread out.
• You suffer shortness of breath.
• You experience a constant cough.
• You feel a pain in your chest or a tightness.
• Your lungs emit a crackling sound whenever you inhale.

How to Diagnose Asbestosis

Any of those symptoms may signify asbestosis, particularly if you are feeling multiple symptoms. A doctor can determine, with medical certainty, whether you have it or not. Your doctor can diagnose asbestosis using your past medical history and any interactions you’ve had with asbestos as well as by administering a chest x-ray. The following information may help your doctor diagnose you:

• Any other medical records related to your symptoms
• Your history of smoking
• Any work throughout your life that may have put you in frequent contact with asbestos, as far as you are able to determine
• Any protective gear you wore if/when you did come into contact with asbestos
• Any home remedies or unorthodox treatments you may have used and whether they helped or not
• An approximate list of your symptoms and when they may have appeared

North Carolina Asbestosis FAQs

Q: What Is the Time Period for Asbestosis?

A: The time period for asbestosis to show up in the body can be hard to determine. There is no definitive amount of time that asbestosis can take to develop. Many doctors estimate that it can take between 10 and 20 years, but it can sometimes even be 40 years before a case of asbestosis fully develops and starts impacting you physically. The period between inhalation and diagnosis is known as the latency period, and you likely will not feel sick from the asbestos in your body during this time.

Q: Is Asbestosis the Same as Asbestos Exposure?

A: Not exactly. Asbestosis is a medical condition that arises from prolonged asbestos exposure, as is mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos is not the condition itself but the catalyst that brings about the potential condition. Not everyone who accidentally inhales asbestos fibers will develop a chronic condition, but those who do develop the condition solely did so from exposure to asbestos in North Carolina.

Q: Can I Claim Compensation If I Have Been Exposed to Asbestos?

A: Yes, you can file a claim for compensation if you have been exposed to asbestos at some point in your life and have started to develop symptoms of a chronic asbestos-related condition. There are many different asbestos trust funds, settlement groups, and class-action suits that seek to assist those who are facing life-threatening illnesses connected to asbestos exposure. An experienced asbestosis lawyer can help you determine the most effective course of action for your claim.

Q: How Can I Prove Asbestos Exposure?

A: The most effective way to prove asbestos exposure is to see a medical professional and get professionally diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition. Through various medical tests, such as x-rays, biopsies, and physical exams, your doctor may be able to diagnose your condition. Be sure to be completely honest with them, and help them by providing your history with asbestos.

Seek Out an Asbestosis Lawyer Today

Facing a diagnosis of asbestosis can be an overwhelming situation to deal with on your own. An experienced asbestosis lawyer, like the ones at Wallace & Graham, P.A., can help you with your case for compensation. A skilled attorney can gather evidence that proves your condition and ensure that you aren’t taken advantage of throughout this process. Contact us to speak with a team member and schedule a consultation.