What Is Asbestos And Why Do People File Asbestos Related Litigation?

The number of asbestos related lawsuits is continuing to rise. Asbestos attorneys have been instrumental in their clients receiving multimillion dollar jury awards and settlements. But what is asbestos and why are so many people filing lawsuits? Read this short article and you will soon find out why the number of lawsuits is anticipated to increase for at least the next twenty years.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that's composed of silicon, hydrogen, oxygen, and other metal ions. Asbestos has been used for many centuries because it is a good insulator. Asbestos fibers are flexible, strong, and will not burn.

There are three common varieties of asbestos. They are amosite, chrysolite, and crocidolite.

During the manufacturing process asbestos particles and asbestos fibers are often mixed with other elements. When combined with other materials a product called an ACM is produced. ACM stands for asbestos containing material.

Various ACMs have been used extensively by the construction industry for pipe insulation, wall insulation, ceiling panels, cement pipes, and sealants. ACMs have also been used by the United States Navy, the shipping industry, the auto industry, the railroad industry, and even the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) used ACMs to insulate the Space Shuttle.

Why Asbestos Lawsuits Are Filed

Even though asbestos and ACMs were used for many years many risks have been associated with its use. Most of the risks were borne by the people who used it on a daily basis. The dust that is released from ACMs when products are manufactured or installed, or when these products deteriorate and are demolished, become airborne very easily.

Once airborne the asbestos fibers are inhaled by anyone in the vicinity. And when asbestos particles are inhaled they tend to stay in the body. This causes a number of serious health problems that often lead to death.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that close to 27 million workers in the United States were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1980.

Even though the US government did put a moratorium on many asbestos products in the 1970s it is still being used rather extensively.

One of the main reasons that asbestos related lawsuits are on the rise is that it often takes from ten to forty years from the time of exposure for someone to be diagnosed with lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis that was caused by that exposure.

The companies that knowingly sent their employees into these dangerous situations are being held accountable for their actions.

Because so much research is necessary to win an asbestos related case most victims of these diseases hire experienced mesothelioma attorneys to represent them.


------

To find experienced mesothelioma attorneys go to http://www.sokolovelaw.com/legal-help/mesothelioma-law-firm/mesothelioma-attorneys

Wendy Moyer on behalf of Sokolove Law.