Exposure to toxic substances is a common cause of lung cancer. After smoking, the leading cause of lung cancer is exposure to radon, which is a radioactive gas that can seep from the soil into your home. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reports that two out of five homes in Minnesota have dangerous radon levels, and properties have high average radon levels in 78 percent of counties.
Another toxic substance that causes lung cancer is asbestos. Asbestos was used widely to create different products for many years. Although its use is now restricted, some people still contract mesothelioma and other lung diseases from exposure to this natural fiber.
If you or your family has contracted lung cancer because of someone exposing you to these toxic substances, you could be eligible to receive compensation. A Minnesota lung cancer lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help you with your case and obtain a financial award for you in payment for your suffering. Contact our team at (800) 217-6099 to learn more.
Causes and Treatment of Lung Cancer
While smoking tobacco is the most frequent cause of and risk factor for lung cancer, non-smokers also contract this dangerous disease. The American Cancer Society (ACS) explains that common causes of lung cancer in non-smokers are:
- Exposure to radon
- Exposure to asbestos
- Secondhand smoke
- Air pollution
- Exposure to diesel exhaust
- Exposure to other chemicals
According to the American Lung Association, lung cancer is the highest cause of cancer-related death. It accounts for 25 percent of all cancer deaths and kills more people every year than breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and other types of cancer. Lung cancer occurs when, after being damaged from inhaling dangerous chemicals or substances, the cells in the lungs begin to mutate, grow abnormally, and cause tumors.
Common medical treatments for lung cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. These treatments have a higher chance of success if the cancer is diagnosed early. Even when effective, the cost of cancer treatment can be prohibitive. Health insurance may not cover all those expenses.
If you believe that your lung cancer or your loved one’s death due to lung cancer was the result of toxic exposure that someone else is responsible for, you could be able to recover the costs of medical treatment and other losses by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
Why and When You Should File a Personal Injury Lawsuit
If your or your loved one’s lung cancer is the result of someone exposing you to toxic substances, they bear legal responsibility for your suffering. Your landlord, employer, or a distributor or manufacturer could be liable for your exposure and resultant cancer. You should not have to suffer even more beyond the physical and emotional toll of lung cancer by also taking on the financial burden it causes.
Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit for your own suffering or a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your loved one offers you an opportunity not only to receive financial compensation but also to bring the responsible party to justice. Your lawsuit could also help deter more negligent behavior in the future.
If your case qualifies, you may want to consult a Minnesota lung cancer lawyer as soon as possible, because your right to recover compensation could be affected by a statute of limitations. Minnesota Statutes §541.07 gives you two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, and Minnesota Statutes §573.02 gives you three years for a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you miss these deadlines, you could lose your legal right to compensation. Reach out to the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to learn about your legal options for pursuing financial compensation for you or your loved one’s lung cancer.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 217-6099
Types of Recoverable Damages
The categories of financial compensation you can sue for and receive when someone causes you to suffer through their negligence are called damages. In Minnesota, the two main types of damages you could be able to recover are called special and general.
Special damages are particular costs incurred because of the injury done to you. These costs can be calculated clearly, such as:
- The costs of past, present, and future medical treatment
- The loss of income due to your injury
- The loss of future income due to your injury
- Other specific costs, such as mileage for driving to doctor’s appointments, the cost of hiring necessary household help, etc.
- The burial or funeral costs of your loved one’s death
General damages, on the other hand, can be more difficult to quantify. These losses are also real consequences of your injury that you could receive payment for:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Impairment
- Loss of consortium
- Other non-economic losses
How Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Assist You
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our mission is to help victims receive justice. We work on contingency, which means we never charge you any fees unless we can recover financial compensation for you.
A Minnesota lung cancer lawyer and the rest of our team could help you recover compensation for your lung cancer by:
- Meeting with you and advising you of your legal option
- Obtaining your medical records and consulting with medical professionals to gather evidence of the cause of your lung cancer
- Investigating to determine when, where, how, and why you suffered exposure to toxic substances
- Collecting proof of who is liable for your exposure to radon or asbestos
- Identifying and calculating all the damages you may be able to recover
- Pursuing fair compensation on your behalf by negotiating with insurance providers, filing a personal injury lawsuit, pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit, or making a claim on a victims’ fund
We can manage your case so you and your family can focus your time and energy on healing from this disease or mourning the loss of your loved one. Reach out to us at (800) 217-6099 to begin your case with a no-obligation, cost-free consultation, and learn more about how we could help you.
Call or text (800) 217-6099 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form