Mississippi Asbestos Exposure Lawyer
Asbestos can cause serious and deadly harm to anyone who is exposed to it in the workplace or anywhere else. Employers are required to take preventive measures to prevent employees from being exposed to asbestos in any capacity, and employees who suffer harm due to asbestos exposure may be eligible to seek financial compensation for their losses. How can you seek compensation for harm resulting from asbestos exposure on the job? Your options will depend upon the type of job you were doing when you were exposed to asbestos. For many Mississippi workers, it may be possible to file a workers’ compensation claim in order to obtain benefits. For workers who were exposed while doing dock work, or working on a boat or marine vessel, or working on a railroad, you may need to file a claim under a federal law such as the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), the Jones Act, or the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Contact our experienced Mississippi asbestos exposure lawyer today to learn more about seeking compensation for asbestos exposure.
What is Asbestos and How Does Exposure Occur in Mississippi?
What is asbestos, and how does it cause harm? According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), asbestos “is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion.” Asbestos was used in many different types of products that include steam pipe insulation, flooring tiles, building materials, motor vehicle brakes, motor vehicle clutches, building insulation, friction products, textiles, and more. In most circumstances, OSHA reports that heavy exposure to asbestos occurs in construction work and in ship repair, both industries in which a person can be exposed to this hazardous substance while performing renovation or repair work, or doing demolition work.
Why is asbestos so dangerous? OSHA emphasizes that “asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard,” and “breathing asbestos fibers can cause a buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs called asbestosis and result in loss of lung function that often progresses to disability and death.” In addition, asbestos is known to cause “cancer of the lung and other diseases such as mesothelioma of the pleura which is a fatal malignant tumor of the membrane lining the cavity of the lung or stomach.” It is important to know that no exposure to asbestos is safe, and even “asbestos exposures as short in duration as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans.”
Common Mississippi Asbestos Exposure Injuries
Common types of asbestos injuries include but are not limited to:
- Asbestosis;
- Pleural mesothelioma; and
- Peritoneal mesothelioma.
Most cases of mesothelioma cannot be cured. It is important to learn more about seeking compensation after a diagnosis.
Contact Lunsford Baskin & Prieve, PLLC Today
If you were exposed to asbestos and have developed any type of illness or disease associated with exposure, it is critical to get in touch with an experienced attorney who can help you to seek compensation. You could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits under the Mississippi workers’ compensation system, or you could be eligible to file a federal claim if you were exposed to asbestos while performing work in the maritime industry, while doing dock or harbor work, or while working on a railroad. Contact our experienced Mississippi asbestos exposure lawyer today.
