A growing number of individuals who worked in a variety of different industries have come forward to allege that their workplace and regular exposure to asbestos fibers lead to asbestos lung disease.

Asbestos lung disease includes conditions that, once diagnosed, have limited prospects for recovery. Although some management of symptoms is possible, these respiratory conditions can significantly alter the patient’s life and put further stress on his or her family as well.

Any employees who believe that they or a loved one was exposed to asbestos and this has led to a diagnosis of lung cancer may be eligible to participate in a class action lawsuit investigation. Millions of dollars in compensation has already been awarded to those victims of asbestos lung disease.

As the most common type of cancer throughout the United States, lung cancer affects nearly 200,000 Americans every single year. Unfortunately, more Americans pass away as a result of lung cancer complications than from any other form of cancer, and nearly 5,000 of these deaths are directly associated with asbestos lung disease and cancer.

Although the causes of lung cancer can vary, continued exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to the development of asbestos lung disease down the road. In many of these cases, asbestos lung disease does not develop until years or even decades after the original exposure.

Individuals working in certain occupations have a higher risk of developing asbestos lung disease because of their exposure. These higher-risk lines of work include insulation installers, auto mechanics, paper mill workers, employees in shipyards, sheet metal workers, toll collectors, tilers, roofers and plumbers.

Many of these employees, however, are unaware of the fact that they were ever exposed to asbestos and may not connect their diagnosis of asbestos lung disease to their exposure in the workplace. It can be as long as 50 years beyond the initial exposure to asbestos that a person develops lung cancer.

Hundreds of companies are already facing asbestos lawsuits from former employees and family members who have been diagnosed with asbestos lung disease and resulting complications.

Billions of dollars in compensation has already been awarded to plaintiffs who have filed asbestos lung disease lawsuits. They alleged that the employer should have known about the risk of exposure to asbestos fibers and, in failing to do so, continuously put workers at risk of the development of asbestos lung disease and other issues.

Often companies accused of being responsible for the development of asbestos lung disease because of exposure to the fibers will try to discount the testimony of victims by arguing that lung cancer was caused by smoking. However, the proper scientific evidence presented in these court cases often shows that the lung cancer can be contributed to exposure to asbestos fibers.

Those individuals who find themselves in the position of being diagnosed with asbestos lung disease need to take prompt action to protect their rights and verify whether or not they could have legal ground against an employer who regularly exposed them to asbestos fibers, even if this was many years ago.