If you or your loved one has lung cancer, it could be because of exposure to harmful substances in the home or workplace. An Orland Park lung cancer lawyer may be able to assist you in seeking compensation for your cancer treatments and other expenses. To learn more, call (800) 217-6099 to speak with the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm.
Radon and Lung Cancer
Smoking is the number-one cause of lung cancer, accounting for about 80 percent of all lung cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). However, the second-leading cause of lung cancer is radon.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), reports that 1,200 Illinois residents die from lung cancer caused by radon each year. Nationally, lung cancer caused by radon claims around 21,000 lives annually. Radon is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that is naturally emitted into the air when radioactive metals break down in the soil, rocks, and groundwater. Radon is dangerous to humans when it seeps into homes and buildings and becomes trapped.
Fortunately, you can test for radon fairly easily and cheaply, and radon is often mitigated through building repairs. Illinois does have laws pertaining to radon and home and apartment rentals and sales. According to the IEMA, if you rent a residence where dangerous levels of radon have been detected, your landlord must inform you of this in writing.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) states that the Illinois Radon Awareness Act and the Illinois Real Property Disclosure Act mandate sellers report any known indoor radon exposure and provide radon test results, if conducted, to buyers before the sale of a residential property. However, radon testing is not required. If a seller does a test and finds radon, they are not legally responsible for mitigation.
Asbestos and Other Cancer-Causing Substances
Another lung-cancer causing substance is asbestos. The fibers of this natural mineral can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma when inhaled. Larynx cancer and ovarian cancer also are also linked to asbestos exposure.
People are most commonly exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Because many building materials contain asbestos, especially in older buildings, electricians, insulators, plumbers, renovators, and demolition workers are among those at a higher risk of exposure.
People can also come into contact with asbestos in their homes, especially if a remodel disturbed materials containing the substance. It is critical that professionals remove asbestos. You should never try to remove it yourself or use someone who is not experienced in its safe handling.
Other lung cancer-causing substances found in some workplaces include nickel, diesel fumes, vinyl chloride, silica, beryllium, cadmium, and arsenic. If you believe exposure to a toxic and/or cancerous material caused your lung cancer, speak with an Orland Park lung cancer lawyer. An attorney can help you determine if an employer or another party may be liable for your illness.
For a free legal consultation with a Lung Cancer Lawyer serving Illinois, call (800) 217-6099
Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Lung cancer symptoms can vary from patient to patient and will be different depending on the severity of the disease and whether it has spread (metastasized). Common symptoms of lung cancer include:
- Wheezing
- Persistent coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Fatigue
- Sudden and/or unexplained weight loss
- Chest pain
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor. Let your healthcare provider know about any contact you may have had with radon, asbestos, or other carcinogens in the home or workplace.
If you have a known cancer risk, you may want to undergo a yearly cancer screening. According to the Mayo Clinic, your doctor can diagnose lung cancer using x-rays, CT scans, and/or a biopsy. Usually, the earlier cancer is detected, the more treatable it is. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted drug therapy, immunotherapy, and palliative care to help manage your symptoms.
Illinois Lung Cancer Lawyer Near Me (800) 217-6099
Financial Help with Your Medical Bills and More
If someone else is responsible for exposing you to lung cancer-causing substances, they may be liable for your damages. You can seek financial awards for your medical bills and future care needs, such as the cost of ongoing treatments. You may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, as well as a settlement to provide for your household expenses if you can no longer work because of your illness.
Lung cancer is painful, often requiring exhausting treatments that leave you unable to enjoy activities or even interact with your loved ones as you did in the past. A lawyer can help you seek compensation for reductions in your quality of life, physical pain, and emotional suffering. If your parent, spouse, or other family member died of lung cancer, you may be able to seek awards on their behalf in a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you would like to learn more about your legal options, do not wait too long to reach out to an attorney. In Illinois, you have two years to sue for personal injury under 735 ILCS 5. You have two years from the time of your loved one’s death to commence a wrongful death action under 740 ILCS 180. If the statute of limitations expires, you may not be able to pursue your case.
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Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Offers Legal Support
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm wants to help you seek the awards you deserve. An Orland Park lung cancer lawyer can focus on the legal battle so that you can focus on fighting your cancer. We have already achieved several successful lung cancer verdicts for clients who lived and/or worked in Illinois, including:
- $2.5 million for a man exposed to asbestos while working as a pipefitter in Chicago.
- $1.9 million for a man exposed to asbestos while working in a Chicago steel mill.
- $886,000 for an Illinois man with asbestos lung cancer caused by pipe cover insulation.
- $720,000 for an Illinois-based construction worker and boiler cleaner.
If you would like to learn more about how our firm can serve you, contact our team at (800) 217-6099.
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