Most of us are aware of the correlation between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. But, did you know there are other environmental and workplace hazards that can significantly increase your risk of developing the disease?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, radon exposure contributes to about one-third of all lung cancer deaths. Asbestos is another harmful, lung cancer-causing substance that people worldwide come into contact within the workplace, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Other carcinogenic materials that may present an occupational lung cancer risk include arsenic, nickel, chromium, tar, and soot.
If you or your loved one developed lung cancer after exposure to a harmful substance at home or work, a Tinley Park lung cancer lawyer may be able to assist you with seeking compensation. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm want to help you fight for the awards you deserve. Call us today at (800) 217-6099.
Many Building Materials May Contain Asbestos
Because asbestos was used in a variety of building materials, those who work in construction trades, or live in homes where asbestos is disturbed, have a high risk of asbestos inhalation.
Products that may contain asbestos include:
- Ceiling, floor, and roof tiles
- Insulation
- Paint (including pipe and boiler insulation)
- Gas fireplaces
- Plastics
- Automotive brake shoes and clutch pads
- Cement
- Garden products containing vermiculite
- Wallboard patching compounds
- Some products containing talc
Shipyard workers, auto mechanics, building trades workers, pipefitters, and electricians are all at risk of coming into contact with asbestos-containing materials while on the job. People who work in remodeling or demolishing buildings, especially older structures, may release asbestos fibers from building materials into the air. This presents a risk to workers, as well as anyone living or working in the building. Only professionals should handle asbestos removal.
Radon Naturally Occurs in Our Environment
Radon gas enters the air when uranium, thorium, or/or radium break down in the soil, groundwater, or rocks. These metals are radioactive. When you breathe in radon, radioactive particles can get trapped inside the lungs. Prolonged exposure can increase the risk of getting lung cancer. According to the EPA, radon causes more than 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
Radon can seep from the ground into homes and buildings through pipes, cracks, and other openings. When radon becomes trapped indoors, it can accumulate at unsafe levels. Radon has no color, smell, or taste, so you cannot detect it without testing.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) states that if you rent a home, apartment, or residential building, the landlord must inform you prior to signing a lease if there is a known radon hazard. Sellers of residential buildings are not required to test for radon, but if they do, they must provide the test results to any buyers prior to the sale, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
For a free legal consultation with a Lung Cancer Lawyer serving Tinley Park, call (800) 794-0444
Understanding Liability
An employer, property owner, or another party could owe you compensation if their negligence or wrongdoing led to your lung cancer. Negligence is acting or failing to act with a reasonable duty of care.
An example of employer negligence may include a failure to notify employees about the risk of asbestos exposure, or worse, an attempt to conceal the dangers. It may also include failure to provide personal protective equipment or follow government safety standards.
Liability could rest with a property owner if they did not disclose, or attempted to hide, a known radon hazard or the presence of asbestos. A building company may bear responsibility if they improperly removed asbestos or concealed its presence.
These are not the only examples of who may be liable and when. If you believe asbestos, radon, or another toxic material caused your lung cancer, a Tinley Park lung cancer lawyer can help you investigate. An attorney can use medical records, employment records, residential history, expert testimony, witnesses, and more to attempt to prove another person’s negligence exposed you to carcinogens.
If the court agrees someone else is liable for your cancer, you could win compensation for your medical care. Your attorney will help you fight for a settlement that covers your past and future cancer treatments, as well as any other medical care you needed or will require. This may include hospital stays, surgical procedures, diagnostic imaging, home health aides, and medication.
In a civil lawsuit, you may also seek compensation for your pain and suffering. This may include a settlement for the mental and physical toll an illness like lung cancer takes and how it affects your quality of life. If you would like to pursue your case in court, 735 ILCS §5 allows two years to take action for personal injury.
Sadly, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, killing more than 150,000 Americans in 2018, according to the American Lung Association. If your loved one succumbed to lung cancer, you may be able to seek awards in their name. You can sue for their medical expenses, end-of-life expenses, and possibly seek survivor benefits. The statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits is two years under 740 ILCS §180.
Serving Clients in Illinois and Across the Nation
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has served clients across the country for more than three decades. Our goal is to remove the stress from the legal process so that you can focus on your health and your family. To that end, we serve our clients on contingency. This means you pay us nothing upfront or out of pocket. We will only charge you if we win a settlement or verdict in your favor.
A Tinley Park lung cancer lawyer can offer you local legal assistance with the backing of a nationwide firm. For more information and to take advantage of a no-cost consultation, contact our team at (800) 217-6099.
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