JOSH GETS RESULTS
FOR INJURED WORKERS

Josh Gets Results for injured workers
Photo of Attorney Josh Borken

Minnesota Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

On Behalf of | Aug 21, 2018 | Workers' Compensation

Remember the 90’s after the world discovered that asbestos was actually horribly dangerous to those who were around it? That decade was the herald of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illness lawsuits and they went on well into the mid-2000’s. However, it has likely been awhile since you heard about mesothelioma, but it is still out there and it can still happen to you.

Do you know that 3,000 mesothelioma cases are still diagnosed each year in the United States? It is still a very high number of cases, and if you work in an industry that is still at risk to asbestos exposure, you could be affected. Contacting Minnesota workers compensation attorney Joshua Borken is your first step in finding a solution. He can assist you in knowing why you need a work comp attorney.

What Causes Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma  comes from exposure to asbestos. It is 100% always a work-related injury in Minnesota. It can take 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure for it to develop. So, you could be a mesothelioma case just waiting to develop.

A person can inhale asbestos fibers by disturbing them and releasing them into the air when breathing in an asbestos-positive environment, Afterwards, these microscopic fibers lodge in the lungs and our bodies struggle to remove them. Over decades, the trapped fibers trigger biological changes in the body including inflammation, scarring, and even genetic damage, often leading to cancer. This specific kind of cancer is  mesothelioma. It usually forms in the lungs, but can also form in the lining of the abdomen or in the heart.

As the fibers are so small, it is often hard to predict who may develop mesothelioma later in life. Unfortunately, many doctors have to wait until the cancer actually develops before they can treat it. Mesothelioma is 100% fatal. It is very important to consult with a workers’ compensation attorney immediately upon diagnosis of mesothelioma, as often death can occur within the next six to twelve months. Most workers will have a dependency claim associated with their mesothelioma case, entitling their spouse or dependent children to workers’ compensation benefits too.

Early symptoms of mesothelioma include:

  • Fatigue
  • Persistent cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Weight Loss

Who Is At Risk?

Due to its resistance to heat and fire, asbestos was used in a number of products from oven mitts to gas mask filters. While it was used for almost 4,000 years, its negative health benefits were first noted in 1900. Unfortunately, the government did not put in heavy restrictions on asbestos installation until the 1990’s, paving the way for litigation against those who knew how dangerous it could be to their workers.

However, today asbestos inhalation only comes primarily from its use in insulation. Many businesses found to use asbestos insulation were closed and had it replaced, but it is still out there. Those at risk of asbestos inhalation and the resulting mesothelioma include those who work in industrial settings, shipyards, and old public buildings and houses. Others at risk include construction workers who remove asbestos. If you have to squeeze into crawl spaces where you are at risk of disturbing asbestos fibers without the proper protection, mesothelioma could be a risk in your future.

What Legal Help is Available?

If you or someone you love has developed mesothelioma in this age where it is not quite the hot button issue anymore, you still have options available to you. As asbestos is so dangerous and people have known about the dangers while still using is in their products, it opens up a wide array of litigation to those who develop the cancer to cover their medical expenses and secure the financial future of their loved ones.

Getting legal help is easy if you know exactly who is responsible for your asbestos exposure. Sometimes employers are not aware of its presence, but even then the manufacturers can still be held responsible. If you have been exposed to asbestos and as a result developed mesothelioma, contact us today. As a personal injury lawyer, the Law Office of Joshua Borken is dedicated to helping the injured in Minnesota receive justice, and there are no people more deserving than those who have had their life shortened thanks to the negligence of others.

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