Florida Asbestos Lawyers
Asbestosis is a debilitating, progressive, and potentially fatal lung disease caused by asbestos exposure. There is no cure for asbestosis. It is inflammation and scarring of the lungs which slowly robs you of your ability to breathe. Treatment cannot reverse the existing damage, but it can slow the progression and improve the symptoms. If you have developed asbestosis, please talk to our Florida asbestos lawyers today.
Pulmonary Fibrosis
Asbestosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis. There are many types of pulmonary fibrosis; not all are caused by asbestos. If you have a known history of asbestos exposure, talk to your doctor about it. There are some tests which can determine whether your pulmonary fibrosis is in fact asbestosis, but misdiagnosis can still occur.
If your doctor says you have “idiopathic” pulmonary fibrosis, or if he says it may or may not be caused by asbestos, insist on further testing. Idiopathic just means that your doctor does not know the cause.
Determining the cause may not change your treatment options, but it can affect your chances of receiving the proper compensation which can pay for your treatment. You also need to know if you have asbestosis because it means you need mesothelioma screening. Very early diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma can save or greatly extend your life.
How Asbestos Causes Asbestosis
Asbestos fibers are tiny, sharp, and very irritating to your tissues. When they lodge in the lungs, they cause irritation and inflammation. Since your immune system cannot break down the fibers and get rid of them, it tries to isolate them by laying down scar tissue. As more and more scar tissue forms your lungs lose both capacity in volume and in their capacity for delivering oxygen to your blood and removing carbon dioxide from your system.
Asbestosis death can be the result of respiratory failure or the extra strain placed on the heart.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by asbestos exposure in Florida, please call the Florida asbestos lawyers of Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation with our asbestos lawyers is free, and if we agree to represent you, we will work for a contingent fee, which means we won’t get paid for our services unless you receive a settlement or an award. In Florida, an asbestos injury lawsuit must be filed before the expiration of the statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.