Illinois Asbestos Lawsuit Lawyer

Illinois Asbestos Lawsuit Attorneys

The asbestos lawsuit attorneys at The Collins Law Firm represent victims of exposure struggling with mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer, and asbestosis. Our trusted and compassionate asbestos lawyers can guide you through the process of filing a mesothelioma claim, ovarian cancer claim, or lung cancer claim while fighting to get you justice and compensation for your suffering.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have been used commercially in the U.S. since the late 1800s. The construction industry has used asbestos for strengthening cement and plastics and for roofing, insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The automotive industry uses asbestos in automobile clutch pads and brake shoes. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, hot water pipes, and steam pipes. Asbestos has also been used in paint coatings, ceiling and floor tiles; adhesives; and plastics. In addition, asbestos has been found in some talc products. Because asbestos does not have an odor or taste it makes the mineral potentially more dangerous. Although asbestos is now regulated in the United States, it is still not banned here and continues to be used in products and industry.

How can Asbestos Impact my Health?

Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen by the US EPA, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the US Department of Health and Human Services. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, “There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of all forms of asbestos (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite). All forms of asbestos cause mesothelioma and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary.” Moreover, the federal government says that there is no safe level of exposure; even relatively short-term asbestos exposure can cause incurable cancer and other diseases. Some of the most common of these include:

• Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive, and incurable cancer that forms on the protective lining covering the lungs, heart, abdomen, or testicles. Symptoms of mesothelioma can include coughing, fatigue, shortness of breath, pain in the lower back or chest, painful breathing, respiratory infection, fever, unexplained weight loss, and fluid buildup. Since the only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers, you should investigate when, where and how you were exposed to asbestos if you develop mesothelioma. Because this fatal cancer can lay dormant for decades, it is likely your exposure was many years ago.
• Lung Cancer: Breathing in asbestos fibers increases the risk of developing lung cancer, and individuals who smoked and were also exposed to asbestos run an even higher risk of contracting this cancer. While about one-fourth of all lung cancer victims show no symptoms of the disease before being diagnosed by their doctor, many do experience symptoms such as bronchitis or phenomena, chest pain, coughing/wheezing, hoarse voice, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss. Unfortunately, these symptoms can be mistaken for a less severe illness which can delay diagnosis and treatment. Like mesothelioma, patients with lung cancer have a better prognosis if the cancer is diagnosed and treated early before it has a chance to metastasize and spread throughout the body. Lung cancer also has a long dormant phase before developing, so any related asbestos exposure most likely occurred years before diagnosis. If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer after exposure to asbestos, our lung cancer lawsuit attorneys will help you navigate the legal system and work to get you compensated for your illness.
• Ovarian Cancer: In 2020 the FDA released the results of a study in which 20% of the talc analyzed was found to be contaminated with asbestos fibers. Multiple studies have linked asbestos exposure to ovarian cancer, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified asbestos as a group 1 ovarian carcinogen. Because of the asbestos contamination in talc, women who have used talcum powder in their genital area over a long period of time have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. The National Cancer Institute considers talc a “risk factor” for ovarian cancer, and the American Cancer Society has determined that perineal talcum powder use is possibly carcinogenic. Studies confirm a link.
• Laryngeal cancer: A 2006 report sponsored by the National Institutes of Health confirmed that asbestos exposure was a definite cause of laryngeal cancer and that the cancer risk was dependent on the amount of exposure. In other words, the risk of developing cancer of the larynx increases with the duration and extent of asbestos exposure. The report also revealed that the risk of laryngeal cancer for asbestos-exposed workers was 40-43 percent higher than workers with no exposure.
• Asbestosis: Inhalation of asbestos fibers can also cause a chronic lung disease called asbestosis which is characterized by scarring of the lung tissue, and shortness of breath. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and usually do not appear until 10-40 years after exposure. Symptoms may include, shortness of breath, a dry, persistent cough, chest tightness and pain, clubbing of the fingers, and loss of appetite. Because the scarred lung tissue does not expand and contract like healthy tissue, asbestosis can make breathing difficult and painful. Patients with asbestosis also have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer so careful monitoring is recommended. Like mesothelioma, asbestosis is caused by asbestos particles that have become embedded in the lungs after severe or long-term exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, there is no cure for asbestosis, but prompt treatment can slow the disease’s progression and relieve symptoms.

Most people who have been exposed to asbestos are not diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease until decades after the exposure. Sadly, the Environmental Working Group estimates that 15,000 people a year die from asbestos-related diseases in the U.S.

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How Can I Be Exposed to Asbestos?

Asbestos at Work: Historically, the majority of asbestos exposure has happened to people on the job. Because of asbestos’s tensile strength and resistance to heat, water, fire, chemicals, and electricity, it has been widely used in many industries. People in the following occupations may be at greater risk for asbestos exposure than the general population:

• Construction workers
• Automotive workers
• Steel mill workers
• Electricians
• Maintenance mechanics
• Plumbers
• Painters
• Carpenters
• Pipefitters
• Welders
• Aircraft mechanics
• Boilermakers
• Steamfitters
• Shipbuilders
• Engineers
• Firefighters
• Workers in chemical processing plants
• Workers in manufacturing plants
• Factory workers
• Shipyard workers
• Naval personnel
• Military personnel
• Miners

Workers were unaware that their exposure to asbestos at work could cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Occupational exposure sometimes affected the families of workers through secondhand exposure. Workers who were exposed to asbestos on the job, returned home with asbestos fibers attached to their clothing and person, exposing their families to the dangerous substance. Federal regulations have been put in place to protect workers from asbestos, but a complete ban remains elusive. Despite being banned in over 50 countries worldwide, the attempts to ban asbestos in the U.S. have been blocked by the asbestos industry. As a result, the US continues to use and import asbestos, putting the American people at risk.

Asbestos in Products: Over the years, asbestos has been used in a wide variety of products across many industries. Construction materials commonly contained asbestos, and these items may still be in buildings today. People may be exposed if they live or work in an older building that has not been thoroughly checked for asbestos. Asbestos was also used in:

• Adhesives
• Insulation
• Popcorn ceilings
• Electrical components
• Vinyl products
• Drywall and roofing materials
• Fireproofing materials
• Composite decking material
• Caulking
• Gaskets
• Packing material
• Electrical wiring
• Piping and cement products

Additionally, consumer products often contained asbestos. Other individuals have been exposed through the use of products contaminated with asbestos. Women used talcum powder for years without knowing that hidden asbestos in the product could cause ovarian cancer. Other consumer products that may have contained asbestos include:

• Appliances
• Makeup
• Baby powder
• Talcum powder
• Hairdryers and curling irons
• Children's toys
• Crayons
• Potholders and oven mitts
• Fake snow
• Fertilizer

Asbestos's durability, low cost, and fire-resistant qualities (among others) made it a popular material for several uses. Today, asbestos can be found in older products that are still in use, and, more recently, in talcum powder, loose face powder, and some makeup products.

How Does Asbestos Contaminate Talc?

Asbestos and Talc can be mined from the same rock. That is why the talc that comes from different parts of the world may be contaminated with asbestos fibers. This talc is then used in personal care products such as makeup, face powder, baby powder, and talcum powder. The cosmetics industry claims that they test products for asbestos and that their products are asbestos-free. Experts argue that their testing is outdated and unable to detect the level of asbestos that may be present in talc. The Food and Drug Administration finally commissioned laboratory testing of talc-based products in 2018. The results, which were released in 2020, showed that almost 20% of the products contained asbestos. After the FDA found asbestos in Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder, and scientists discovered the link between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer, women around the country began suing Johnson and Johnson for their cancer diagnoses.

Talcum Powder Lawsuits: Thousands of women have filed lawsuits against the makers of talcum powder and body powder alleging that their ovarian cancer or mesothelioma was caused by prolonged perineal talcum powder use. Johnson & Johnson alone is facing 14,000 lawsuits over their talc-containing baby powder and has been ordered to pay millions to plaintiffs. The company has been accused of hiding the asbestos in its baby powder for years and of covering up the fact that they knew of the risk of ovarian cancer from their baby powder in 1982 but failed to warn consumers. Faced with growing public concern in 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled some of their products, and in May of 2020 announced they would no longer sell their baby powder. In June 2020, the company was ordered to pay over $2 billion to a group of women, several of whom died before the trial, who developed ovarian cancer. The company appealed this decision, but its appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court in June of 2021. Colgate has also faced numerous lawsuits for their talcum powder, which was used until the 1990s, and Revlon has recently been hit with a lawsuit claiming that the company’s talcum powder caused the plaintiff's mesothelioma. As a result, Revlon, Chanel, and L’Oréal are moving away from using talc in their face and body powders. At The Collins Law Firm, our ovarian cancer lawsuit lawyers are reviewing claims from women who used talcum powder or baby powder--from Johnson & Johnson and other companies--for many years before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. We can help you determine if you have a claim, guide you through the legal process, and fight to recover compensation for your suffering.

Types of Asbestos Exposure Claims We Handle

At The Collins Law Firm, our asbestos lawsuit attorneys handle all kinds of claims relating to asbestos exposure, including:

1. Mesothelioma lawsuits Our mesothelioma lawyers file claims on behalf of individuals who have contracted mesothelioma after workplace exposure or other exposure to asbestos
2. Lung cancer/laryngeal cancer lawsuits Our asbestos attorneys file claims for people with long-term asbestos exposure who have contracted lung or laryngeal cancer
3. Ovarian cancer/talcum powder lawsuits Our talcum powder lawsuit lawyers file claims on behalf of women who have contracted ovarian cancer after years of talcum powder use
4. Wrongful death claims Our asbestos attorneys file claims for families of a loved one who passed away from asbestos-related illness.
5. Asbestos trust fund claims Companies that used asbestos in their products have set aside an estimated $30 billion in asbestos trust funds for future claims from exposure victims.

What Can an Asbestos Lawsuit Lawyer Do for You?

The thought of filing a claim for asbestos exposure may seem daunting, but the right asbestos lawyer can guide you through the legal process, handling everything and working to maximize your compensation. This is why, if you have been made sick by asbestos exposure, it is critical that you contact an experienced asbestos attorney. Each case is unique, but typically your lawyer will:

• Research your case, determining who is responsible for your asbestos exposure, and gathering preliminary evidence to prove your claim.
• File your complaint in the appropriate court and determine who should be named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
• Obtain evidence in discovery Your attorney will manage the discovery process for you, take any necessary depositions, and uncover all the evidence necessary to try your case.
• Negotiate a settlement Often asbestos attorneys can settle a case before it goes to trial. Your attorney will negotiate for you to get the best possible settlement from the defendant.
• Try your case if necessary If a settlement is not possible, your case will go to trial. If this happens, your attorney will fight vigorously for you in court.

At The Collins Law Firm, we will work hard to minimize any disruption to your life while fighting to get you the justice you deserve.

What Can You Recover in an Asbestos Lawsuit?

If you have contracted mesothelioma, asbestosis, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, or laryngeal cancer due to asbestos exposure, it is our job to maximize the amount of compensation you can recover. Damages may include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering,
• Physical therapy
• Psychological counseling
• Caregiver expenses
• Funeral expenses

We are Compassionate with Clients and Tough on Defendants

Dealing with a devastating disease like cancer or mesothelioma is difficult enough without adding in the stress of having to file a lawsuit. That is why our compassionate asbestos attorneys will be with you every step of the way, handling the tough stuff so you can focus on your health and your life. We have years of experience representing the victims of toxic exposure and understand how to recover the maximum compensation available to our clients. Our asbestos lawsuit lawyers will fight for you, so you don’t have to. Call us at (630) 527-1595 or fill out our contact form for a FREE evaluation of your mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, lung cancer, or asbestos exposure claim.