New Orleans Asbestos Exposure Lawyer
If you have been diagnosed with an illness that you believe you developed at work due to long-term or frequent asbestos exposure, you need to take action immediately. Asbestos is a deadly substance used in buildings, auto parts, oil refinery machinery, and hundreds of other goods and products. While its use was banned in buildings decades ago, thousands of people are still suffering the consequences. And here in New Orleans, the chances of being exposed to asbestos, which is used in shipyards and oil refineries, is very high within certain industries. A New Orleans asbestos lawyer at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC can help you file a workers’ comp claim, in addition to filing a lawsuit against your employer if possible.
Asbestos Illnesses
Asbestos exposure has been linked to numerous illnesses, all with permanent debilitating effects:
- Mesothelioma cancer
- Asbestosis
- COPD
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
- Pleural effusions
- Atelectasis
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
Tragically, There is No Cure For Mesothelioma
After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, patients generally only have four to 18 months to live. While some patients have lived much longer than this (up to 10 years after being diagnosed), there is no known cure for mesothelioma. As such, family members of employees exposed to asbestos who acquire mesothelioma are entitled to death benefits upon their death. Surviving spouses and children may be entitled to weekly or monthly wage compensation benefits, or up to a $75,000 lump sum payment, in addition to funeral and burial expenses. Surviving family members are entitled to these death benefits if their loved one passed away from other forms of asbestos poisoning, such as lung cancer or COPD.
Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim
It may also be possible to sue your employer for negligence, in addition to filing a workers’ compensation claim, in order to maximize your and your family’s compensation. While workers’ compensation is no-fault insurance that pays for medical care and partial wage replacement, a personal injury claim or lawsuit requires the plaintiff to establish fault, such as not being provided adequate safety gear on the job. However, a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim allows for much greater compensation in the form of:
- Medical care of your choice
- Future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of joy of life
- Emotional distress
- Lost earning capacity
- Lost lifetime earnings
- Loss of consortium
- And more
Contact a New Orleans Asbestos Lawyer
There are many types of occupations in New Orleans that have high asbestos exposure risk. These include, though are by no means limited to, shipyard workers, firefighters, construction workers, oil refinery workers, and industrial and power plant employees. Whether you work in one of these industries, or another, you have the right to pursue financial and medical expense compensation from your employer through workers’ compensation and potentially a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. We at Lunsford Baskin & Priebe, PLLC urge you to reach out to a New Orleans asbestos exposure lawyer today at 601-488-3975 to schedule a free consultation.
