"Asbestos" is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin threads. These bundles of fibers tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to the clothes. These fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed, becoming deeply embedded in the lungs and other organs. This can cause serious health problems and even death.

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially for over a hundred years. Asbestos exposure greatly increased during and after World War II. As a result, millions of American workers, their families, and others were exposed to dangerous asbestos dust. Generally, persons who develop these conditions show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years for symptoms of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related disease to appear.

Asbestos Exposure Can Lead to Disease

The risk of mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time, however, some individuals may develop disease after only a very short exposure.

Millions of Americans exposed to asbestos in the workplace are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Millions more of their family members were unknowingly exposed when asbestos fibers were carried home on work clothes, boots, shoes and tools. This"secondary exposure" to asbestos fibers by family members, especially children, is equally deadly and can lead to the later development of mesothelioma.

What diseases can be caused by exposure to asbestos?

Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of several serious diseases:

• Mesothelioma — a relatively rare but fatal cancer of the thin membranes that line the lungs, chest, and abdomen
• Asbestosis — a chronic lung ailment that can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage
• Lung Cancer
• Other cancers such as cancers of the larynx, pharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney.

What are the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases?

• Shortness of breath
• A cough or a change in cough pattern
• Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs
• Pain in the chest or abdomen due to buildup of fluid in the abdomen
• Bowel obstruction
• Difficulty swallowing or prolonged hoarseness
• Significant weight loss
• Anemia or blood clotting abnormalities

If you have been exposed to asbestos and have any of the symptoms described above, you should schedule a physical examination with your personal doctor immediately.

What are common sources of asbestos exposure?

Asbestos has been used in many industries including the building and construction industry, the shipbuilding industry, and the automotive industry. More than 5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos, including the following:

• Asbestos cement sheet and pipe products used for water supply and sewage piping, roofing and siding, casings for electrical wires, fire protection material, electrical switchboards/components, residential and industrial building materials such as pipe insulation
  
• Friction products for automobiles such as brake linings, clutch facings, gaskets, and for industrial friction materials (i.e. grinders, sanders)
  
• Products containing asbestos paper, such as table pads and heat-protective mats, heat and electrical wire insulation, industrial filters, and underlying material for sheet flooring
  
• Asbestos textile products, such as packing components, roofing materials, and heat-and-fire-resistant fabrics (including blankets and curtains)
  
• Miscellaneous products such as caulking and patching tape, ceiling and floor tile, paints, coatings, adhesives, taping compounds, vermiculite-containing consumer garden products, plastics, artificial ashes and embers for use in gas-fired fireplaces, and some talc-containing crayons

Contact an Experienced Civil Litigation Attorney

Mesothelioma and asbestos litigation are among the most complex types of civil litigation. The lawyers and staff at Kershaw, Cutter and Ratinoff are actively engaged in the discovery and litigation of cases involving mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases both in California, and across the nation.

Kershaw, Cutter and Ratinoff has provided responsible representation for thousands of injured people with cases involving difficult medical and procedural issues. In addition, our firm and its attorneys are nationally recognized experts in complex mass tort litigation, class actions, medical malpractice, dangerous drugs (pharmaceuticals), and medical device litigation.

We have "leveled the playing field" for the individual, winning verdicts and settlements against big business, industrial and corporate giants.

If you think you have been injured by exposure to asbestos, please fill out and submit the contact form on this page or call us toll-free at (888) 285-3333.