If you or a loved one suffers from lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation for the many hardships you have suffered. First, however, you must identify the link between the disease you suffer from and your exposure to the toxic substance. In many cases, the point of exposure lies deep in the past.
Where were you exposed?
Oftentimes, a person who develops lung cancer encountered asbestos at his or her place of work. Due to its resistance to heat and electricity, asbestos has widely been used in industries where insulation is needed. If you have worked around insulation or other heat shielding products, you may have encountered asbestos at some point in your career. Occupations at risk of asbestos exposure include:
- Construction workers
- Shipyard workers
- Boiler operators
- Auto mechanics
- Power plant workers
Once asbestos embeds itself in lung tissue, it may remain there for years and even decades before causing lung cancer or another asbestos-related disease. In handling your legal claim, an attorney should review your entire work history so he or she can pinpoint potential exposure points.
Smokers who were exposed to asbestos are 60 to 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers who were not exposed. Many smokers fear they will not be eligible for compensation if smoking contributed to their disease, but this is not the case. As long as you can establish a firm link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer, you deserve compensation.
Getting answers, justice and financial relief
Determining the link between lung cancer and asbestos is only the beginning of the process of obtaining financial relief for those who suffer from asbestos-related cancer. Once a legal team can establish this link, the process can move forward toward helping you obtain financial compensation for medical bills, wage loss, pain and suffering, and other damages.