Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a chronic lung condition that gets worse over time. The leading cause of COPD is cigarette smoke from either direct smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke, but exposure in the workplace to cancer-causing agents, such as asbestos, has also been associated with an increased risk of developing this obstructive lung disease.
Since asbestos naturally resists heat, fire, sound, water, chemicals, and biological breakdown, it was processed and developed into industrial materials. Many companies involved in manufacturing relied heavily on the mineral of a thousand possibilities because of its properties and its industrial applications. However, no other branch of the industry could count as many asbestos victims as the shipbuilding industry.
After inhalation, the asbestos fibers which attached themselves to lung tissue start producing persistent inflammation and scarring, which will ultimately cause severe lung damage. It is important to note that suffering from COPD makes you more susceptible to developing lung cancer and mesothelioma in the future.
Typically, asbestos-related disorders manifest many years following the exposure, whether the person received direct exposure, usually through the workplace or secondary exposure. As an example of secondary asbestos exposure, many of the wives of men who worked in an environment with asbestos later developed asbestos-related diseases.
At Atraxia Law, our legal experts have decades of experience guiding our clients and their families through their challenging times by leading with compassion, understanding, and the expertise needed to secure the highest compensation.
If you have been diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer and held down a job that involved handling asbestos-containing products, we can help you make a claim for compensation.
Using the experience gathered over the past three decades, our team of experts will proceed with the legal steps immediately after your first call by: