There is no dollar value on a human life. It is tragic for families and communities when someone has their life cut short by a preventable illness or accident. In a lawsuit against a company or person who caused the death of another, however, a jury must decide the dollar amount awarded to surviving family. It is difficult, and many factors go into the dollar amount. In this post, we will discuss who can bring a wrongful death claim, what factors go into deciding the amount awarded and why family members can find solace in a successful claim.
Watch for these signs of pleural mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer of the lung that comes from inhaling tiny asbestos fibers.
Improper asbestos removal of popcorn ceiling endangers workers
OnTrack, the addiction recovery organization, has been fined nearly $20,000 for improperly exposing workers to asbestos. According to the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division, OnTrack had workers scrape acoustic ceilings (more commonly known as popcorn ceilings) without proper equipment or protective gear.
The facts about asbestos exposure risk
One of the most common questions on asbestos is how much exposure it takes to develop mesothelioma. Since asbestos exposure remains a large public health concern, it is an important question.
Better sleep for a better mind: Treating depression with sleep
Depression is common among workers who have suffered on-the-job injuries or illnesses -- and standard treatments often fail to completely resolve the problem. Doctors aren't always even in agreement about the best ways to try to treat a stubborn depression.
Asbestos exposure a concern in Philadelphia schools
Many schools throughout the country were built using asbestos. If the material containing asbestos is in good repair and left undisturbed, it does not pose a problem. It is only when asbestos is “friable” (easily crumbled) that it poses a danger.
Can you sue a drug manufacturer for an overdose?
The opioid crisis in the United States has never been worse. Thousands of people suffer from opioid addiction and many have died. It's made a lot of people ask how prescription painkillers -- something that started out as a good thing -- became so casually available in the first place.
Lung cancer doesn’t just affect smokers
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death for all cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. About 14 percent of all new cancers are lung cancers. The prognosis for lung cancer remains bleak if diagnosed at stage 3 or 4. If detected earlier, the prognosis is much better – meaning people should be aware of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
The unexpected costs of a cancer diagnosis
Cancer is always serious business for a patient -- but a diagnosis also often holds unexpected financial consequences for the entire family.
EPA limits its review of asbestos exposure risk
In 2016, Congress amended the Toxic Control Substances Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct risk-based assessments of dangerous chemicals. The bill passed with bipartisan support.
Learn more about the connection between talc and mesothelioma
Our firm recently published a slideshare noting the connection between talcum powder and asbestos exposure. Read about how talc products have been contaminated with asbestos for decades.
Johnson & Johnson must pay hefty punitive damages in cancer case
Most of the compensation the victim in a personal injury case receives is tied directly to his or her actual losses. However, that's not how punitive damages work.
How are people commonly exposed to chemical hazards?
Hazardous chemicals are all around you. Nearly every day, something toxic to humans is in the news. One day it's the talcum powder that families have used for generations on babies -- the next it's the romaine lettuce in your salad.
Asbestos is everywhere, in products old and new
For nearly a century, product manufacturers saw asbestos as a substance with almost miraculous properties. It does not burn. It is non-corrosive. It does not react with other compounds. It has sound-deadening properties. It is easy to use in any shape or application. It is cheap to produce. This last factor, as much as any other, is why manufacturers ignored the medical community for decades in using a substance that sickens and kills the people who are exposed to it.
Recognize these signs of mesothelioma
If you worked in an industry that exposed you to asbestos fibers at any time in the past, you have good reason to worry about mesothelioma in your present.
