The dangers of asbestos exposure have been known for centuries and countless studies have proven how harmful it can be for our health. Despite this knowledge, however, asbestos was still widely used in construction, shipbuilding, the military and other industries without considering the impact it would have on those who worked with it. You, or your loved one, developed mesothelioma or other asbestos related illness as a direct result of this.
As a worker, you didn’t even know that you were being exposed to a toxic material, but the company you worked for did. Legally speaking, this is called gross negligence and it’s punishable by law. Your company may have even tried to “cover-up” the facts, destroying evidence proving that your disease was caused by the work you did. This was a more common occurrence a few decades ago, when labor and trade unions were calling for safer working conditions, but it may still occur today.
Mesothelioma laws protect you
Laws that are related to asbestos and asbestos exposure have been passed to protect your rights. There are regulation statues, which limit or ban asbestos usage in industry and manufacture, while personal injury law and tort law protects your personal rights as a victim.
The sooner the better
However, it’s important you file a claim or take legal action as soon as you or your loved one has been diagnosed. This is because a statue of limitations exists in all states, which means that there is a time limit on when you can file a lawsuit related to damages caused by asbestos. The time limit varies from state to state. It can also take a long time to process a claim or obtain a verdict, during which you’ll still have to cope with the financial burden of lost income and necessary medical costs.
