Diseases caused by asbestos exposure affect 20% of former industrial workers and 30% of veterans. Every year, between 12,000 and 15,000 people lose their lives to diseases that stem from asbestos exposure.

Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a non-malignant pulmonary disease that often develops prior to lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma. According to the Environmental Working Group, there have been 20,317 asbestosis deaths between 1999 and 2013 in the U.S. Because the symptoms of this condition are very similar to those of more common respiratory diseases, asbestosis cases might be severely underreported. Thereby, misdiagnosis is very common among the victims of asbestos exposure, as the symptoms of asbestosis often mimic the signs of other pulmonary diseases.

Lung cancer
Asbestos exposure is accountable for nearly 5% of all diagnosed cases of lung cancer and 4,800 Americans lose their lives annually to asbestos-related lung cancer. When it is a consequence of exposure to asbestos, lung cancer develops differently and also entails a long latency period of 15 to 35 years. Moreover, smokers with a history of asbestos exposure are between 50 and 84 times more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer.

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma develops exclusively as a result of asbestos exposure. Every year, between 2,500 and 3,000 people develop mesothelioma in the U.S., most of whom have been in regular contact with asbestos in the workplace several decades ago. In fact, all asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period and tend to occur within 20 to 50 years of first exposure. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type.

Legal compensation
Mesothelioma compensation averages from $1 million to $2.4 million. Financial compensation for mesothelioma may come from asbestos trust funds, settlements or jury verdicts. It typically takes less than one year to receive mesothelioma compensation from trust funds and settlements. It may take years to receive compensation from trial verdicts.