Asbestosis

Between 1999 and 2013, asbestosis was responsible for the death of over 20,000 Americans

What diagnoses can you receive if you have asbestosis?

It is very important to know that if you have asbestosis, you may receive a diagnosis that does not have this exact name but another. However, the diagnosis will mean approximately the same thing and will describe the damage that was caused by asbestos to your lungs. The following is a list of diagnoses you may receive if you have asbestosis. Nevertheless, this is not a comprehensive list, and you may be told you have a lung disease that is not on this list.

• bilateral interstitial fibrosis
• unilateral left-sided pleural effusion
• extensive fibrosis of the visceral pleura
• pulmonary fibrosis
• pleural plaques
• diffuse pleural thickening
• lung scarring
• lung nodules
• lung spots

You should keep in mind that any of these diagnoses still qualifies you for seeking financial compensation, so if you have one of these diseases, do not hesitate to contact our attorneys. We will have a talk with your healthcare provider, who will offer our experts more details about your diagnosis and how it is related to asbestos exposure. You are most likely eligible for compensation, which is why we strongly encourage you to give us a call if you were told you have one of these diagnoses.

Asbestosis misdiagnosis and asbestos exposure work history

Regardless of the disease, one may suffer from, misdiagnosis is extremely common among victims of asbestos exposure. There are several reasons which explain this awful situation, including people experiencing vague symptoms that might stem from any pulmonary disease, the low prevalence of diseases caused by asbestos exposure, as well as lack of reliable screening tests. Lack of perceivable symptoms in the early phases of asbestosis also contributes to tardy diagnosis and, at the same time, unfavorable prognosis for plenty of individuals. Nevertheless, undergoing a simple chest X-ray and a series of pulmonary function tests once a year is a very effective measure against a late diagnosis of a potential asbestosis case. Any abnormality the asbestos fibers in your lungs might have caused over time will be visible on X-ray, so your doctor will be able to determine whether you have developed asbestosis.

However, because pulmonologists rarely encounter asbestos victims during their practice, seeking a second and even third opinion from specialists in asbestos lung disease is vital in the regrettable event you were diagnosed with asbestosis. There are numerous other diseases caused by asbestos exposure which can mimic asbestosis, such as pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, pleural plaques and even lung cancer. Asbestosis can be also misdiagnosed as:

• diffuse interstitial fibrosis
• interstitial pneumonitis
• fibrosing alveolitis
• desquamative interstitial pneumonitis
• pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
• eosinophilic granuloma of the lung
• drug-induced pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis
• radiation-induced pulmonary pneumonitis and fibrosis
• hypersensitivity pneumonitis (extrinsic allergic alveolitis)
• pneumoconiosis such as silicosis, anthracosis
• constrictive bronchiolitis
• sarcoidosis
  
• benign or malignant neoplasm
  

Consequently, requesting as many expert opinions as you can is essential for your prognosis and for receiving the correct treatment. Our medical specialists also offer screenings to asbestos victims with a history of occupational exposure, so please feel free to send in your most recent chest X-ray and we will promptly let you know whether your lungs were affected by this carcinogenic mineral. A B-reader is the most qualified to offer you an accurate interpretation of your X-ray. He is trained to recognize the fibers wherever these are lodged into the lungs: the lower bilateral lobes, the lower lung zones, mid lung zones, all six lung zones. 

We also provide legal assistance to family members suffering from asbestosis as a result of secondary exposure

Considering the popularity of asbestos as a raw material during the last century, it should not be surprising that the diseases in which exposure can result in are not restricted to people who handled it on the job. Due to the convenient properties and inexpensive purchase cost it had, asbestos was used in massive amounts by hundreds of companies throughout the U.S. Preoccupied mainly with financial gain, the executives of these companies valued the safety of their workers very little, which is why asbestos would often escape industrial facilities and end up in the houses of employees, endangering the lives of their family members.

Inhabiting the same dwelling as someone who was, at the time, working with asbestos implied a high risk of secondary exposure. Today, approximately 10% of asbestos victims were indirectly exposed to harmful fibers. If you believe your asbestosis diagnosis is the consequence of living under the same roof as someone who handled asbestos in the workplace, we encourage you to contact our attorneys at your earliest convenience, as we also assist secondary exposure victims. Following our first consultation, we will begin pursuing your case so that you will be able to benefit from compensation as well.

Have you lost a dear one to asbestosis? Our lawyers will promptly recover financial compensation on their behalf

Failing or refusing to seek financial compensation is not uncommon at all for victims of asbestos exposure, as they are often too ill to take care of such matters. Nonetheless, the close family members and spouses of these people can decide to file a wrongful death claim with asbestos trust funds under the guidance of a specialized lawyer in order to receive the money their loved one would have been entitled to. So far, our highly experienced attorneys have recovered compensation for over 233,000 individuals whose health was affected by asbestos exposure, many of whom deceased.

If you also have a dear one who did not file a claim during their lifetime, our legal professionals are here to assist you. The process of seeking compensation requires no litigation and is usually completed within less than two years. For additional information, do not hesitate to give us a call and we will gladly answer any questions you may have.