Lawyers investigate claims of asbestos dangers including lung cancer. Though asbestos has been banned due to its negative health effects, it appears in many common substances. 

Individuals still face health dangers including lung cancer as a result of being exposed to it. In some cases, organizations that expose individuals to asbestos, whether knowingly or negligently, have come under legal fire. If you or someone you love has been a victim of asbestos dangers, you may have a legal claim and could receive compensation for physical, emotional, or financial injury.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral group. These minerals are composed of long fibers, that are strong and resistant to heat. Because of their utility, for many years they were common components in construction and industrial materials. It was commonly used as insulation in numerous products. Since the industrial revolution, asbestos use increased greatly.

However, in the first part of the 20th century, it became apparent that there were negative health effects of being exposed to asbestos. Most notably, people who were regularly exposed to asbestos at work, especially those who worked with materials containing asbestos, were at risk to asbestos dangers.

Asbestos is harmless if the fibers are sufficiently sealed in other materials. However, if they are released into the air, they can be breathed in and thus are harmful. People who work with asbestos, in the fabrication of asbestos-containing materials, or in construction, are particularly susceptible. The dangers of developing asbestos-related lung disease, namely lung cancer, increase with the duration of exposure, and the amount of asbestos a person is exposed to.

Because asbestos danger has been widely established since the first part of the 20th century, many laws have been passed that ban the use of the substance or limiting its use. In the 1970s, the import and use of asbestos in the U.S. decreased dramatically, and during that time, alternative insulation materials were developed.

However, because asbestos is relatively safe if it is not disturbed, many older buildings that are still in use contain asbestos. So, people who work in these buildings, and those who work in construction or in remodeling old buildings often still come into contact with asbestos because of their work.

In some cases, companies knowingly allow their workers to come into contact with asbestos as part of normal job duties. This endangers the workers’ health, and in many cases, is prohibited by law. People who believe they were exposed to asbestos by a party, such as an employer or landlord, may have a legal claim.

Additionally, many people who developed lung cancer may not realize that their condition developed as a result of asbestos dangers and exposure they experienced earlier in life. If you have lung cancer, even if you think your condition is a result of something other than asbestos exposure, an asbestos lawyer can help you determine if you may have a claim based on earlier exposure.