Asbestos & Its Effects
From its base in Minnesota, the personal injury law firm of Sieben Polk P.A. has assisted people injured by asbestos throughout the Upper Midwest since 1979. We are dedicated to helping victims of asbestos and their families seek justice.
We have amassed the state’s most extensive body of evidence on asbestos exposure sites, and we continue to gather more. This gives our firm an unmatched advantage over national firms when it comes to handling asbestos injury cases in Minnesota. Having evidence on hand means we are able to file cases quickly to help our clients maximize recovery for their claim and having their day in court.
We possess a comprehensive understanding of asbestos and its effects. We know all about matters such as asbestosis with respect to how the lungs absorb asbestos fibers and how pleura occurs in the chest cavity’s lining. Most important, we know how to present these matters persuasively and convincingly.
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, it is important you to reach out to us as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys in Minnesota, call 651-437-3148. You do not have to travel to our office in Eagan to meet with us. We will come meet you at your home, office, or place of your choosing.
Asbestos And The Effects Of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is used to describe a naturally occurring mineral fiber composed of very small, threadlike silicate materials. Originally found in certain types of rock, asbestos fibers, which are often very long, became popular in the construction industry.
Asbestos was used for years as a noncorrosive, flame-resistant insulator on pipe coverings and vents. It was also used in other construction materials such as cement, roofing and floor tiles. Although asbestos was initially linked to cancer in the 1930s, was not until the 1960s that definitive studies started to come out linking asbestos to mesothelioma.
Since that time, asbestos has been linked to a variety of diseases and health conditions including:
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pleural disease
- Losing a loved one to asbestos exposure
While the use of asbestos in pipe covering has been well-known, there have been many other uses for asbestos that were not well-known. Individuals diagnosed with these diseases may not have any knowledge that they were exposed to asbestos.
The first step for many individuals is finding out if and when you were exposed. This is where our experience has helped many of our clients.
Why Do Our Years Of Experience Matter?
Our years of experience matter because we already know the facts about any number of asbestos issues unique to specific Minnesotan occupations and sites. Other firms, particularly out-of-state firms, simply do not have the access to or the command of the evidence in these matters that we do.
Moreover, our experience means we already know how to put these cases together. That knowledge enables us to move quickly. We know that asbestos cases are highly time-sensitive and require expedited litigation calendars.
Our experience also means we know that your case is ultimately about you and your family. We are as compassionate with our clients as we are committed to seeking justice for them.
We encourage all of our potential clients to reach out to us to learn more about what we can do to help. You can schedule a free initial appointment with our firm by calling us at 651-437-3148.
Asbestosis And Asbestos Exposure Lawyers
Asbestosis and asbestos exposure present particularly insidious legal complications. Because many people have been injured by asbestos exposure that occurred decades ago, they have not given much thought, if any, as to how they were injured by asbestos. For that reason, they need a law firm with the experience and knowledge needed about asbestosis and asbestos exposure in order to gather this information promptly, efficiently and effectively.
From its base in Minnesota, the experienced asbestos exposure claim law firm of Sieben Polk P.A. excels at providing these services to seriously injured clients across the country. Since 1979, our firm’s lawyers have come to the assistance of clients with asbestos-related claims. We regularly assist family members whose loved ones have passed away as a result of asbestos-related conditions.
How We Handle Asbestosis Claims
Our approach in handling asbestosis matters involves working closely with each of our clients. In doing so, we investigate each asbestosis case for ourselves to discover and preserve the medical records and witness interviews that best develop our clients’ cases. This individually tailored approach to asbestosis and asbestos exposure matters has resulted in more than 50,000 successful claims totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.
For all of these reasons, referring lawyers around the nation regularly send their mesothelioma clients to our firm. They know that we stand with all of our clients from the beginning of their cases through the end.
What Is Asbestosis?
Asbestosis is a breathing disorder caused by the inhalation of high levels of asbestos fibers. The asbestos fibers scar the lung parenchyma (lung tissue) thereby diminishing lung capacity. Asbestosis is an incurable and progressive disease. In some cases, it leads to death. Workers likely to sustain such high levels of exposure have historically included spray insulators and asbestos miners and millers.
When inhaled, asbestos fibers travel through the lung bronchi and eventually reach the alveoli. The alveoli are the tiny air sacs where oxygen passes from the lungs into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide passes from the bloodstream into the lung to be expelled. Cells called macrophages respond to the affected alveoli and attempt to digest the asbestos fibers. However, unlike dust particles and chemicals, the asbestos fibers are partially resistant to breakdown. As the microphage continues to attempt to digest the asbestos fibers, it unintentionally inflames and scars the alveoli. This process is called fibrosis.
If a person inhales sufficient quantities of asbestos fibers, the cumulative scarring of alveoli reduces the person’s ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. As a person’s lung capacity is diminished, shortness of breath results and becomes progressively worse over time, especially if exposure to asbestos continues. The scarring also causes the lungs to stiffen, like a dried sponge, requiring more effort to breathe.
Asbestosis and other asbestos-related injuries can be time-sensitive. In order to build as thorough of a case as possible, we encourage all of our potential clients to reach out to us to learn more about any questions you may have: 651-437-3148. All communications between our firm and potential clients remain confidential.
Asbestos-Related Pleural Disease
Pleural disease is one of the potential consequences of asbestos exposure. Pleural disease refers to a number of different conditions affecting the pleura, which is the thin lining between the lung and the chest wall. Common conditions include pleural plaque, pleural thickening and pleural effusion.
At Sieben Polk P.A. in Eagan, we have been representing clients across the country in order to protect their own rights and those of their families. In doing so, we have worked regularly with clients suffering from pleural disease as a result of asbestos exposure.
Our knowledgeable lawyers hold more than 200 years of combined legal experience between them. As a result, they hold the level of seasoned legal judgment that clients need in order to fight for their rights with respect to asbestos-related pleural disease and mesothelioma.
Minnesota Pleural Disease Attorneys Serving Entire Upper Midwest
People with pleural disease often suffer from persistent cough and chest pains.
The most common condition is a buildup of pleural plaque, which is scar tissue resulting from white blood cells attempting to remove asbestos fibers. Pleural plaque is associated with significant asbestos exposure.
This judgment includes knowledge of the legal terrain as it operates on a practical level. We understand how the insurance companies and their large law firms operate, what their thinking is and how they handle certain kinds of cases.
We incorporate all of this knowledge into every legal opinion we provide to our clients. Further, our attorneys know how to tailor each legal opinion to the specific circumstances facing each particular client.
Our firm can provide this superior level of personalized legal service because we have purposely structured our firm in order to maximize client access to our legal team. We know our clients, and they know us. This style of lawyering has earned us in excess of 50,000 successful cases and hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
Clients and referring attorneys from around the country recognize our success. For that reason, they seek our guidance with respect to their most difficult matters related to pleural disease.
Pleural Disease Information
Pleura is a layer of tissue around the lungs. They consist of two layers of tissue separated by a space known as the pleural sac. The pleural sac helps contract the lungs as the diaphragm expands to help you breath.
Breathing function can be impaired when these tissues are damaged. The pleural tissue is one of the first places where evidence of asbestos exposure is detected. Typically emerging 20 to 30 years after exposure, pleural diseases manifest themselves in three forms:
Pleural Plaque
Pleural plaque involves a buildup of firm scar tissue on the pleura, which surrounds the lung. While plaques do not themselves become cancerous, they can make breathing more difficult.
Pleural Thickening
Pleural thickening also involves scarring of the tissue surrounding the lungs, but unlike plaque, which is firm and tends to emerge in smaller areas, pleural thickening tends to be more extensive, impairing lung function and significantly restricting breathing capacity.
Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusions involve a buildup of fluid within the pleural sac that surrounds the lung. While these will generally resolve on their own, they are difficult while they persist because they make life difficult. They often emerge before pleural thickening.
While not cancerous one their own, these conditions are significant as they indicate that the person is at a greater risk than the general population of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Get A Free Consultation About Your Pleural Thickening Claim
Clients can schedule a free initial consultation with our firm today by calling 651-437-3148. All communications between our firm and potential clients remain confidential.
Honoring Loved Ones Lost To Asbestos Exposure
In 1979, our firm saw a need to provide quality representation to families facing the loss of a loved one due to asbestos exposure. Since that time, we have established a national reputation for our handling of mesothelioma, asbestosis and related exposure cases. As a result, clients and referring attorneys across the country turn to our firm when families have lost loved ones as a result of asbestos exposure.
They know that we tailor our legal representation to the specific needs and goals of each family. In order to do that, we have purposely structured our firm so each of our clients works closely with our legal team. Our individualized approach has resulted in thousands of successful cases and millions of dollars that they have been able to use to meet costs and expenses arising out of the death of their loved ones.
Wrongful Death Claims Arising Out Of Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma And Other Diseases
Sieben Polk P.A. delivers superior legal representation to families whose loved ones have died from injuries related to asbestos exposure. These injuries have included, among others:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Colon cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Testicular cancer
- And more
Our entire team remains cognizant of the fact that we are honoring the memory of loved ones who have been taken from our clients too soon and unjustly. As a result, we offer legal guidance that always takes into account our clients’ emotional and personal goals in addition to their legal goals. Our knowledgeable attorneys understand how to advise our clients as to all of their available legal options and as to which of those options best serve the clients’ own individual circumstances.
Learn About Your Rights To Recovery. Call Our Law Office Today.
We encourage potential clients to schedule a free and confidential consultation with our firm today by calling 651-437-3148.
Lung Cancer From Asbestos Exposure: Minnesota Attorneys Serving The Upper Midwest
Since 1979, Sieben Polk P.A. has worked diligently to represent the interests of Minnesotans dealing with lung cancer from asbestos exposure. We have spent more than 30 years building the reputation it now holds throughout Minnesota, the Upper Midwest and the nation as a premier mesothelioma and injury law firm.
Lung Cancer From Asbestos Exposure? Go Directly To Sieben Polk P.A.
Our firm regularly handles lung cancer and asbestos exposure cases, not only for clients who start with us right away, but also for clients who are referred to us by attorneys from throughout the Upper Midwest. These referring attorneys know that they are putting their clients in good hands when they send them to Sieben Polk P.A.
Our lung cancer and asbestos exposure attorneys hold the experienced legal judgment that clients rely on confidently when making important decisions in difficult matters. We have helped clients protect their rights in a wide variety of situations, including:
- Lung cancer
- The death of a loved one
- Asbestosis and asbestos exposure
- Asbestos-related pleural disease
- A wide variety of occupationally related asbestos exposure
Lung Cancer Information
Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer. In the event you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and may have been exposed to asbestos in the past, it is important to consult with an asbestos attorney.
Persons who have been exposed to asbestos are at an increased risk for lung cancer, particularly those who smoke tobacco products. Medical and scientific studies show there is a synergistic effect between cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure in the production of lung carcinomas.
Studies have also demonstrated a dose-response relationship between asbestos exposure and lung cancer risk, which means that the greater a worker’s asbestos exposure, the greater the worker’s risk of developing lung cancer. These studies have also confirmed a long latency period between initial exposure to asbestos and manifestation of lung cancer, usually beginning more than 15 years after initial exposure.
Talk To A Respected Minnesota Asbestos Exposure Attorney
If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, contact one of our Minnesota asbestos exposure lawyers by phone at 651-437-3148.
Occupational And Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
Clients coming to Sieben Polk P.A. are coming to the law firm viewed by many across the country as the go-to firm in Minnesota for mesothelioma cases. National firms that advertise on television frequently refer clients in Minnesota to us because of our ability to handle asbestos exposure cases, including occupational and secondhand exposure, quickly and efficiently.
We can do this because we have the most comprehensive collection of evidence on asbestos exposure sites in the state. This greatly shortens the fact-gathering portion of our case and enables to file claims quickly.
Occupational And Bystander Asbestos Exposure Lawyers
At Sieben Polk P.A., we have been helping clients with asbestos exposure cases since 1979. Our legal team has developed the legal judgment necessary in order to understand the complicated nuances associated with occupational and secondhand asbestos exposure.
The overwhelming majority of asbestos cases have been occupational in nature. Labor workers such as construction, agricultural and factory workers were frequently exposed. Since that time, we have seen many people develop asbestos-related diseases who did not work in those fields. Teachers, hairdressers and auto mechanics have gotten asbestos-related diseases.
In addition, there has been a growing number of secondary asbestos exposure cases that can befall a spouse, for instance, who was exposed to asbestos simply by the process of washing a spouse’s work clothes.
We honor our clients by providing them with the frank and candid advice they are seeking with respect to occupational and secondary asbestos exposure. Our clients clearly understand all of their available legal options and, supported by our experienced guidance, confidently choose from those options in an informed and intelligent manner.
Sieben Polk P.A. is the only Minnesota-based mesothelioma-focused law firm. Our approach to the law has resulted in more than 50,000 successes and hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients.
Minnesota-Based Attorneys Handling Asbestos-Related Disease Claims
It is important that you contact an attorney immediately if you have been diagnosed by a doctor with any asbestos-related disease to ensure your legal rights are protected. Submit your information in the free case evaluation form and one of our attorneys will contact you, or contact one of our attorneys by phone at 651-437-3148.
