Lung cancer is not a disease that afflicts smokers only. Non-smokers can be exposed to chemicals and substances that may cause cancerous changes in their lungs, and finding out where you were exposed to such substances may lead you to the person or people responsible for causing your illness. The time and effort required to bring a lung cancer-related lawsuit can be beyond what you are willing or able to put forth, especially if you are undergoing cancer treatments. A Virginia lung cancer lawyer may be able to handle your case from start to finish, relying on any experts or professionals who can help with your case.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 217-6099 for a free consultation about seeking compensation from those responsible for your or a loved one’s lung cancer.
What You Face with Lung Cancer
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that there are two primary kinds of lung cancer, and the specific type that you or a loved one is diagnosed with could affect your experience with the disease.
The two primary forms of lung cancer are:
- Small cell lung cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
Mesothelioma is another form of lung cancer that may be particularly relevant to non-smokers. Per the CDC, non-small lung cancer is the more common form of the disease. The specific type of cancer that you are diagnosed with may affect the treatment course that is recommended to you. The stage that the cancer has reached may also affect your treatment.
The National Cancer Institute notes that currently available treatments may not cure lung cancer, but could prolong your life. Some of those treatments include:
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery to remove parts of the lung
- Targeted therapy, or the use of drugs to combat the cancer
- Immunotherapy
You may have other treatment options available to you, and speaking with a doctor about your treatment options may be the most effective way to determine what treatments you may undergo.
The first priority is your health. Once you fully understand the type and stage of your lung cancer and choose a treatment path, you may turn your attention to another question: what caused your cancer?
Particularly if you are a non-smoker, a lung cancer diagnosis may come as a shock to you. A lawyer may be able to help you understand the possible causes of lung cancer in non-smokers and also help you think through how your lung cancer may have been caused.
Asbestos and Radon Are Two Possible Lung Cancer Causes
Asbestos and radon are two potential causes of lung cancer that generally do not get the press that smoking does. One of these substances could be responsible for you or your loved one’s lung cancer.
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no color or smell. The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that radon is the cause of approximately 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. You may be exposed to radon through the natural breakdown of radium in your surrounding environment.
Asbestos is a mineral that has been extensively used in construction because of its resistance to heat and corrosion, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) explains. Asbestos fibers that enter the lungs may cause changes that eventually lead to the onset of lung cancer.
A Virginia lung cancer lawyer may help you determine whether you could have been exposed to either of these harmful substances. If you were, your lawyer will aim to determine who is responsible for your exposure, as they could owe you compensation related to your lung cancer. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free consultation.
You May Receive Compensation
Hiring a lawyer to bring a lawsuit may come with a clear goal: to obtain compensation meant to cover your cancer-related losses. Any party responsible for exposing you to asbestos, radon, or another harmful substance that may have caused your lung cancer could be financially responsible for some or all of your losses.
Fighting cancer can be costly in several ways. Some of the losses that you may experience because of a lung cancer diagnosis are:
- The loss of a loved one
- Substantial medical costs required to diagnose and treat lung cancer
- Lost income if lung cancer prevents you from working
- Physical pain
- Mental and psychological suffering
- The cost of medications related to your cancer
- The cost of psychological therapy for mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Permanent disability related to lung cancer
Pain and suffering may be a significant portion of your losses, as lung cancer may prove to be fatal. Medical costs may also put great financial strain on you and your family. Any party who contributed to your lung cancer or a loved one’s cancer may be ordered to pay you for your losses.
Your Lawyer Will Fight Your Legal Battle
While you are battling cancer or assisting a loved one who is doing the same, your lawyer will fight for any compensation that you deserve. They will handle your lawsuit from start to finish while defending your rights or the rights of a loved one.
Some of the duties that a lawyer may perform are:
- Familiarizing themselves with the details of your lung cancer
- Relying on professionals to help determine the cause of your lung cancer
- Conducting any necessary tests or analyses that determine what caused your cancer
- Identifying liable parties
- Making the legal argument for those parties’ liability
- Determining how much compensation you are owed
- Filing your lawsuit and all other lawsuit-related paperwork
- Making any necessary lawsuit-related appearances on your behalf
- Negotiating a settlement or completing a trial
Your lawyer will fight for the financial relief that you deserve from those responsible for causing your cancer.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm does not shy away from tough cases, and we will make securing justice for you our priority. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 217-6099 for a free consultation about hiring a Virginia lung cancer lawyer.
We work on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you pay nothing upfront or out of pocket, and we only receive a fee if you win.