Austin Silicosis Lawsuit FAQs

Answers to the Most Common Austin Silicosis Lawsuit Questions

This section provides answers to the most common questions received by our attorneys about filing a silicosis lawsuit in Austin. The information included here applies to most Austin claims, but questions relating to your own specific circumstances will require individual answers. If you are left with unanswered questions, please contact our firm to speak with a silicosis lawyer handling claims in Austin by completing our online contact form located at the right. Our lawyers handling silicosis lawsuits in Austin provide free, no-obligation case reviews to persons who have suffered from lung disease or lost a loved one to silicosis in Austin.

Who is most at risk for silicosis?

Any worker who has been exposed to airborne silica particles can develop silicosis. Working around silica dust, as do many workers in the industries of mining, construction, landscaping, and quarrying, requires proper protective gear. In the absence of an approved respirator, workers may inhale free silica particles that are too small to be seen. Once these particles reach the lungs, inflammation and fibrous growths may develop. A relatively small degree of exposure over a long period time can result in chronic lung disease, which progresses in severity slowly over time, whereas a worker who is exposed to a high concentration of silica dust just once will develop acute lung disease, which can lead to respiratory failure very quickly.

When was the connection between silica dust inhalation and silicosis discovered?

The connection between stonework and lung disease has been known for 2500 years, since the time of the ancient Greeks. Silicosis was recognized as a disease caused by airborne silica particles in the early 1900s. In 1917, the U.S. Public Health Service warned sandblasters and foundry workers of the high risk of lung disease from their work. Many silicosis lawsuits were filed by workers in the 1920s and 1930s. Despite this long history of awareness, silica-related deaths still happen each year in the United States.

Is silicosis treatable?

Silicosis is incurable and irreversible. Once a worker has been exposed to silica particles in dust, there is no way to remove the substance from the lungs or stop the body’s natural reaction to the foreign particles. There are some measures that can be taken to slow the progression of the disease: stop exposure, stop smoking, take medication for pain relief, use oxygen and steroids to assist breathing, take immunosuppressive drugs to slow inflammation, treat infections that arise, and as a last and extreme resort, undergo a lung transplant.

If silicosis is preventable, why do people still get it?

Simple measures can be taken to prevent silica dust lung disease, lung cancer, and death, yet thousands of workers each year still develop the disease. A company’s failure to adhere to federal exposure regulations and to provide adequate protective gear are two reasons their workers may develop silicosis. Prevention is straightforward and there is no excuse for exposing workers to this threat.

Who can file a Austin silicosis lawsuit?

Workers, and the family members of workers, who developed serious lung problems and have a history of job-site silica dust exposure in Austin may be eligible to make a claim by filing a Austin silicosis lawsuit. Certain time limits may apply; contact one of our attorneys handling Austin silicosis lawsuits for lung cancer, lung disease, TB, and other health problems related to silica dust inhalation to learn about Austin time limits that apply to you.

Does it cost anything for you to review my case?

We will always listen to your circumstances and give you our analysis of your case without any cost or further obligation.

What should I do if I think I have silicosis?

Silicosis must be diagnosed by a pulmonologist or doctor with experience treating this condition. There are three criteria involved in the diagnosis: a chest x-ray revealing upper-lobe lung scarring or nodules; a past history of silica dust inhalation; and the absence of another diagnosis. If you are diagnosed with silicosis or think you may have the disease, stop any activities that may involve silica dust and refrain from smoking, as smoking exacerbates the condition.

In which industries are silicosis deaths most common?

Mining, sandblasting, construction, agriculture, and landscaping are some of the jobs that are most likely to involve silica dust exposure. Silica is one of the most common substances on earth and is found in many materials that are used in a wide variety of work settings such as stone, sand, clay, brick, mortar, plaster, rock, and ore. Any time these materials are ground, blasted, mined, cut, or otherwise disturbed in a way that produces dust, workers are at risk of developing silicosis.

How much will it cost to file a silicosis lawsuit in Austin?

We will represent all persons involved in a Austin silicosis lawsuit on a contingency basis, meaning there are never any legal fees unless we win compensation in your case. For a free no-obligation consultation please fill out our short online contact form and one of our silicosis attorneys handling Austin claims for lung disease, lung cancer, TB, or another related condition will contact you to answer any of your questions.

Aren't most drug and products liability lawsuits just class action lawsuits where the plaintiff receives very little money?

The majority of our drug cases are handled as a MDL, or Multi-District Litigation, where each plaintiff receives a settlement based upon the individual injuries and damages incurred by each plaintiff.

We're not the type of people who sue; do we really need to file a lawsuit?

If a member of your family suffered a serious injury or health problem as a result of a silica dust inhalation at work, long term medical care may be required. This could be incredibly expensive and since medical costs are continually rising may be largely unknown at the time of settlement or trial. If a member of your family died due to an unsafe working condition, no amount of money can undo that wrong. It is our fervent hope that every silicosis lawsuit we file can serve to make the employers take note of the loss and pain its conduct has caused. When that fails to make a company take action to protect workers according to federal standards, sometimes only the fear of lawsuits and large settlements and verdicts can influence a company to protect its workers.

What are the time limits that apply to filing a silicosis lawsuit?

Many states have silicosis lawsuit time limits; however, the majority of all persons who have been exposed to silica dust and have developed lung disease will fall within those time limits if they consult with a silicosis lawyer in the near future. To learn about time limits that apply in Austin, please complete the contact form at right and one of our attorneys will contact you as quickly as possible, usually within the hour.