Asbestos exposure is almost exclusively responsible for the development of pleural plaques, a condition which involves the thickening of the outer lining of the lungs (pleura). Pleural plaques typically appear within 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos and although this condition is benign, it is not impossible for a form of cancer to affect the lungs in the future.
Call 205.328.9200 Asbestos ScreeningWith a pleural plaque diagnosis you will need to travel to our medical facility in Birmingham, AL if you wish to receive compensation. Additional no-charge testing will be required, generally a chest x-ray and a physical exam.
Call 205.328.9200 Asbestos ScreeningWhen the accumulation of asbestos fibers in the lungs causes severe irritation, pleural plaques may form. The average period of time during which this lung condition develops is 40 years. People who suffer from pleural plaques rarely experience distressing symptoms. Even though the risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer is relatively low after the occurrence of pleural plaques, it is recommended to undergo regular screenings, as a malignant disease may develop with this condition in certain cases.
Due to the absence of clear symptoms, pleural plaques are generally discovered incidentally, during a chest X-ray or a CT scan. Fibrous thickening can occasionally extend to the diaphragm as well. The risk of developing pleural plaques increases with the duration of asbestos exposure. While pleural plaques are not usually accompanied by any signs, it is crucial to notify your physician immediately if you start experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, as they may indicate the onset of a more serious disease:
There are multiple portions of the lungs pleural plaques can form on, depending on where the inhaled asbestos fibers have mostly accumulated. Often developing on the parietal pleura, the layer of tissue inside the ribcage, they can also occur on the visceral pleura, which covers the lungs. The diaphragm can be affected by this condition, too. According to medical studies, asbestos fibers reach the pleural space via the lymphatic system. Over time, pleural plaques may calcify, but they rarely cause serious breathing problems. Calcification takes place in approximately 20% of people who suffer from pleural plaques.
Pleural thickening, another lung condition stemming from asbestos exposure, might develop as well in individuals with pleural plaques. This condition is more severe and might hinder the normal functioning of the lungs to a considerable extent. It is worthy of note that smoking increases the risk of developing diseases such as COPD and lung cancer in pleural plaques patients, so quitting is highly recommended.
Unlike the majority of diseases asbestos exposure causes, pleural plaques entail a good prognosis and require no treatment, as they are typically asymptomatic. In the vast majority of cases, pleural plaques are the consequence of inhaling asbestos fibers and their presence are a nearly certain indicator of past exposure. If a person with a history of occupational asbestos exposure and a diagnosis of pleural plaques experiences bothersome symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, they are very likely to have developed a second, more serious lung disease.
Since pleural plaques are almost without exception the result of occupational asbestos exposure, people with this diagnosis are eligible for compensation from the asbestos trust fund of their former employer. By filing a claim for Pleural Disease I or Pleural Disease II – depending on the severity of your illness – with the aid of a lawyer who specializes in asbestos cases, you are bound to receive the money you deserve for your injury. Nevertheless, in order to qualify for compensation, you must have bilateral pleural plaques.
It is important to keep in mind that the diseases asbestos exposure is responsible for often have similar symptoms, as well as a close appearance on chest X-rays and CT scans, which is why we strongly encourage you to seek a second and even a third opinion from other medical specialists. This is a sure way of avoiding misdiagnosis, which is extremely common among victims of asbestos exposure. Furthermore, we also advise you to keep a close eye on your health after receiving financial compensation, as you are unfortunately susceptible to developing a second asbestos-related lung disease.
Veterans diagnosed with pleural plaques are also entitled to a series of benefits from the VA, such as disability compensation, which a skillful attorney with vast experience in asbestos litigation will be able to obtain. Regardless of the military branch you served in, you should consider applying for VA benefits if you suffer from this condition, as the money will help you afford quality healthcare and the periodical screenings you might want to undergo to avoid the late discovery of a second pulmonary disease.
Have you recently been diagnosed with bilateral pleural plaques and have a history of workplace asbestos exposure? If so, we encourage you to seek legal assistance at your earliest convenience, as you are eligible for financial compensation. While pleural plaques do not generally cause distressing symptoms, they are on the list of diseases for which asbestos trust funds offer compensation, so you should not hesitate to contact a lawyer specialized in asbestos exposure cases. They will eagerly aid you in recovering the money you are entitled to within the shortest time possible, since the legal process is far less complex and faster than standard litigation. With nearly 30 years of experience in this area of practice, our attorneys have successfully pursued compensation for over 233,000 clients and will be glad to lend you a helping hand. Our standard fee is 40% and we work on a contingency fee basis, which means we collect the fee once we have recovered the compensation you are entitled to.
Claim EvaluationAsbestos ScreeningWhile most people who are now ill as a result of asbestos exposure were in contact with this carcinogen in the workplace, 10% of victims have never handled asbestos themselves. The reason why some individuals came to struggle with terrible diseases in spite of not working with asbestos refers to secondary exposure. When one inhales asbestos fibers without being nearby the source of pollution, secondary exposure takes place. Because asbestos workers were rarely asked to wear protective equipment on the job or change their clothes at the end of the day, they would often end up carrying toxic fibers home, where their loved ones would later unknowingly breathe them in. As a consequence, many of their family members were subsequently diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, including pleural plaques.
If you used to share the same living space with someone who handled asbestos in the workplace, you were inevitably exposed to the mineral, which makes you prone to developing a serious disease in the future. In the regrettable event you already have a bilateral pleural plaque diagnosis, we advise you to contact our attorneys who, along with their resourceful legal team, will strive to recover maximum compensation for your injury. It is also the asbestos trust fund set up by the former employer of the asbestos worker in your family which will provide you with the money you are eligible for. For additional information, please feel free to give us a call and we will gladly assist you.
It is not uncommon for people who suffer from asbestos-related diseases to avoid claiming the money they deserve during their lifetime, be it out of fear of a long legal process or because they believe they do not meet the eligibility requirements. Accordingly, numerous asbestos victims pass away without benefiting from their compensation, which could have helped them afford better healthcare and treatment.
Nonetheless, a lawyer whose main area of practice is asbestos litigation can recover compensation for a client whose diagnosis was pleural plaques and is no longer alive at the request of their family. The only documents the attorney will need are the employment and medical records of the deceased person. While the sum of money they can obtain on their behalf will be smaller than if the victim had filed a claim themselves, the compensation will undoubtedly be useful to those left behind.
Due to the absence of clear symptoms, pleural plaques are generally discovered incidentally, during a chest X-ray or a CT scan.
The compensation you will receive highly depends on factors such as the severity of your diagnosis, the size of the asbestos trust fund you file with, as well as the percentage they pay out.
Every asbestos case is unique and there are numerous factors that might influence the waiting time. Depending on the situation, asbestos claims will result in financial compensation within one month to one year.
Yes. The money you were receiving from asbestos trust funds during your lifetime will go to your family after your death. If, however, you had not filed a claim, your family can still recover compensation.
In order to receive compensation, you need to file a claim with the asbestos trust fund set up by the company responsible for your injury. A lawyer will speed up the process significantly.
The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time you have to file an asbestos claim after diagnosis. It varies between one and six years, depending on the state you live in.
Diseases caused by asbestos exposure affect 20% of former industrial workers and 30% of veterans. Every year, between 12,000 and 15,000 people lose their lives to diseases that stem from asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a carcinogen responsible for the occurrence of terrible diseases. However, most people who became ill had been exposed to high levels of asbestos over the course of several years.
Since they were not required to wear any protective equipment on the job, many engineering, manufacturing, maintenance workers, and military veterans were exposed to asbestos unknowingly or inadvertently while performing their everyday duties on the job.
Disability compensation is a financial benefit the VA pays out only to veterans with diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, or asbestosis. Therefore, a veteran is not eligible for it in the absence of a proper asbestos-related diagnosis.
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