If you or someone you love was diagnosed with lung cancer after you were exposed to asbestos, you may be able to pursue litigation. Those who have been exposed to asbestos may also expose their family members second hand by bringing home dangerous asbestos fibers on their clothing. So far, asbestos lung cancer patients and their families have received millions of dollars in compensation.

Lung cancer can be caused by a number of factors, most notably by tobacco smoke. However, those who have been exposed to asbestos fibers may also be at serious risk of developing lung cancer.

Basics of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as a number of other uses. Only in recent years has the use of asbestos become much more thoroughly regulated, due to the spread of knowledge regarding asbestos lung cancer risk.

The microscopic fibers of asbestos can accumulate in the lungs, but then quickly spread to distant organs. Asbestos exposure can cause several critical health problems, and asbestos lung cancer risk is one of the greatest concerns. Because asbestos fibers can sit dormant in your lungs for a great length of time, lung cancer from asbestos may take decades to develop.

Unfortunately, the rapid rate of development once asbestos lung cancer begins spreading often means that the patient isn’t properly diagnosed until cancer has reached a later and more dangerous stage of development.

Asbestos Exposure on the Job

While people exposed to asbestos at any amount can be diagnosed with cancer, the risk is heightened for those who are surrounded with dangerous asbestos fibers and fibers on a day-to-day basis, especially in large amounts and for long periods of time. Indeed, many who file lawsuits over asbestos lung cancer risk do so because of years of exposure through their work.

Certain occupations are associated with a higher risk of lung cancer, including work in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Military, shipyards, paper mills, and construction, among many others. Workers in these and similar occupations are often exposed to asbestos, and may not even know about the material or its risk. Since lung cancer generally develops decades (20 to 50 years) after a person was initially exposed to asbestos, many may not connect their cancer diagnosis with the asbestos they encountered on the job so many years previously.

Companies that are responsible for exposure to asbestos can be held accountable through litigation. Seeking legal counsel from an experienced asbestos lung cancer lawyer can help you to prove the connection between your asbestos exposure and eventual cancer diagnosis.

Filing a Lawsuit After Being Exposed to Asbestos

If you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos and were later diagnosed with lung cancer, you may be able to file a lawsuit or seek an asbestos fine. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by asbestos lung cancer, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.