Asthma Lawyers

Work-related Asthma Affects More Than Two Million Workers in the United States

Work-related asthma can be either new-onset asthma that develops due to repeated or long-term exposure to irritants in the workplace or pre-existing asthma that gets exacerbated at the workplace. New-onset asthma or occupational asthma occurs in about 15-30% of asthma patients. It is commonly associated with certain occupations that handle textiles, animal care, manufacturing and processing, automobile repairs, and refining operations that expose workers to dust, hazardous chemicals, and fibers that cause lung problems. Additionally, some people who already have asthma may be exposed to triggers such as allergens, irritants, and extremes in temperature or humidity at the workplace. Individuals with work-related asthma are symptomatic at work and tend to improve when they are away from work. More than 250 agents have been identified as workplace triggers that lead to occupational asthma.

Work-related asthma comprises up to 20% of adult asthma cases. Out of the work-related asthma cases, about 20-27% consist of patients with pre-existing asthma that get aggravated at the workplace and up to 80% are new patients who develop asthma because of workplace exposure. According to the American Lung Association, occupational lung diseases are the most common form of work related illnesses.

Asthma Misdiagnosis and Asbestos Exposure Work History

Misdiagnosis is common among asbestos exposure victims. As the symptoms of most asbestos-related lung diseases are almost similar to other common lung conditions, we strongly advise individuals with a history of asbestos exposure – particularly smokers – to undergo a biannual medical examination, which will help prevent late detection of any unfortunate condition that has developed. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma stage 1 are similar to those caused by asthma and are likely for the early stages of pleural mesothelioma to be wrongly diagnosed as asthma. A characteristic symptom caused by stage 1 pleural mesothelioma is a feeling of slight to moderate pressure in the chest, which is a result of fluid build-up within the lining of the lungs. All the other symptoms are not specific to mesothelioma, but if you have been exposed to asbestos material in the past, it is better to consult a mesothelioma specialist as early as possible. Diagnosing the condition at an early stage will drastically improve your prognosis. You will have several treatment options if you have been diagnosed at stage 1 mesothelioma because the disease will be confined to just the lung lining and will be easily removable through either surgery or chemotherapy alone. For this reason, we encourage you to always seek a second opinion, preferably from a specialist in asbestos-related diseases.

In addition to jeopardizing your treatment and prognosis, asthma misdiagnosis can also lead to recovering less amount of compensation than that you are entitled to because the financial compensation is mainly decided on the basis of the severity of your disease.

If you lost a family member who was suffering from asthma, our attorneys will recover compensation on their behalf

Numerous victims of asbestos exposure avoid seeking legal assistance when they are alive because of many reasons including the fear of going through a long process to receive compensation. Generally, individuals diagnosed with asthma are reluctant to file a claim because they think their illness is not severe enough to claim for financial compensation. However, a lawyer specialized in handling asbestos exposure cases would have been helpful in recovering the rightful compensation from one or multiple asbestos trust funds.

With more than three decades of experience in handling asbestos litigations, our attorneys will evaluate your case and try to recover as much compensation as your departed family member was entitled to receive. The only documents you will need to provide us are the victim’s work history and medical records. We will completely handle major aspects of the legal process and your involvement will be quite minimal. If the products manufactured by the company at which your family member worked were responsible for their diagnosis, then you will be eligible to receive money from the asbestos trust fund that was set up by the employer.

However, it is important to file a wrongful death claim within the statute of limitation period, which is 1-3 years and depends on the state you belong to. Therefore, it is necessary to seek legal assistance as early as possible for a successful outcome.

At Environmental Litigation Group, P.C., we have represented over 230,000 asbestos victims and we are willing to help you, too. For additional information, contact us at 205.328.9200.

How Do We Handle Asthma Cases?

During the past 30 years, our law firm has received numerous requests for legal assistance from people with a diagnosis of asthma coupled with a past history of asbestos exposure. The process of recovering compensation in such cases is quite challenging compared to cases of clients with more serious illnesses. Our attorneys eagerly take up asthma cases and work towards helping you receive the financial compensation that you are entitled to.

Once you have approached us and had a consultation, we will begin with the legal process, which generally consists of the following steps:

• Our team of experts conduct thorough research and discover additional information regarding your case that can eventually grant you a larger amount of compensation
• Your lawyer will prepare your asbestos claim and submit the necessary documents.
• Your attorney will decide upon the best type of claim and submit it to the board of trustees with sufficient evidence of your employment and diagnosis.
• After the approval of your claim, within a period of six months, you will be receiving your financial compensation on a monthly basis from the asbestos trust fund.

Call 205.328.9200 Asbestos Screening