Last updated on October 2025

HAVE YOU BEEN EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS AND DEVELOPED MESOTHELIOMA OR RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS?

You May Be Entitled To Substantial Compensation

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Mesothelioma And Asbestos Exposure

ASBESTOSIS ATTORNEYS

Asbestosis Claims & Lawsuits

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with asbestosis, reach out to our attorneys at Levy Konigsberg. You could be entitled to financial compensation, and our team can help.

Since 1985, Levy Konigsberg has been representing clients nationwide who have suffered the devastating effects of asbestos exposure. In fact, our founding partners were among the first personal injury lawyers in the United States to litigate these cases. Throughout our decades in practice, we have earned a reputation for being one of the most trusted and experienced asbestos litigation law firms in the nation. Our asbestosis attorneys have access to world-class resources and have a proven record of success in handling even the most complex of cases. To date, we have secured more than $3 Billion for our clients; find out how our team can help you seek the fair compensation you are owed today.

WERE YOU EXPOSED TO ASBESTOS AND DEVELOPED MESOTHELIOMA OR OTHER HEALTH ISSUES?

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What Is Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a serious lung disease in which the lungs suffer significant inflammation and scarring. Asbestosis is caused by exposure to asbestos, a group of naturally occurring minerals that were widely used in a variety of industrial and consumer goods throughout the 20^th century. Most often, asbestosis results from prolonged asbestos exposure; individuals who were exposed to the harmful material in the course of their occupations for numerous years are most at risk of developing asbestosis.

Currently, there is no known cure for asbestosis. However, various treatments are used to help slow the progression of the disease and ease symptoms, which can be painful. Unfortunately, the presence of asbestosis indicates an increased risk of asbestos-related cancer, including mesothelioma. Individuals with asbestosis are at a particular risk of being later diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

What Are the Symptoms of Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is characterized by the growth of scar tissue around the microscopic air sacs within the lungs (“alveoli”). As this scar tissue forms, these air sacs become less able to fill with air. For individuals with this condition, one of the earliest signs of asbestosis is difficulty breathing, often accompanied by a dry and persistent cough, as well as “crackling” sounds when breathing.

In general, the most common symptoms of asbestosis include:

Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Tightness in the chest
Persistent, dry cough
“Crackling” sounds when breathing
Chest pain
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Unintentional weight loss

Advanced symptoms of asbestosis include “clubbing” of the fingers and/or toes, in which fingertips and the ends of toes may appear larger or bulbous, and pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure affecting arteries located in the lungs and the right side of the heart. Pulmonary hypertension is particularly dangerous, as it causes the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. Over time, this can lead to weaking of the heart, which may cause coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and other serious complications.

How Long after Asbestos Exposure Symptoms Appear

Although asbestosis has a shorter latency period (the time between the development of the disease and when symptoms first appear) than mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers, it can still take a relatively long time for asbestosis symptoms to appear. The average latency period for asbestosis is about 20 to 30 years, meaning many people do not realize they have the disease for decades.

How Is Asbestosis Diagnosed?

As a result, it can be difficult to detect and diagnose asbestosis. Typically, doctors will conduct various diagnostic tests—including imaging scans, such as x-rays and CT scans—to identify scar tissue and fibrosis (the body’s reparative response to damage). Your doctor will also likely ask you about your symptoms and your history of asbestos exposure.

Your doctor may also evaluate your risk factors for asbestosis, such as:

The amount of time you were exposed to asbestos
Whether you suffered occupational asbestos exposure
Your history of lung disease
Whether you are a smoker or past smoker
Genetic factors, including specific DNA mutations

If you have experienced any asbestosis symptoms, it is incredibly important that you inform your doctor of your history of asbestos exposure. Many people with asbestosis are misdiagnosed, as symptoms mimic several other lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Misdiagnosis of asbestosis is particularly dangerous, as early detection and treatment is key to keeping this condition from advancing to more serious stages. An accurate diagnosis of asbestosis can also allow your doctor to be aware of an increased risk of asbestos-related cancer, meaning they can more closely monitor your health for signs of mesothelioma and other related illnesses.

Is There a Cure for Asbestosis?

Currently, there is no known cure for asbestosis. However, many people continue to live with asbestosis for years. The average life expectancy for asbestosis patients is 10 years, depending on the type of treatment the patient receives.

Common treatments for asbestosis include:

Lung Transplantation: A lung transplant is an aggressive type of treatment in which the entire affected lung or lungs are removed and replaced with healthy lungs. This is typically reserved as a last-resort option for those with severe, advanced asbestosis. Very few patients qualify for a lung transplant; however, it is generally considered the most effective asbestosis treatment.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a form of palliative care, meaning it is intended to reduce the severity of symptoms and prove the patient with a greater level of comfort. The basic tenants of pulmonary rehabilitation include the development of physical and psychological techniques and lifestyle changes to manage breathing difficulties.
Exercise Therapy: Exercise therapy is another type of palliative care that is often used alongside pulmonary rehabilitation to help patients effectively cope with the symptoms of asbestosis. The goal of exercise therapy is to improve physical fitness, lung function, and overall quality of life for patients with asbestosis.
Supplemental Oxygen: Like pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise therapy, supplemental oxygen is a type of palliative care meant to reduce the discomfort associated with breathing difficulties and other asbestosis symptoms. Patients receive supplemental oxygen from a portable oxygen tank, which can help ease breathing and provide oxygen to the body.
Medications: Medications are often used alongside other palliative treatments to ease asbestosis symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. Common medications for asbestosis include approved pharmaceutical drugs that are specifically designed to dilute lung secretions, thereby easing chest pain and coughing.

The primary goal of most asbestosis treatments is to improve patients’ quality of life and reduce the severity of the disease’s symptoms. In general, most medical providers encourage patients to make lifestyle changes, such as exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, to improve oxygen intake and alleviate discomfort.

When to Consult an Asbestosis Attorney

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with asbestosis, it is important that you reach out to an experienced attorney right away. Because asbestosis is exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, asbestosis patients and the families of those who have passed away as a result of asbestosis may be able to hold asbestos manufacturers and other liable parties accountable for their damages. The purpose of filing an asbestosis claim or lawsuit is to recover monetary compensation for damages associated with the illness, such as medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.

The sooner you reach out to our asbestosis attorneys at Levy Konigsberg, the better. The courts often give priority to cases in which the injured party is still alive. In any case, a statute of limitations (or filing deadline) likely applies. You may have a limited time to file an asbestosis lawsuit, so we encourage you to contact our firm right away. At Levy Konigsberg, we represent clients nationwide in complex asbestosis and asbestos-related cases and have developed a reputation as a leader in this specific area of law.

Contact Our Asbestosis Attorneys Now for a Free Consultation

At Levy Konigsberg, our attorneys are widely considered to be authorities in asbestos-related litigation. In fact, one of our founding partners, Stan Levy, was the first personal injury lawyer in the Northeast to pursue an asbestos case.

Throughout our decades in practice, we have successfully represented clients against some of the world’s biggest and most powerful asbestos manufacturers. Our asbestosis attorneys are not afraid of pursuing your case at trial, if necessary, and we have the resources necessary to effectively advocate for you.

Most importantly, we never lose sight of the fact that this isn’t just another case—it’s your life. When you choose Levy Konigsberg, you can rest assured that you will always receive the personal attention, care, and support you deserve. We genuinely care about each of our clients and treat every case as though it were our only one. Though we are a large, powerful, and well-established firm, we work tirelessly to ensure your experience with our team is an exceptional one.

We handle mesothelioma lawsuits against major companies that exposed people to asbestos and put their health at risk.

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We work on contingency, which means there’s no cost to hire and no fee unless we win.

Why Choose Levy Konigsberg?

Since the 1980s, Levy Konigsberg has evolved into a nationwide powerhouse for mesothelioma litigation in the U.S. Our national mesothelioma lawyers have represented numerous individuals and groups of workers, successfully securing multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts.

Our top-rated mesothelioma lawyers have:

A massive knowledge of asbestos law and science
Decades of experience to their legal practices
Tried hundreds of asbestos and mesothelioma cases before juries
Secured record mesothelioma and asbestos compensation verdicts
Achieved some of the highest peer reviews and ratings available
Helped hundreds of satisfied clients

Additionally, we offer:

A caring and understanding approach to your case
Personalized attention and counsel based on each unique case
No upfront costs for handling your mesothelioma case
Fast and efficient handling of your mesothelioma case
Frequent case updates and reliable attorney accessibility

Understanding the science of asbestos exposure is an invaluable resource. One of the many benefits of our early involvement in mesothelioma litigation is our access to pioneering researchers and experts in this complex and ever-changing medical field. We put these experts to work on behalf of our clients, in the courtroom and in treatment of their disease.

Our lawyers bring to bear on every case a level of experience that can only come from decades of working together toward a common goal—maximum compensation for mesothelioma victims and their families.

Each new generation of mesothelioma attorneys at the firm acquires the skills, techniques, and knowledge of our senior partners through mentoring relationships. Not only does this benefit every lawyer, but it also benefits our clients in the form of consistently successful representation.

A Long History of Success in Mesothelioma Cases

Countless lawyers who advertise themselves as mesothelioma attorneys have never actually handled an asbestos case before. In fact, they refer them out to real mesothelioma lawyers for a fee.

That is not how we operate.

We are true, experienced mesothelioma attorneys who personally work on each case from beginning to end. We are always happy to meet our clients, whether at our New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Washington, or Maryland offices, at a client’s home or hospital, or anywhere in the country.

Our legal team has succeeded by negotiating tirelessly with manufacturers of asbestos products and their insurance companies, no matter how influential or uncooperative they are. We are even often able to recover compensation from companies that have long been bankrupt.

Most defense lawyers are familiar with our solid reputation and credentials and know in advance that we will not settle for less than the best possible offer. They know that we build every mesothelioma and asbestos case as if it is going to trial, and we have taken hundreds of cases to juries when a fair settlement had not been offered.

The mesothelioma attorneys at Levy Konigsberg have also served as lead counsel in major state and federal mass consolidation cases designed to benefit many hundreds of people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other types of asbestos-related diseases.

We are proud of the work our lawyers do on behalf of our clients, often in groundbreaking cases against the toughest defendants. Our law firm has obtained landmark asbestos and mesothelioma jury verdicts for exposures to welding rods, cable, asbestos gaskets and packing, commercial talc, and industrial equipment, including the first-ever jury verdicts against welding rod, cable, and commercial talk manufacturers.

Our law firm is frequently referenced by the legal press for our association with the largest and landmark asbestos and mesothelioma verdicts in virtually every category, including various jurisdictions, types of asbestos products involved, and forms of asbestos exposure.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for victims of mesothelioma and asbestos cancers, and we are prepared to fight for you.

Providing Your Case with the Individual Attention It Deserves

Unfortunately, many law firms today use a generalized approach to handling cases of the same type, even those as complex as mesothelioma cases.

With a goal of cutting back on the time spent on each case, they use broad-brush practices and techniques to process cases as fast as they can, often risking the possibility of missing important details in a case and, thus, undermining the goal of negotiating the best possible compensation for their clients.

Contrary to such mentality, we treat every case as if it was our only one. We investigate each case with a team of lawyers, paralegals, and leading experts in the field, all while being in constant communication with the clients, to ensure that we have done everything we could to reach the full potential of each individual case.

In many courts, mesothelioma cases are treated urgently and given high priority. This is particularly true if the claimant is alive. In some jurisdictions, the entire case can be resolved within four to five months; in others, it can take longer.

Here, at Levy Konigsberg, our mesothelioma cancer attorneys do everything possible to avoid delays and move our clients’ cases as quickly as we can. We accomplish this in large part due to the coordinated work of our team members and the fact that every mesothelioma case goes through a strict control and supervision, including regular follow-ups and reviews by the lead lawyers.

Our mesothelioma attorneys update clients on a regular basis, so that they always know of every important development on their case and that it is being taken care of. Our lawyers and support staff take every phone call with a high level of priority and try to answer them on the spot.

If unavailable at that very moment, we call clients back as promptly as possible. It is not uncommon that our mesothelioma attorneys provide clients with their personal cell phone numbers to address any urgent questions that the clients may have in the future.

Reach Out to Our Award-Winning Mesothelioma Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation

Our mesothelioma attorneys fight for justice on behalf of innocent people, including the victims of deadly asbestos exposure. Companies that knew the threat asbestos poses must be held accountable for the illnesses and harm that resulted from their negligence. If you were exposed to asbestos, the mesothelioma lawyers at Levy Konigsberg are ready to help.

Our partners have been honored with an AV® Preeminent™ rating, the highest given, from the nationwide Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™. Year after year, our partners are designated by their peers as Super Lawyers® and as the Best Lawyers® in America.

While we are proud of our awards and accolades, our clients remain the central and most important part of our practice. Their satisfaction is our top priority. We understand that every client’s case is their whole life. Our attorneys treat each client with the care they deserve, addressing their unique needs and doing our utmost to help them put their life back together as much as possible.

We offer a free initial consultation, and cover the expenses of building your case, so there is no cost to you unless we recover compensation for you.

We have offices located in New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Washington, and Maryland. Many of our mesothelioma lawyers are licensed to practice law in a number of U.S. states and have the capability and extensive experience of representing mesothelioma clients throughout the United States. You are encouraged to contact us with any questions.

Cases of Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma News

Since the 1970s, our founding partners were pioneers in championing the rights of asbestos and mesothelioma victims. In fact, Stan Levy was the first personal injury lawyer in the Northeast to pursue an asbestos case and one of the first mesothelioma attorneys in America.

Later, in 1985, he formed Levy Konigsberg with a mission to apply his extensive experience and legal knowledge to seek justice and financial compensation on behalf of asbestos and mesothelioma victims across the United States.

Find out whether you have a case by speaking to one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers.

Trust Levy Konigsberg's Legal Team for Proven Results in Mesothelioma Cases

Levy Konigsberg LLP, a nationally recognized law firm, has built a legacy over three decades, securing billions in compensation for its clients. Led by award-winning attorneys, we specialize in representing individuals and families across the country who have suffered from asbestos exposure and devastating illnesses such as mesothelioma. Our top-rated trial practice holds corporations accountable for exposing workers and communities to asbestos, with numerous testimonials and successful case results.

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