If you were exposed to asbestos and have developed an illness because of it, you may want to speak to an asbestos lawyer Washington, DC trusts. Asbestos is a dangerous material that can cause grave damage over a period of time. Turning to an experienced lawyer, such as Brown Kiely, LLP may help you obtain compensation for all that you have suffered.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral fiber that was once used by many industries. It was valued by many businesses because it is resistant to chemical, heat, and electrical damage. For a period of time, asbestos was extremely common in building insulation materials. However, after discovering the dangers of this mineral fiber, the United States banned asbestos in many products. If asbestos particles are inhaled, they can get into the lungs, cause severe scarring, and make a person severely ill. Your physician and your asbestos lawyer in Washington, DC can talk with you about unsafe asbestos levels and how to test for them.
When did exposure occur, and how?
Asbestos-related diseases often take many years to manifest, and in most circumstances the symptoms do not present for up to 20 years. For this reason, documenting your exposure history is very important. An asbestos lawyer Washington, DC relies upon can work with you to determine your exposure over time.
Common Uses of Asbestos
Historically, asbestos was used extensively in construction of schools, churches and temples, government buildings, and many homes built before 2000. Many individuals in the military and those who assist during natural disaster recovery efforts have often been repeatedly exposed to asbestos.
Common home insulation items where asbestos may be hiding include cement shingles, tiles for floors and roofs, soundproofing applications, adhesives, paints, plastics, and more. Asbestos has also been found in surprising places, such as hand-held hair dryers and hood-style hairdryers used in salons, and, at very low levels, even in certain brands of crayons. It is important to determine where and for how long you were exposed to asbestos and the level of exposure. An asbestos lawyer Washington, DC provides can provide guidance with this.
Workplace Risks
Higher levels of asbestos have higher possibility of risk, If your exposure lasted six or more months in your home or workplace, and you inhaled particles you may be experiencing health issues caused by asbestos. It is a good idea to keep your work history in mind so that your asbestos lawyer Washington, DC can help you determine where you may have received heightened exposure.
What diseases are associated with asbestos exposure?
Individuals who breathe in asbestos particles are in danger of contracting several life-threatening diseases, including mesothelioma. This deadly cancer can affect your lungs, heart, and other organs. No matter when you were exposed to asbestos, an experienced asbestos lawyer in Washington, DC may help you get justice.
How is asbestos poisoning determined?
Asbestos is often overlooked unless a patient approaches a physician after a history of exposure. After hiring an asbestos lawyer Washington, DC trusts, they will want to determine how your condition developed.
- The first symptoms of asbestos are usually coughing and trouble breathing.
- Digital clubbing can also appear. Clubbing of the fingers is a deformity that is associated with lung conditions that cause changes to the oxygen levels in the lungs.
- Individuals may find that they tire easily and are unable to perform normal physical exertion without fatigue and shortness of breath.
Asbestosis is not an easy diagnosis to make, and many tests may be necessary to uncover the disease.
- Your imaging scans, such as CT scans and x-rays, along with a bronchoscopy or pulmonary exam, are common methods of detecting it.
- A physician is likely to find evidence of pleural thickening, effusion, and scarring before moving on to the next exam. The pleural space is between the lungs and the chest cavity.
- If asbestosis is discovered, your physician may continue to investigate and eventually grade your condition.
- In some cases, asbestos particles will appear in your lungs, but in others, your disease may look like another lung condition.
- The process of uncovering asbestos poisoning is arduous and expensive. You may be best served by hiring an asbestos lawyer Washington, DC trusts in addition to consulting an experienced physician.
Legal Help When Your Loved One Has Died From Asbestos Exposure
While many people are exposed to trace amounts of asbestos in the air every day and do not suffer adverse consequences, exposure to larger amounts of exposure over a longer period of time can cause significant harm. Unfortunately, many people who have been exposed to asbestos live with debilitating and life-threatening diseases. In the worst cases, people even die after exposure to asbestos.
If one of your loved ones has passed away because they were exposed to asbestos and developed an illness from that exposure, please reach out to the aggressive asbestos attorneys at Brown Kiely, LLP today. No one should have to deal with their family being ripped apart too soon because of asbestos exposure. Our attorneys are sympathetic to the stress and grief that you are going through and have a proven track record of successfully advocating on behalf of our clients. As a result, you will almost certainly benefit from having a Washington DC asbestos lawyer on your side to help you navigate the legal side of this challenging time.
Help Filing a Wrongful Death Claim
When it comes to filing a wrongful death lawsuit, an experienced Washington DC asbestos lawyer can help. We may be able to gather evidence to show that if the deceased had lived long enough, they would have filed some type of personal injury claim or suit because of their injury or illness, but instead, they died too soon to do so. Instead, if you are a family member of the deceased, you may have the option to file a wrongful death suit as an alternative route to obtaining compensation and some measure of justice.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Basics
It is important to note that not just anyone can file a wrongful death lawsuit, so a court will likely not approve a lawsuit going forward if you are an acquaintance of the deceased or if you are an estranged family member. Common examples of people who can typically file in these cases include:
- The spouse or life partner of the deceased.
- The children of the deceased. This can include stepchildren as well as adopted children.
- Parents.
- Grandparents.
- Depending on the state, a court may allow someone who was financially dependent on the deceased to file a claim as well.
When you work with a Washington DC asbestos lawyer to start the process of filing a wrongful death claim, the process will likely follow these steps:
- Your Washington DC asbestos lawyer will conduct research and interviews with people who knew the deceased.
- They will look into when the deceased was exposed to asbestos, where they were exposed, and who is responsible for the exposure (perhaps multiple parties).
- They may look into other co-workers for witnesses to see if they knew of the asbestos exposure or if they suffered from illnesses.
Why File a Wrongful Death Claim?
There are many reasons someone may choose to file a wrongful death claim. Some of these may include:
- Covering the costs of burial and funeral expenses.
- Covering the hospital bills of the deceased.
- Compensation for pain and suffering of the deceased.
- Compensation for pain and suffering the deceased’s relatives.
When you are grieving the loss of a loved one after losing them to medical conditions caused by asbestos exposure, the shock and frustration of that situation can be overwhelming. Please know that you do not have to go through this situation alone. A Washington DC asbestos lawyer can help you to navigate the legal side of these uniquely challenging times.
What evidence do you need for a lawsuit?
Medical documentation. In order for an asbestos lawyer Washington, DC counts on to help you recover compensation, you will likely need to provide certain documentation of your injury. Some of the most important pieces of evidence your Washington DC asbestos lawyer may need are medical records, including a pathology report, imaging scans, and biopsy results.
Proof of exposure. In your lawsuit, you may also have to provide proof that you were actually exposed to asbestos. For example, you may need to provide records proving that you worked in a company where you were exposed to asbestos. An asbestos lawyer Washington, DC respects may also want to obtain testimonies from your co-workers. These statements may help to describe what your work conditions were like and if there were any asbestos-related products at the job site.
Hiring an Asbestos Lawyer
Even if you were exposed to asbestos many years ago, you should consider making an appointment to see a reputable asbestos lawyer Washington, DC relies on. For this type of lawsuit, the statute of limitations does not begin until a physician officially diagnoses an individual with an asbestos-related disease, unlike many other types of personal injury claims. From the time you are diagnosed, you have three years to file a claim.
At Brown Kiely, we know that asbestos exposure can have devastating impacts on not just the victim but also their families and communities. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos exposure, our team may be able to win a fair settlement for your pain and suffering.
Our Washington, DC asbestos lawyer at Brown Kiely has substantial experience handling asbestos claims, and knows that each case is unique, much like our clients. Even if you were exposed to asbestos decades ago, our team may be able to find evidence that helps prove your case. A financial settlement may help you and your family cope with the traumatic effects of asbestos-related illnesses.
If you are looking for a skilled asbestos lawyer Washington, DC offers, contact Brown Kiely, LLP at (410) 625-9330.
