Smoking cigarettes and smoke-based products are the leading cause of lung cancer. However, other environmental factors can cause your healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells. Your home, work, or occupation may have contributed to your condition if you were around cancer-causing chemicals.
Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). Early detection is critical for treating the condition efficiently. You could sue your medical provider if they failed to detect cancer and caused you or your family member harm.
If you need a Schaumburg lung cancer lawyer, our Pintas & Mullins Law Firm team can help you start the process of seeking reimbursement for your losses. Contact us at (800) 217-6099 to speak to one of our representatives about your case. You can schedule a free consultation today.
Seeking Compensation from Lung Cancer
In Illinois, you have two years to file a lawsuit for personal injury or the wrongful death of your family member, according to 735 ILCS §5/13-202 and 740 ILCS §180/2. However, to file a suit for medical malpractice, you have four years after the incident or two years after discovering the incident.
If your job directly contributed to your lung cancer, you may want to file against your employer. Some professions require employees to be around known carcinogenic chemicals and products. A carcinogen is something that can cause cancer. Some carcinogens include the following:
- Asbestos
- Radon
- Uranium
- Outdoor air pollution
You may also file a medical malpractice lawsuit if a health care provider’s care caused you harm or your loved one’s wrongful death. Medical malpractice cases can involve missing a lung cancer diagnosis, delaying treatment, or treatment that directly caused a patient’s injury.
Lung Cancer from Employment
Cancer-causing chemicals are in our homes, workplaces, and other buildings. You may have developed lung cancer if you work in an occupation that exposes you to these substances. Some professions that have a high risk of lung cancer include:
- Demolition and construction workers from exposure to airborne asbestos. Asbestos is in walls, floors, and ceilings. Manufacturers used asbestos in many products before discovering it can cause cancer.
- Insulators from exposure to vermiculite and asbestos. Insulation, like many products, contained these carcinogens. Workers face exposure when they remove old insulation.
- Workers in the auto industry. Mechanics and other employees who handle older car parts are likely to breathe in asbestos.
- Firefighters are exposed to asbestos, diesel exhaust, and several other carcinogens from the smoke. The chemical process of burning causes hundreds of carcinogens, and these toxins can penetrate the skin through their protective gear.
- Navy veterans and shipyard workers. Because of asbestos’ durability, ship manufacturers used it. Additionally, shipyard workers, such as machinists, electricians, and pipefitters, directly contacted asbestos for decades before the carcinogen discovery
- Any person who worked with asbestos directly, such as miners and plant workers.
Your employer may be financially responsible for covering your losses from lung cancer. For example, courts may find a business liable if it failed to warn employees about exposure to carcinogens. Simply providing protective gear or paying hazard pay may not be enough to avoid a lawsuit.
For a free legal consultation with a Lung Cancer Lawyer serving Schaumburg, call (800) 794-0444
Lung Cancer Medical Malpractice
You can have lung cancer for a long time before it is diagnosed. The symptoms of lung cancer can take longer to show up than other types of cancers. Medical professionals should note your ailments and health complaints. If they do not take your concerns seriously, the delay can mean the difference between life and death.
Symptoms of lung cancer can include the following:
- Coughing persistently or coughing up blood
- Color changes in your mucus and saliva
- Pain with an unknown cause in your torso and shoulders
- Recurring breathing-related conditions, such as pneumonia or bronchitis
- Wheezing or breath shortness
- Weight loss and appetite loss
- Face and neck swelling
- Abnormal sleepiness
Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional does not follow standards and causes harm to their patient. In addition to ignoring symptoms, failing to diagnose lung cancer can occur when the health care provider:
- Does not order needed tests
- Misreads test results like CT scans and X-rays
- Misdiagnoses lung cancer as another condition
- Does not refer you to a specialist as needed
Missed diagnoses are common in medical malpractice lawsuits. You or your Schaumburg lung cancer lawyer will need to show evidence of negligence–failure to provide reasonable care. You might have a case if a physician caused you or your loved one harm due to their care or lack of care.
You may be able to seek reimbursement for medical bills and more. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can fight on your behalf. Call us today to schedule a free consultation where you can get your questions answered.
The Responsible Party in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Most physicians and health care facilities carry insurance in case of a medical malpractice suit. In some cases, the provider and the building share the same insurance company.
You will need to notify the insurance companies of your wishes to sue either the employee or employer. This notification letter should also include the amount of compensation you seek.
Schaumburg Lung Cancer Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Awards You Can Request
You can sue for all losses associated with your lung cancer. This typically includes thousands in medical expenses from treatment. You can calculate the sum of your medical bills, medication, and medical equipment.
If your lawsuit is about a family member’s wrongful death, you could seek reimbursement for additional expenses. For instance, you can include all burial and funeral costs. You may also ask for additional awards if your family lost income due to your loved one’s death.
A Schaumburg lung cancer lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can fight for your side while you focus on recovery. We negotiate for financial awards in your favor, but ultimately, you decide to accept the insurance company’s offer. Contact us at (800) 217-6099 to schedule a free consultation today.
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