Mississippi Law Firm Helps People in Common Occupations for Asbestos Exposure Get Compensation for Mesothelioma
Representing families facing mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung disease
If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis or a diagnosis for another lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure, you will most likely have many questions about how or when you might have been exposed. At the law firm of Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick, our focus is on helping clients explore all of the legal options available to them, and getting the compensation they deserve.
What are the common occupations for asbestos exposure?
Asbestos is a mineral that has been used in manufacturing since the late 19th century, and its use has been pervasive across many different industries. The most common medium for asbestos exposure is on the job. Below are some of the more common occupations for asbestos exposure:
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Asbestos exposure commonly comes from breathing or ingesting the airborne fibers during the manufacturing process, or through the breaking down or disturbance of materials that contain asbestos, such as:
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In 1997, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enacted laws aimed at reducing the risk of workers’ exposure to asbestos by limiting the presence of asbestos to 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter at any workplace. Unfortunately, OSHA established those restrictions long after many workers experienced high levels of exposure at the place where they worked every day.
How does asbestos exposure lead to lung disease?
Mesothelioma and asbestosis are lung cancers caused by exposure to asbestos. When people inhale particles of asbestos into their lungs, most of the particles are expelled with sneezing or coughing or swallowed into the stomach where they are carried out with food and move through the digestive track and out of the body. A few particles stay in the lungs and stomach where they lie dormant for decades, quietly irritating the mesothelial cells that line the lungs and other organs in the body.
These particles remain in the lungs without breaking down. In the body’s attempt to protect itself from these foreign substances, it can form scar tissue around the asbestos fibers, which can then alter and disrupt the DNA in the healthy cells and cause them to become cancerous. The scarring and inflammation can cause chest pain and breathing difficulties. Because the fiber particles lie dormant in the lungs, the latency period between when people are exposed and when they begin to display the symptoms of mesothelioma can be from 20 to 40 years.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or another asbestos-related lung disease, you are likely to have many questions that need answers. At Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick, we are here to help you document your asbestos exposure and pursue damages on your behalf.
Contact a personal injury law firm with experience handling asbestos-related cases
Cumbest, Cumbest, Hunter & McCormick is a general practice law firm focused on getting favorable results for our clients. From our offices in Pascagoula, we serve clients throughout Mississippi. Call us at 866-461-1591 or contact us online today to schedule a confidential consultation.