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Attorney Charles E. Lampin has spent decades helping victims of asbestos exposure receive the maximum compensation they deserve while holding the companies who wrongly exposed people to this deadly cancer accountable.
Asbestos exposure leads to the very serious disease of Mesothelioma. For years, companies have known of the risks of asbestos exposure but nonetheless exposed their workers to this deadly material. Attorney Charles Lampin has been practicing law for over 30 years. The last 16 years have been dedicated to asbestos and mass tort litigation.
A mesothelioma diagnosis changes a person’s life, as well as the lives of their family. There can be countless difficult personal, financial and medical decisions that must be made, and you may be struggling to make sense of what happens next.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, you must act quickly. There are applicable statutes of limitation that dictate how long you may have to file a claim. By waiting too long, you may be prohibited from recovering compensation and holding those responsible for your disease accountable.
Asbestos is a highly toxic fiber that was used in thousands of products until the 1980s. Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen and exposure to these deadly fibers has been proven to cause deadly diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
When products containing asbestos are cut, drilled, sanded, or disturbed in any way, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When a person inhales or ingests these microscopic fibers they may become permanently trapped in the lungs.
Over time, these fibers can cause scarring and inflammation in the lungs which can lead to nearby cells to develop malignancies. These tumors can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Both diseases take a long time to develop but only months to spread and metastasize. Many people who develop asbestos related cancer were exposed to asbestos in the workplace.
Asbestos was first introduced to the U.S. in the late 1800’s and early 1900s. It became widely used due its durable, heat-resistant properties and its ability to strengthen building materials such as cement and various plastics. This made asbestos a practical choice for insulation, roofing, fireproofing, and sound absorption. While asbestos was used in a variety of applications, workers in certain industries are more likely to have been exposed. For example, the shipbuilding industry utilized asbestos to insulate their boilers, steam pipes and hot water tanks. The automotive industry widely used asbestos in manufacturing brake shoes, clutch pads, and a variety of other parts.
Asbestos was used in thousands of products until the 1980s and because of its wide usage many people have been exposed to the dangerous fiber. While no amount of asbestos exposure can be considered safe, those who were exposed to large amounts of asbestos, or those who were exposed regularly over a long period of time are considered to be at a greater risk for developing serious health problems. Exposure to asbestos has been proven to cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis
Time is Limited to File a Claim. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, you must act quickly. There are applicable statutes of limitation that dictate how long you may have to file a claim. By waiting too long, you may be prohibited from recovering compensation and holding those responsible for your disease accountable.
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Our lawyers will guide you and your family through the litigation process and address your questions throughout this difficult time.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, contact our office to discuss your potential case.
Attorney Charles Lampin will answer all of your questions and will personally meet with you and your family to discuss your mesothelioma case with you.
Who Should Be Examined?
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, or suspects exposure to asbestos dust on the job or at home through a family member, you should inform your physician of the work history and any symptoms. Your doctor may perform chest x-rays and lung function tests to determine the presence of asbestos. Oftentimes this involves the help of a specialist who is experienced with asbestos-related diseases and conditions. Other tests may be necessary and follow-up care and monitoring will be required. You should stop smoking as studies have indicated that a combination of smoking and asbestos exposure increases your chances of developing lung cancer. If you continue to work around asbestos, please be sure to use all necessary protective equipment and follow all safe work practices and procedures.
Who is at Risk?
Asbestos was commonly used in the building and construction industry to strengthen cement and plastics as well as for heat insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry used asbestos to insulate boilers, turbines, steam pipes, hot water pipes and nuclear reactors on ships. Mechanics are exposed to asbestos-containing brakes and clutch pads installed in various cars, trucks, tractors, and heavy equipment. Virtually anyone who breathed asbestos dust has an increased risk of developing cancer. Exposures occurred at major construction sites, shipyards, onboard navy vessels, in refineries and chemical plants, and during the remodeling and renovation of commercial and residential buildings, to list just a few. Equally at risk were the families of these workers who brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing and in the family car. Some individuals have been exposed to asbestos from living and/or working near contaminated areas.
What are the Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure?
The Lampin Law Firm L.L.C. represents clients throughout the country. Individuals exposed to asbestos may not experience symptoms for many years which is why mesothelioma is referred to as a progressive disease. Symptoms may not occur for 20, 30 or even 40 or more years after exposure to asbestos, and therefore, it is critical to inform your doctor if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos so that continuous monitoring may be performed. Early detection of lung abnormalities is vital.
Some of the symptoms often occurring in individuals exposed to asbestos include:
Asbestosis – A chronic inflammatory lung condition occurring in the tissue of the lungs that develops after prolonged intense exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include shortness of breath and an increased risk of developing lung cancer and/or mesothelioma. There is no cure for asbestosis.
Lung Cancer – Studies have shown an increased risk of lung cancer among workers who are occupationally exposed to asbestos and an even greater risk among those workers who also smoke. Asbestos-related lung cancer usually begins in the lining of the lungs but may also begin in the trachea, bronchioles, or alveoli (lung air sacks). The early stages of asbestos-related lung cancer may be asymptomatic.
Mesothelioma – A rare form of cancer that affects the thin membrane lining of the chest and/or abdomen. The most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis (the lining of the testis). Pleural mesothelioma starts in the lining of the chest cavity near the lung and heart and may advance beyond the lining of the chest into the lymph nodes, continuing to spread into the chest wall, the center of the chest, heart, diaphragm or abdominal lining. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may not exist until decades after exposure and consist of shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal swelling and pain due to a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever.
What are the Dangers of Asbestos?
When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they settle in the lungs and air passageways. Some of the fibers make their way to the deepest layers of the lung and can remain there for many years, sometimes permanently. This causes scarring of the lungs called asbestosis. Over time, these asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and/or pleural mesothelioma, a very rare and incurable form of lung cancer. In some individuals, the asbestos fibers travel into the abdominal cavity causing peritoneal mesothelioma.
How is Asbestos Used?
Asbestos has been mined and used in the commercial industries of North America since 1880, but its peak usage was during World War II. There are over 3,000 manufactured products that are known to contain asbestos. For many years the manufacturers of asbestos and many of the companies who used asbestos products knew that asbestos could cause serious injury or even death. Unfortunately, many of those same companies continued to make, sell, and use asbestos products without informing individuals or their family members about the potential risks they faced as a result of being exposed to asbestos throughout the years.
The following is a partial list of the types of products that presently contain asbestos or have contained asbestos in the past:
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral that was used for decades in thousands of products ranging from insulation and floor tile to household appliances and even some makeup. Asbestos has not been banned in the United States and is still being used in some industries and products. The industrial popularity of asbestos was mostly due to its ability to resist heat and chemicals and because it does not conduct electricity. When it is disturbed in any way, the fibers break away easily into tiny particles of dust, most of which are invisible to the naked eye, that can float in the air and stick to clothing, hair and skin. The most common exposure to asbestos occurs through the inhalation of these fibers, although, they may also be ingested.