When you or a loved one receive a lung cancer diagnosis, you may wonder what caused you to develop the disease, especially if you never smoked. Exposure to radon gas and asbestos, often in the workplace, can lead to lung cancer and other related lung diseases. Whether you suffered exposure to these toxic substances in your home or at your worksite, you may be eligible for compensation related to your injuries. In this situation, an Elgin lung cancer lawyer may be able to help.
Determining the causes of your lung cancer and whether another party is liable for the circumstances that led to exposure to radon or asbestos is not always an easy task. By consulting Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, you can learn whether you have any valid legal claims arising from the exposure to toxic chemicals that led to your lung disease. Call (800) 217-6099 to get more information about your legal rights to compensation.
Lung Cancer Statistics in the United States
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer among both men and women. In 2020, the American Cancer Society researchers estimate that over 228,000 individuals will receive a new lung cancer diagnosis and that about 135,000 individuals will die from lung cancer. Lung cancer is by far the most common type of death from cancer for men and women; deaths from lung cancer each year are greater than the number of deaths from prostate, colon, and breast cancers combined.
You might assume that only people who have a history of smoking end up with a lung cancer diagnosis. However, the Mayo Clinic states that exposure to radon gas, asbestos, and other carcinogens also can lead to lung cancer, no matter if they smoked or not. Although your body usually can repair the damage that these substances cause to your lungs if you only have brief exposure to them, prolonged and repeated exposure over time can result in a greatly increased risk of lung cancer. As damage to regular cells occurs, cancer cells spread and multiple more rapidly.
Causes of Lung Cancer
Although smoking remains the most common form of lung cancer, this disease also impacts people who have never smoked. In many cases, nonsmokers who develop lung cancer have had significant exposure to toxic chemicals such as radon gas and asbestos.
Radon Gas
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that exposure to radon is the most common cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers and the second most common cause of lung cancer in all individuals. Nationwide, radon exposure causes about 21,000 annual lung cancer deaths.
The American Cancer Society describes radon as a colorless and odorless gas that occurs when radioactive elements break down in soil and rock. The gas then leaks or releases into the air and water sources, which can lead to radon exposure for individuals, primarily when they are indoors. Radon gas also attaches to dust, which individuals can breathe in. When constant exposure to high levels of radon occurs, individuals can develop lung cancer.
Asbestos
The American Cancer Society defines asbestos as a group of naturally occurring fibers that are a carcinogen for humans. Historically, many industries used asbestos in their products, as they are heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, and do not conduct electricity. You can often find asbestos in insulation, roofing shingles, automobile brake parts, and floor and ceiling tiles, among other products.
People often are exposed to asbestos in their workplaces, but individuals also may suffer exposure in their homes or other buildings if significant construction or remodeling is occurring. Exposure occurs when people breathe in or swallow asbestos fibers. Continued exposure over time to asbestos can lead to lung cancer, as well as other lung conditions such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
For a free legal consultation with a Lung Cancer Lawyer serving Elgin, call (800) 794-0444
Options for Compensation in Lung Cancer Claims
Courts have held many companies that exposed their workers to asbestos or radon responsible for the costs of their injuries. Compensation in a lung cancer claim can include payment of medical expenses, lost income, and physical disability, among others. In some cases, companies who already have settled lung cancer claims with other employees have set up special trust funds whose proceeds go to those current or former employees who develop lung cancer. An Elgin lung cancer lawyer can help facilitate the claims process and work to get compensation for your losses.
Alternatively, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation with the insurance company for the party or file a civil personal injury lawsuit against the party directly. You will need to present evidence that the employer failed to sufficiently protect you, failed to warn you, or otherwise unfairly exposed you to radon or asbestos. You also must prove that the radon or asbestos led to your eventual lung cancer diagnosis. As part of your suit, you must detail the losses that you have stemming from your illness and provide requested documentation to support those losses.
Elgin Lung Cancer Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Learn More About How We Can Help
When you develop lung cancer as a result of radon or asbestos exposure, you may have a claim for compensation against various parties. The only way to know for sure if you have a valid legal claim is to consult an Elgin lung cancer lawyer about your situation. We can analyze the circumstances that led to your exposure and subsequent lung cancer diagnosis to determine the identity of all responsible parties. We can take steps to hold those parties accountable for failing to protect you or properly warn you of the hazards of radon or asbestos exposure.
A lung cancer diagnosis can raise many concerns, including your ability to return to work and pay for extensive medical treatment as needed. As a result, the attorneys of
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm will take your case on a contingent-fee basis. This means that you pay nothing up front for our legal services. We get paid only when you receive a settlement for your injuries. Dial (800) 217-6099 today to get started on your lung cancer claim today.
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