Being exposed to asbestos can have many unforeseen circumstances down the road. Of course, the most serious circumstance is the development of cancer and other diseases as a result. However, one unforeseen circumstance is the cost of medical treatment. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of how worker’s compensation can apply to asbestos exposure- and the peace of mind and financial help it can bring to those who are suffering. Here’s what you need to know about asbestos exposure and worker’s compensation.





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Si cree que estuvo expuesto al asbesto, incluso cuando era niño, hable con un proveedor de atención médica sobre pruebas y exámenes para ayudar a diagnosticar cicatrices pulmonares y detectar enfermedades relacionadas con enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto.





¿Qué es el asbesto?

Asbestos is actually a banner term that describes various silicate minerals. These minerals come in different colors and they have differences in terms of how they look, as well as the product applications that work best for each type of asbestos. 

However, one thing that all varieties of asbestos have in common is their extreme durability. Asbestos is resistant to things like melting, corrosion, evaporation, and decomposition, and it does not conduct electricity. For everything from building materials to stoves and respirators, asbestos was the go-to material prior to its ban in America in the latter half of the 20th century.

This is what has made asbestos so popular for millennia, and why manufacturing companies in the modern era were willing to use asbestos despite decades of known (and suppressed) information relating to the health risks for those who are exposed to asbestos fibers.

“Generally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure”

Fuente: Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH)1

Asbestos Health dangers

Once the microscopic asbestos fibers make their way into our bodies, typically by being inhaled or swallowed, they embed into the lungs and other tissues in the body. Over time, this causes scarring and damage to crucial bodily organs and can lead to the development of cancer. This long latency of asbestos means that people often remain unaware that they have been exposed until this damage reaches a tipping point, decades down the road. By the time noticeable symptoms are experienced, the asbestos fibers have done serious, and sometimes fatal damage.  

“Algunas fibras de asbesto pueden pasar por alto... las defensas naturales de su cuerpo... y alojarse en lo profundo de sus pulmones. Esas fibras pueden permanecer en su lugar durante mucho tiempo y es posible que nunca se eliminen”.

Fuente: Asociación Americana del Pulmón

How Asbestos is Used in the Workplace

The workplace is one of the most common examples of asbestos exposure that people can experience. This form of exposure, called exposición ocupacional, means that someone is exposed to asbestos because they directly dealt with the mineral, or because it was present within the work facility. Some of the more common examples include factories, refineries, foundries, and shipyards.

“La evidencia general sugiere que no existe un nivel seguro de exposición al asbesto”. no hay nivel seguro de exposición al asbesto."

Fuente: Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH)2

It’s easy to think that since asbestos is now banned, workplace risks no longer exist. However, this is misleading. Virtually every building prior to 1980 contained asbestos in some form. While materiales que contienen asbesto have been replaced or outright banned in many places throughout the United States, the risk still exists for those who work in older buildings. 

Image Asbestos Workers article body

The Workplace Duty to Warn About Asbestos

Unfortunately, one of the most popular examples in all of asbestos history has to do with Nellie Kershaw. Her fame is also a tragedy, as she is noted as the first-ever recorded victim of asbestos exposure. What rightly makes this tragedy a crime is a fact that her company, Turner Brothers, refused to support or compensate her for her asbestos illness, which she later died from. This early example teaches us that companies like Turner Brothers were unwilling to recognize asbestosis as something that should be covered by worker’s compensation, and so long as asbestos was not explicitly included as an occupational disease in the Workmen’s Compensation Act, they were determined to deny any guilt or financial responsibility for workers like Nellie.

Eventually, the growing trend of asbestosis and the availability of research in the public domain served as evidence that asbestos was a deadly disease. Thankfully, many courts have held asbestos companies responsible for a breach of their deber de cuidar. These companies had a responsibility to warn their employees of the dangers of asbestos exposure, but whether out of fear, greed, or outright negligence, they failed to do so. 

It is important to note that this legal duty of care can also apply to homes where secondary exposure can occur. If you are aware of the presence of asbestos in your home, those who are exposed could hold you liable if la negligencia on your part can be proven.

If you worked in an industrial occupation or worksite before 1982, you were likely exposed to asbestos fibers at some point.

El amianto es muy resistente al calor, la presión y la corrosión, por lo que se utilizó en muchos productos, vehículos y edificios. En particular, muchos lugares de trabajo como fábricas, refinerías, fundiciones y astilleros implican grandes cantidades de calor y fueron construidos con mucho amianto.

Asbestos and Workers Compensation

If you have been exposed to asbestos at work, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation. The good news is, many of these claims can be processed quickly. If approved, these can be used for medical benefits, income, and death. However, there are stipulations and restrictions related to worker’s compensation and asbestos. Because of this, it is sometimes better to pursue different compensation options. Here are a few examples:

Demandas de Asbestos 

Las demandas por asbesto can include product liability, premises liability, and wrongful death. The compensation for these includes punitive, economic, and non-economic damages. These lawsuits are effective in covering the burden of medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punishment- holding companies liable for negligence.

Even in the case of second-hand exposure, a lawsuit can be filed to hold another party responsible for asbestos-related illnesses. However, because this is not always the fastest option to receive money, there is also the option of receiving compensation through a fideicomisos de asbesto. These funds, set aside by companies to pay for asbestos injuries, are often faster ways to receive compensation without the need to file a lawsuit.

¿Califica usted para una compensación?

Descubra rápida y fácilmente cómo estuvo expuesto buscando en WARD, la base de datos de asbesto más grande del planeta.

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Online Database | W.A.R.D

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to asbestos exposure, determining if you qualify for compensation, and even knowing for sure if your or a family member’s workplace can be proven to contain asbestos. To add difficulty to the situation, many worksites or even companies no longer exist. The good news is, the worldwide asbestos research database, W.A.R.D, is a free online tool that can be used to look up specific worksites.

If you are exploring the options of worker’s compensation for yourself or a loved one, remember that you don’t have to bear the burden and stress of figuring everything out. Instead, reach out to the professionals at AsbestosClaims.law. They can help you each step of the way.

AsbestosClaims.Law

Para Justinian C. Lane, obtener una indemnización por las víctimas del asbesto es algo personal.

Los abuelos de Justiniano y su padre trabajaron con asbesto en su juventud y murieron de cánceres relacionados con el asbesto en sus últimos años.  

En el momento de cada una de sus muertes, nadie en la familia de Justiniano sabía que eran elegibles para presentar una demanda por asbesto y buscar una compensación de los fideicomisos de asbesto.

Debido a que nadie en la familia de Justiniano conocía sus opciones, nunca recibieron compensación alguna por la muerte de sus seres queridos. 

Si cree que su lesión o la de su familiar estuvo relacionada con la exposición al asbesto, podría tener derecho a una compensación significativa.

Este es dinero que podría usar para cubrir los costos de los servicios de remoción de asbesto, pagar el tratamiento médico y proteger de manera preventiva su bienestar físico. 

También hay fideicomisos de asbesto que ofrecen compensación mucho más rápida y fácilmente (sin presentar una demanda).

Si desea ayuda para presentar un reclamo, ponerse en contacto por correo electrónico a [email protected]  o llámenos o envíenos un mensaje de texto al (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) o (206) 455-9190. Escucharemos su historia y le explicaremos sus opciones. Y nunca cobramos por nada a menos que reciba dinero en su bolsillo.

Además de demandas legales, discapacidad de veteranos, seguridad social y protección del empleo como compensación de trabajadores, FELA y La ley de Jones para los trabajadores marítimos, hay fideicomisos de asbesto que se han establecido para indemnizar a los perjudicados por el asbesto sin tener que presentar una demanda.

No hay riesgo ni costo para hablar con uno de nuestro personal sobre su litigio de asbesto. No hay cargos a menos que reciba dinero.

Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes adicionales relacionadas con el asbesto, visite nuestro sitio web y página de YouTube para ver videos, infografías y respuestas a sus preguntas sobre el asbesto, incluida la salud y la seguridad, prueba de asbesto, la eliminación del asbesto de su hogar y edificio, y información legal sobre la compensación por lesiones de asbesto.

Presentamos la base de datos de información sobre asbesto más grande del planeta.

W.A.R.D., que significa Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, ayuda a los clientes a reducir cuándo y dónde pueden haber estado expuestos, así como qué productos aún pueden contener asbesto.WARD también ayudará a indicar los tipos de compensación ya cuánto puede tener derecho una persona.

1 Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH) Hoja informativa sobre asbesto.
2 Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH), Hoja informativa sobre asbesto.