Construction Site Accidents – Asbestos Litigation

Asbestos has been widely used for many decades, until it became apparent that it was a health hazard, leading to the ban of using asbestos. Although asbestos was present in many products that are used on a daily basis, such as floor tiles, roofing, brakes and insulation, the people with the highest health risk are those working on construction sites.

The inhalation of tiny asbestos particles can lead to asbestosis or mesothelioma and is most common among persons working in shipyards, construction and heating. All these areas have used substantial quantities of asbestos. Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease that can produce shortness of breath, coughing and permanent lung damage. Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer, where malignant cancer cells are found in the sac lining of the chest and lungs.

Asbestos litigation has been extremely successful, with plaintiffs winning settlements against the manufacturers, the companies who installed asbestos and workers that had to work with asbestos. Because of this, if you have developed asbestosis or mesothelioma, it is highly likely that you will have a strong personal injury lawsuit on your hands. In some cases, the disease may only manifest itself years after the exposure or family members may also become sick, as a result of being exposed to asbestos dust transfer from another family member that worked with the substance. Either way, it is important to keep meticulous notes and medical records in order to be able to launch a successful case.