Pittsburgh Asbestos And Mesothelioma Blog

Coping with mesothelioma and other asbestos injuries

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

Life is challenging enough without having to deal with the adverse effects of chronic illness. Many Pennsylvania residents understand all too well what it's like to face a diagnosis that includes incurable disease. If you or your loved one suffer from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related injury, your main priority may be obtaining any and all treatment available to achieve as high quality of life as possible.

Sadly, many situations like yours would have been preventable were it not for an employer's negligence. Pittsburgh, in particular, is comprised of many buildings, schools, churches and factories built long before the early 1980s, which means they post a potentially serious asbestos risk to those who live or work nearby. By learning more about how to treat such illnesses and what your legal rights are as far as seeking restitution, you gain or provide your loved one with much needed support.

Did your Pennsylvania job site lead to terminal illness?

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. on Friday, May 25, 2018.

You may recall every detail about the day your doctor diagnosed you with an asbestos-related cancer. You had suspected something was wrong for quite some time when you kept experiencing symptoms that seemed to linger but had no apparent explanation. Now that you know the underlying cause of your malaise, lingering cough and bodily discomfort, you want to focus on time with your family and living as high quality a life as possible.

It's no secret that medical care is expensive. In situations like yours, treatment is generally palliative in nature, since mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers are incurable. You are entitled to seek any and all treatment available to help relieve your suffering and to help you feel as strong as possible for as long as possible. Like many other Pennsylvania victims of asbestos-caused illness, you may feel angry that your employers were aware of the hazards in your workplace but failed in their obligation to inform and protect you.

Mesothelioma symptoms usually get worse over time

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. on Friday, May 25, 2018.

When you went to work in a Pittsburgh factory some 30-40 years ago, you never dreamed you would one day suffer an illness where even the slightest physical exertion would leave you gasping for breath. You likely also never thought that your workplace would be the source of such an illness. Thousands of other blue-collar industry workers in Pennsylvania are facing similar situations.

It's one thing to trip and fall at work. You might sprain an ankle or even break a wrist, neither of which are pleasant experiences, but they are also not necessarily the fault of your employer. It's quite another thing, however, to learn that your employers were aware of hazards in your work environment but, instead of fulfilling their obligation to keep their employees as safe as possible, they did not reveal what they knew because they were more concerned with making a profit.

What is nursing home neglect?

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. posted in Nursing Home Deaths on Wednesday, May 2, 2018.

Sad stories are sometimes reported on the Pittsburgh evening news that describe the unsafe and neglectful conditions that children are forced to live in before they are taken by protective services and placed in new homes. It is a tragedy for anyone to suffer in a residence where their basic needs are not met, and children are not the only population that can be victimized by others through neglect. The elderly and those who rely on the support of nursing and care homes can greatly suffer when they do not receive what they need from their care providers.

Nursing home neglect can take on many forms. It may come in the form of residents not receiving enough food or not being given baths on an appropriate schedule. It can take the form of individuals improperly dressed for the conditions they must encounter and may occur if residents' facilities are cluttered or otherwise dangerous for them to move around in.

How do I prove negligence in a medical malpractice case?

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. posted in Medical Malpractice on Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Negligence is a legal concept that forms the basis of many accident-based claims. When a Pittsburgh driver suffers injuries in a vehicle collision, they may sue the responsible driver for their damages based on that driver's negligence. Similarly, when a patient suffers harm while under the care of a doctor and that harm was due to the doctor's negligence, the patient may have claims for losses.

Proving negligence in the context of medical malpractice can sometimes be challenging. It is important that individuals with possible medical malpractice claims discuss their legal options with personal injury attorneys that they trust. As with all legal matters, cases should be reviewed based on their own facts and this post should not be read as legal guidance or advice.

Wrongful death claims may arise in a variety of ways

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Thursday, April 26, 2018.

The loss of a beloved family member can be a devastating blow to a Pennsylvania household. Though no legal action can ever bring back someone whose life has been tragically cut short by an accident or act of negligence, wrongful death claims can provide survivors who have lost relatives with financial damages to help them move forward. Many different types of accidents and sets of circumstance can provide the basis for a wrongful death claim. This post will discuss just a few of those possible events.

One of the most common instances that may result in a wrongful death claim is a vehicle accident. When a person dies as a result of another person's negligent or reckless driving conduct, then the decedent's surviving family members may have financial losses, including medical expenses, funeral costs, and lost wages. Fortunately, these damages may be recoverable through a wrongful death action.

Birth complications require medical attention and care

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. posted in Birth Injury on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

There is a big difference between a birth complication and a birth mistake. A mother and a baby in Pennsylvania may experience a birth complication if, during labor, the baby's positioning makes it impossible for the mother to deliver the child. A birth mistake may arise if the mother's doctor fails to address this sometimes life-threatening complication with the proper treatment or intervention.

Baby position is only one of the many birth complications that doctors must stay ahead of to ensure that both mothers and infants get through delivery without suffering injuries. Another birth complication that often plagues first-time mothers is prolonged labor. A labor that does not progress can cause significant problems for both a mother and her unborn child and may require a doctor to step in to move the process along.

A rare but real danger related to asbestos

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. posted in Products Liability on Friday, April 13, 2018.

Pittsburgh is one of the blue-collar capitals of the world. From steel workers to pipe-fitters, railroad workers and shipyard employees, its history is rich in factory employment and manual labor jobs. The problem is those characteristics have also caused Pittsburgh residents and workers to be at risk for asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos contains microscopic fibers that pose a danger to your health if you breathe them in or ingest them during exposure.

The thing about asbestos is that it doesn't usually cause harm if left undisturbed. When you crumble it or it disintegrates (perhaps due to wetness or other issues), the micro fibers are released into the surrounding atmosphere, placing you or anyone else nearby at risk. Mesothelioma is a rare but devastating and incurable cancer associated with asbestos exposure. If you show symptoms of this disease, the care you receive may be directly related to how well you understand your rights and what type of support you secure.

How severe are the stages of pleural mesothelioma?

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. posted in Work-Related Deaths on Friday, April 13, 2018.

As you worked many hard years in the shipyard, you likely understood that your hard work allowed you to provide for yourself and your family. As a result, you may have appreciated the opportunity to have employment that allowed you to meet this important goal. Because of the loyalty you felt to your profession, you may have felt betrayed when you found out that asbestos exposure has resulted in your developing mesothelioma.

While different types of mesothelioma exist, pleural mesothelioma remains the most common as it accounts for 75 percent of these cases. With this type, a tumor has developed in the lining of your lungs, and inhalation of asbestos fibers typically contribute to its development in this area of the body. Now, you may wonder what doctors can do to treat your condition.

Without proper warnings, consumer goods can be dangerous

On behalf of Savinis, Kane, & Gallucci, L.L.C. posted in Products Liability on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

Oftentimes when Pittsburgh residents buy an item at the store they have a reasonably good idea of what the product should be used for. For example, they may buy a cleaning product to use in their home or they may buy a power drill to perform household maintenance and repairs. In either case, the purchase of the item was likely due to a need that the person needed fulfilling in order to improve the state of his or her life.

From cleaning products to building tools and everything in between, consumer goods are subject to review to ensure that they do not pose risks to those who use them. When those risks cannot be removed from the products without making them ineffective, warnings must be used as substitute forms of caution. A cleaning product may offer a warning to avoid consuming the product or getting the product in one's eyes as it may contain a caustic chemical that could harm the human body. Likewise, a power drill may include instructions and warnings cautioning the user from using the drill near water to avoid risks associated with electrocution.