A Michigan woman recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the former employer of her late husband, alleging he was exposed to asbestos at work, leading to his lung cancer diagnosis and subsequent death.

The plaintiff, Phylis R., filed her asbestos wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of her husband, Warren R., Jr. According to the lawsuit, Warren’s line of work exposed him to asbestos fibers from a number of products which were manufactured, distributed, or installed by the defendants named in the suit. The companies involved include Arvinmeritor Inc., A.W. Chesterton Co., CBS Corp., Certain-Teed Corp., and Colfax Corp.

According to the asbestos wrongful death lawsuit, these companies should not have included asbestos fibers in their products, given the dangers of exposure and the availability of other options. The defendants were also negligent in breaching their duty to inform Warren and others about the risk linked with their asbestos-containing products.

She claims that as a result of decades of exposure—the lawsuit alleges Warren was employed in a capacity that was affected by asbestos exposure from 1963 to 2011—Warren developed lung cancer. Eventually, on Oct. 18, 2016, Warren died from his asbestos lung cancer.

The plaintiff decided to pursue litigation after her husband’s death, filing this asbestos wrongful death lawsuit on July 26.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral used for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses. 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, one of which is lung cancer.

Construction workers make up a large number of those who file asbestos lung cancer lawsuits, as construction work often involves being constantly surrounded by products and equipment made with asbestos. Sawing and cutting asbestos products makes asbestos fibers even more likely to be released into the air and into a worker’s lungs. In many cases, workers may be without proper protection or even warning of the dangers of asbestos and lung cancer.

Dangerous asbestos fibers can also be carried home on a worker’s clothing, exposing family members as well. Others, such as home gardeners, may be exposed via simple home products containing the material.

Filing an Asbestos Wrongful Death Lawsuit

According to many lawsuits filed over asbestos lung cancer, companies that allow workers to be exposed to asbestos should have been aware of the dangerous nature of their asbestos-containing materials. Companies should also be aware of its ability to cause disease, cancer, and even fatality.

If someone you love has died from lung cancer after long-term exposure to asbestos, you may be able to file an asbestos wrongful death lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by asbestos cancer or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.