In some cases, asbestos has lead to many serious illnesses, some even fatal. Even in those instances where individuals do not suffer a serious illness due to exposure to asbestos, their health has often worsened. The purpose of this article is to highlight the health risks caused by exposure to asbestos. Because there are so many side-effects from exposure to it and research is ongoing, this is by no means is a complete rendition of the consequences that exposure to asbestos can lead to, given which anyone with a concern that asbestos has worsened their health should consult their physician.

What is Asbestos?

Though many people view asbestos as a single substance, it is actually the name given to six fibrous minerals. Because these fibers, when woven together, are very strong, resistant to heat, and can be acquired at very little cost, they have been used by manufacturers in various applications for years.

For instance, for many years car manufacturers have used asbestos in everything from vehicle brakes and gaskets to roof linings. It has also been used frequently by manufacturers of cement, tile and insulation, to name just a few products.

Illnesses from Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos can lead to several illnesses, the two most common of which are:

a) Mesothelioma, a illness characterized by a tumor in one’s chest or abdomen; and

b) Asbestosis, which reduces one’s breathing capacity due to inflammation and scarring of the lung.

Even those lucky enough to escape the above ailments can have affected health from asbestos exposure. One common result from exposure is pleural effusion, which involves a buildup of fluid in the area of the lungs making it very difficult to breath and causing serious pain. Because the ailments from exposure to asbestos can take years, even decades to appear, most industries in the US continued to use asbestos until roughly 1990. 

The National Institute of Health and Safety reported that between 1999 and 2005, over 18,000 individuals in the United States died from mesothelioma, declaring that workers were most at risk in the following five industries: 1) Shipbuilding and Repairing; 2) Industrial and Miscellaneous Chemicals; 3) Petroleum Refining; 4) Electric Light and Power; and 5) Construction. (www.asbestosnews.com/mesothelioma/meso_deaths_industry)

When hiring a debt recovery solicitor, it is essentially important that you take your time and review available options before settling for nothing but the best one according to your needs and preferences. Any good debt recovery legal guide will sell you this. This is because the level of expertise and experiences your debt recovery solicitor has will greatly influence your chances of success in getting your money back. What are the aspects that you need to look into when choosing debt recovery solicitors?

For starters, make sure the solicitor you plan on hiring specializes in debt recovery. If you are hiring a large law firm, check if they have a specialized debt recovery department as part of the firm’s legal force; having a solicitor that specializes in debt recovery means getting assistances from a solicitor who knows exactly what to do along the way.

Ask for past references when you interview the solicitors you are complaining and take your time to contact past clients directly. You need first-hand testimonials from past clients in order to assess the quality of services to expect from the solicitor.

You must also compare fees and legal charges from multiple debt recovery solicitors. Not only will you be able to decide the best solicitor to hire, you will also have the information you need to negotiate a better quote on the services you are getting.

As our society takes an increasingly serious stance towards stopping the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, lawsuits involving STDs are becoming more common.

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (PRWEB) December 16, 2010

If a person experiences health issues after having sexual contact with another, it is crucial to undergo screening for a sexually transmitted disease for medical and legal reasons, Michigan personal injury attorney Thomas L. Stroble said this week.

Screening can not only detect the STD early on and prevent serious health complications, but it may also help to hold the person who transmitted the disease responsible for medical costs, pain and suffering and possibly punitive damages, Stroble said.

“As our society takes an increasingly serious stance towards stopping the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, lawsuits involving STDs are becoming more common,” said Stroble, whose Bloomfield Hills personal injury law firm, The Stroble Law Firm, P.C., represents STD victims in civil actions throughout Oakland County and the surrounding area.

“A lawsuit can not only compensate a person who has suffered tremendous trauma from being infected with a STD, but it can also act as a deterrent to risky, reckless and costly behavior,” he said.

Stroble pointed that, according to a Centers for Disease Prevention and Control report issued last month, about 19 million Americans are infected with a sexually transmitted disease each year at a combined estimated cost of $16.4 billion.

The CDC report noted an increase in the transmission of Chlamydia and syphilis in recent years. Although the CDC does not compile statistics regarding genital herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, they are widely believed to be the most commonly transmitted STDs.

“Herpes, in particular, is a very serious, lifelong disease, which can lead to serious complications if not detected and treated at a very early stage,” Stroble said. “It not only harms the victim, but it could also impact the victim’s unborn children.”

According to Stroble, screening for STDs may help to determine the person who transmitted the disease. That person could be held liable in a civil lawsuit, he said, if it can be shown that the person knew of the condition, failed to disclose it before engaging in sexual contact and transmitted the disease to a partner.

“If the person knew they had herpes, for instance, and failed to tell their partner about the disease or to take proper precautionary steps, such as wearing a condom, that could serve as grounds for liability,” Stroble said.

Stroble suggested contacting a family physician or a local county health division for more information about STDs, walk-in clinics, screening, testing, diagnosis, treatment and counseling options.

About The Stroble Law Firm, P.C.

The Stroble Law Firm, P.C. is a full-service Bloomfield Hills, MI-based law firm that represents personal injury victims and their families throughout the state of Michigan, including Macomb County, Oakland County, Warren, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens, Utica, Roseville, Troy, Farmington Hills, Waterford, Southfield, Pontiac, Birmingham, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills. The firm’s personal injury practice areas also include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, birth injuries, slip and falls, dog bites and wrongful death cases. To learn more about The Stroble Law Firm, P.C. call (248) 454-0800 or (888) 454-0801 or use the firm’s online contact form.

A St. Petersburg woman, represented by Clearwater personal injury attorneys from the Mark Roman Law Group, received a verdict of more than $600,000 on Wednesday for injuries she suffered in an April 2008 car accident. The verdict was reached by a Pinellas County jury after it deliberated for 1½ hours.

Katie Burnett, 32, received the verdict at the end of a three-day trial. Burnett sued Robert Norwood, the driver of a truck which ran a red light and hit her car in St. Petersburg.

Burnett suffered multiple injuries, including a broken pelvis and left hip, as a result of the accident. She testified that she was hospitalized for five days and had to use a walker while her hip and pelvic fractures healed.

Clearwater personal injury trial lawyers, Mark Roman and Morgan Gaynor, of Mark Roman Law Group claimed Burnett never fully recovered from her injuries and will need medical care for the remainder of her life. Norwood’s lawyer, Nathaniel Fisher, acknowledged the accident was serious but alleged Ms. Burnett recovered well after several months.

The jury of four women and two men awarded Ms. Burnett about $60,000 for past medical bills and $100,000 for future medical care. It awarded past and future pain and suffering damages of $260,000 and $224,000 respectively.

Burnett’s treating surgeon, Dr. George Canizares, testified that Ms. Burnett still suffers from accident-related injuries. He said she would probably need medical care at a cost of $1,500 to $2,000 per year.

Dr. John Shim, an expert witness for the defense, said Burnett’s hip could deteriorate as she ages. However, he said her remaining injuries were sprains and strains which should have healed fully by now.

Case Information:

Katie M. Burnett vs. Robert J. Norwood and Valerie M. Norwood

Pinellas County, Case No. 08-12164-CI-07

Judge Allen presided.