MESOTHELIOMA LAWYER IN ILLINOIS

ILLINOIS MESOTHELIOMA LAWYERS, LAWSUITS AND SETTLEMENTS

Our mesothelioma attorneys at Stein & Shulman, LLC understand the complex legal issues and unique challenges that asbestos victims must confront. Effective asbestos litigation requires representation by a lawyer who understands the diverse facets of a toxic tort case, including the way people get exposed, state and federal law, regulations relevant to asbestos exposure, and the complex health issues and medical needs of individuals suffering from serious asbestos-related medical conditions.

OCCUPATIONS WITH HIGH PROBABILITY OF ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

In the past, certain jobs posed an increased risk of workers developing an asbestos-related illness. Asbestos exposure was common among those who worked in factories or on ships, as well as those who engaged in vehicle repair, construction, and various other trades. If you have worked in any of the following industries, especially before 1980, you may be at an increased risk of developing an asbestos-related illness:

  • Insulating: Because asbestos has heat-resistant properties, it was commonly used in insulation. If you worked as an insulator or lagger (a person responsible for handling asbestos fibers by hand and slowly pouring them into a rotating drum), you may have been exposed to asbestos-containing pipe covering, block insulation, cement, or lath (a substance that used to be combined with plaster to create walls before the invention of drywall).
  • Ship Building, Maintenance & Operation: Due to high levels of heat on ships, asbestos (also known as refractory material) was often used inside boilers and around engines, turbines, steam pipes, and valves on ships. If your employment involved building, operating, and/or maintaining marine vessels, there is a possibility that you were exposed to high levels of airborne asbestos.
  • Power Plants: Asbestos-containing products were often used to insulate pipes and other equipment in power plants. Asbestos materials also were found in gaskets that are placed between pipes and often used around boilers. If you worked in a power plant, you may have been exposed to asbestos from these products.
  • Pipefitters or Plumbers: Typically, gaskets and other fittings containing asbestos were used in pipes, valves, and other plumbing products. If you worked as a plumber, pipefitter, welder, steamfitter, refractory worker, or electrician, you may have been exposed to airborne asbestos through the materials you used daily in your job.
  • Mining: Asbestos is a naturally-occurring silicate mineral that has been mined commercially since the late nineteenth century. If you mined for asbestos, talc, or vermiculite, you were likely exposed to high levels of asbestos dust in mine shafts, which often had poor ventilation.
  • Construction: In previous decades, asbestos products were routinely used in both commercial and home construction, including floor tiles, plaster, fireproofing materials, caulking, and insulation. If you worked in home or commercial construction, or did home repair projects for yourself or friends, you may have been exposed to asbestos in these products.
  • Textiles: Asbestos was used extensively in the manufacture of heat-resistant products, including gloves, blankets, and pads. If you worked in heat-resistant textile manufacturing, it is possible that you were exposed to airborne asbestos.
  • Railroad: Asbestos insulation was regularly used on boilers, steam pipes, and hot water lines. Railroad workers were exposed to asbestos when removing and maintaining this equipment. If you worked in the railroad industry, you may be at increased risk for an asbestos-related illness.
  • Auto Mechanics: Certain car parts were manufactured with asbestos, including brake pads and clutch discs. If you worked on automobiles as a job or performed maintenance on your own vehicles, you may have been exposed to asbestos.
  • Appliance Shops: Older appliances often contain asbestos parts, including gaskets and insulation. If you have repaired older appliances, it is possible that you were exposed to airborne asbestos.

Damages Our Experienced Chicago Asbestos Exposure Lawyers Might Seek

Although these industries represent the highest risks for asbestos exposure, there are many other ways that you could have come in contact with airborne asbestos. If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos or been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, such as asbestosis or mesothelioma, it is critical that you have a seasoned asbestos attorney on your side to protect your rights and fight for the compensation that you and your family need. Since asbestos exposure essentially constitutes the exclusive cause of mesothelioma, typically, you can presume that you have been exposed to this carcinogen if you have been diagnosed with this deadly form of cancer.

ADVOCATING FOR VICTIMS EXPOSED TO TOXIC SUBSTANCES – CHICAGOLAND ASBESTOS EXPOSURE LAWYER

Our Chicago mesothelioma lawyers at Stein and Shulman, LLC recognize the terrible toll that loss of a loved one or living with a potentially fatal disease exacts on a victim and his or her family. Whether you were exposed to asbestos while at work or you suffered third-party exposure because you were in charge of washing your spouse’s work uniforms, you might have a right to compensation for some or all of the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Lost income (both past and future)
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Burial/funeral costs (wrongful death actions)
  • Punitive damage (egregious conduct)

Contact Stein & Shulman Today

We invite you to contact us if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or you have lost a loved one to this form of cancer. Our Chicago asbestos exposure attorneys at Stein & Shulman, LLC can provide the perfect balance of experience, expertise, empathy, diligence, and tenacity to help you obtain the best possible outcome for you and your family. If you or your loved one has suffered a serious asbestos-related illness, contact us today at 312.422.0500 or email us to schedule your no obligation free consultation.

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