Asbestosis Lawyer in Maryland

The widespread use of the mineral asbestos before the mid-1970s caused workers in a variety of industries to be exposed to this harmful substance and develop asbestosis, a chronic lung disease that can increase the risk of developing lung cancer.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this disease, an attorney may be able to file a lawsuit to hold the employer liable for using asbestos. Filing a lawsuit could also allow you to recover compensation for medical expenses and other damages caused by your illness.

The trusted Maryland asbestosis lawyers at The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl have many years of combined experience pursuing compensation for victims of on-the-job asbestos exposure. We have detailed knowledge of how to investigate these complex cases. Our compassionate attorneys understand the difficulties experienced by asbestosis victims and their families and are committed to aggressively pursuing fair compensation. Your initial consultation with our firm is free and we do not charge legal fees or costs unless we recover compensation.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form or call 410-244-7005.

What is Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a common asbestos-related disease that occurs when asbestos fibers reach air sacs in the lungs. Over time, continued exposure to these fibers causes scarring of the lung tissue, which reduces the ability of the lungs to deliver oxygen to the blood.

Symptoms of the damage done to the lungs by asbestosis may not appear for 10 to 40 years after initial exposure and can result in:

As the disease progresses, victims have more and more trouble breathing. Some people need breathing devices because they struggle to breathe on their own.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this disease, and it increases your risk of developing lung cancer. Asbestosis can also cause failure of the heart and lungs, potentially leading to death.

The severity of your asbestosis depends on how long you were exposed to asbestos and how much of this harmful mineral you inhaled.

Contact us for a free consultation if you have this condition. Call 410-244-7005.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was and still is used in many products because of certain benefits:

• It is fire resistant
• It is highly resistant to electrical and chemical damage
• It is flexible, allowing it to be spun into fabric
• Its tensile strength is stronger than steel

These many benefits led to asbestos being used in thousands of products from the early 1900s through the 1970s and even into the 1980s.

Unfortunately, asbestos contains millions of microscopic fibers that can break apart, become airborne and be inhaled. Once these fibers are inhaled, they can become trapped in the lungs, damaging tissue and potentially causing many serious health problems decades later, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Asbestos was so widely used that it put many people at risk of inhaling microscopic fibers and eventually developing health problems like asbestosis.

If you or a loved one developed asbestosis, contact our trusted Maryland asbestosis lawyers for a free, no obligation legal consultation.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form right now.

Who is At Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Our experienced Maryland asbestosis lawyers take cases involving employees who worked in a variety of industries with a high risk of asbestos exposure.

Some industries with a high-risk for asbestos exposure include:

• Plumbing – Asbestos was commonly used as insulation and pipe coverings, making it highly likely that plumbers came into contact with this mineral and may have breathed it in.
• Shipbuilding – This also includes those involved in repairing ships. Employees in this industry could have come into contact with asbestos around turbines, engines, steam pipes and boilers. Asbestos fibers could have become airborne during routine maintenance of these different components.
• Auto repair – Asbestos was often used in brake pads and shoes along with clutch discs and linings. Exposure to this mineral could have occurred during installation, removal and inspection of these different components.
• Railroad work ­– Companies used to use asbestos as heat insulation because steam and diesel locomotives produced so much heat. Asbestos heat wraps were often used around steam pipes, hot water lines and refrigeration units.
• Mining – Like many other minerals, asbestos had to be mined so it could be used in a variety of products. This means that those who mined it were at significant risk for exposure, partly because they had inadequate protection from masks and other breathing apparatuses.
• Construction – Asbestos had many applications in commercial and home construction, including fireproofing, insulation and joint compounds.
• Industrial work – If you worked in a power plant, refinery or other industrial setting you could have been exposed to asbestos from any number of sources. Asbestos was used in all kinds of piping in power plants and other industrial settings.
• Appliance repair – Asbestos was a major component in many consumer products, particularly appliances bought by consumers. Repairing these items came with an increased risk of exposure to asbestos from insulation and other components containing this mineral.

High-Risk Jobs

Some of the jobs that came with a greater risk of inhaling asbestos include:

Job Sites with Asbestos in Maryland

Asbestos-containing materials were used extensively at many job sites in Maryland, including:

Products with Asbestos

This harmful mineral was used in many products and pieces of machinery you may have operated during your career, such as:

If you worked with any of these products or in any industries with a high risk for asbestos exposure, and you developed asbestosis, you may be able to file an asbestosis lawsuit.

Even if you did not work directly with asbestos-based materials, you may have worked with others who did, and your old employer could be held liable. If any fibers got on your hair or clothes, you could have easily inhaled them at work or even later when you got home from work.

There is also something called secondary exposure where spouses and family members of those who worked with asbestos were exposed to this harmful substance. For example, wives who washed their husbands’ work clothes had an increased risk of exposure. Children of these workers are also at risk because they could have come into contact with contaminated work clothes.

Contact an asbestosis lawyer in Maryland today for a free legal consultation to discuss your situation. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl will carefully review your claim to determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit. We will only recommend filing a lawsuit if we think it is in your best interests.

Call 410-244-7005 right now to find out more about how we can help with your case.

Why Should I Work with an Asbestosis Attorney?

There are many reasons why it is in your best interest to work with a lawyer when pursuing a Maryland personal injury case for asbestosis. These cases require extensive investigations and vast knowledge to have a chance of successfully recovering the compensation you deserve.

Here are some of the main reasons why you should strongly consider working with an experienced Maryland asbestosis attorney on your case:

Your Case Can be Taken on Contingency

Our firm takes all asbestosis cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that there is no upfront fee for your initial consultation with our experienced lawyers and you will not be charged legal fees or costs unless you receive compensation. This way you do not have to worry about how to pay for our services when deciding if you want to move forward with your case.

An Attorney Will Know How to Investigate

One of the biggest challenges of an asbestosis case is establishing when and where you or your loved one was exposed to asbestos. It can take decades for asbestos fibers that are embedded in the lungs to cause asbestosis, mesothelioma or other health conditions, making it more likely you or your loved one will not remember where the exposure occurred.

Even if you do remember where you were exposed to asbestos, it may be difficult to find the employer because it may have gone bankrupt or out of business many years ago.

Fortunately, our asbestosis attorneys in Maryland have many years of experience investigating these cases. We know how to review a victim’s employment history to determine the places he or she worked that used asbestos. We also know where to look to find records and other evidence showing when and for what purpose a company used asbestos.

Our Maryland asbestosis lawyers also know what research to cite to show that your old employer knew or should have known about the dangers of inhaling asbestos fibers.

An Attorney Knows How to Accurately Value Your Claim

A Maryland asbestosis lawyer knows what it will take to determine an accurate valuation of your claim. At The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl, we will take great care when building your case to gather all relevant evidence, including medical records and accounts from you and your family about the damages you have suffered.

This is very difficult to do on your own as you may not know where to find the evidence you need and how to value things that do not have any monetary value attached to them.

Our asbestosis lawyers in Maryland have many years of combined experience in the courtroom. We are intimately familiar with the process of filing a lawsuit and the other steps in a lawsuit. We understand how anxious our clients can feel about a trial, which is why we always make sure our clients are prepared and know what to expect.

Contact us today to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. We can tell you more about the ways we can help with your case.

Complete a Free Case Evaluation form today.

Types of Asbestosis Claims

There are a few ways to pursue compensation for those who developed asbestosis due to on-the-job exposure to asbestos.

• Filing a lawsuit – In some cases, the only way to obtain compensation for an asbestosis lawsuit is by filing a lawsuit.
• Filing a claim with a settlement fund – Some companies have been so inundated with asbestosis lawsuits that they have set up settlement funds to pay out compensation to victims and families of those diagnosed with asbestosis.
• Filing a claim with a bankruptcy trust – Settlement funds have also been inundated with claims from asbestosis victims. This led many companies to file for bankruptcy protection and reorganization. Courts ordered many of them to set up separate personal injury trust funds, also called asbestos bankruptcy trusts, to take care of all present and future claims from asbestosis victims.

If we take your case, one of the things we will determine is whether we need to file a lawsuit or pursue one of these other options. However, we know how to accurately value your claim so we will not accept any unfair offers from a settlement fund. We are prepared to go to court to pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.

No matter what type of claim you have, we are well-versed in the different ways of obtaining compensation. We understand the process and know what it takes to build a strong case for why you deserve compensation.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form today to schedule a free legal consultation.

Types of Compensation for an Asbestosis Case

Another advantage of working with an asbestosis attorney in Maryland is that he or she will know how to accurately value your claim. This involves determining all forms of compensation you are entitled to and the value of each of the types of damages you suffered.

Some of the forms of compensation that may be available from an asbestosis case include:

Medical Expenses

Asbestosis causes a variety of symptoms that may require treatment. In some cases, victims end up developing lung cancer. Doctors may be able to treat the cancer with surgery and treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.

The cost of this treatment can become extremely expensive. That is why the law allows you to file a claim to pursue compensation when these symptoms were caused by exposure to asbestos even though your employer knew or should have known this mineral was harmful.

Our Maryland asbestosis attorneys will try to obtain compensation for all medical treatment related to your condition, including:

• Surgery to remove tumors
• Chemotherapy
• Prescription medications
• Appointments with doctors and specialists
• Medical testing

If you are filing a claim on behalf of someone who died from asbestosis, we will attempt to recover compensation for all medical care your loved one received before his or her death.

Lost Wages and Earning Capacity

Symptoms of asbestosis can affect your ability to continue working to earn a living and support your family. In some cases, you may be unable to work at all and in others you will have to severely reduce the number of hours you are able to work because of your physical limitations. There are other times where you might miss work because you are receiving treatment or are physically unable to do your job for a few days or weeks.

If this has happened to you, we will try to recover compensation to make up for any lost wages you have suffered. We will also attempt to recover compensation to make up for your illness’ effect on your earning capacity. We will work to ensure all factors are given proper consideration when determining how much compensation you are owed for lost earning capacity. These factors include your salary history, skills, experience and projected future earnings.

Lost Financial Support

In a wrongful death case, your asbestosis attorney in Maryland can pursue compensation for the loss of financial support caused by your loved one’s death. This includes the loss of income, along with insurance and retirement benefits your loved one was likely to provide if he or she had not died.

Pain and Suffering

It is difficult to put a price tag on the physical pain you experience from your illness, including the exhaustion caused by breathing problems and coughing. It is also difficult to put a value on the emotional pain you experience, including depression, anxiety and stress.

However, our attorneys can help make sure you receive compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced because of your disease.

Loss of Companionship

A serious physical illness can put a tremendous strain on your relationships with your spouse and children. You may not be able to do the same things around the house that you used to do or have the same type of romantic relationship with your spouse. If this happens, you may be entitled to compensation that is intended to make up for the damage to these relationships.

Call our Maryland asbestosis attorneys at 410-244-7005.

When Should I Contact an Attorney?

There is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit in an asbestosis case because of the statutes of limitations. These are laws that create windows for filing lawsuits. For example, most asbestosis cases are governed by a three-year statute of limitations. This means you have three years from the date of your asbestosis diagnosis to file a claim.

If you are filing a wrongful death case, you have three years from the date of death to file a claim.

If you do not file a claim before the statute of limitations expires, you will lose the right to do so and may miss your only opportunity to obtain compensation.

Our asbestosis lawyers in Maryland know how to determine when the statute of limitations for your claim began and when it will expire. This way we can help ensure your claim is filed before the statute of limitations expires. However, you must contact us as soon as possible to allow time to investigate and build your case.

Schedule your free, no obligation legal consultation today.

Contact an Asbestosis Attorney in Maryland Today

If you or a loved one has asbestosis, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other damages caused by this illness. Our Maryland asbestosis lawyers have taken on many of these cases and know what it takes to be successful.

Schedule a free, no obligation legal consultation with us today to determine your legal options. We are committed to putting your best interests first and obtaining all of the compensation you deserve.

Contact our firm today to schedule your free legal consultation. Call 410-244-7005.