SMOKING & ASBESTOS EXPOSURE LUNG CANCER LAWYER

Understanding the Link Between Smoking, Asbestos & Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the top three most common forms of cancer in the United States. It is also one of the deadliest. According to U.S. Cancer Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lung cancer had the highest rate of death (per 100,000 people) of all forms of cancer studied in 2018 (the latest year for which data are currently available).

Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, but other factors can increase a person’s risk of developing the disease. One of these factors is asbestos exposure, which has been directly linked to heightened instances of lung cancer. And, when a smoker is exposed to harmful asbestos fibers, their risk of developing lung cancer skyrockets.

If you or someone you love was diagnosed with lung cancer after years of smoking and/or being exposed to asbestos, reach out to Levy Konigsberg right away. You could be entitled to financial compensation, and our smoking and asbestos lung cancer attorneys can help. We have successfully taken on major tobacco companies, asbestos manufacturers, and other powerful entities in our pursuit of justice for our clients. To date, our firm has recovered more than $3 Billion in compensation for our clients, including hundreds of millions of dollars for lung cancer victims and their families. Though our offices are located in New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Washington, and Maryland, we proudly represent clients in all 50 states.

The Facts About Lung Cancer, Asbestos & Cigarettes

Both smoking and asbestos exposure have been proven to cause lung cancer. Studies have found that a person’s risk of developing lung cancer is 5 times higher if they are exposed to asbestos (but do not smoke) and 10 times higher if they smoke (but are not exposed to asbestos). When someone is a smoker and they are exposed to asbestos, their risk of developing lung cancer is 50 times higher than the average person.

When someone smokes cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, and they are also exposed to asbestos, the individual likelihood of developing lung cancer associated with each risk factor do not simply add together. Instead, the two interact, enhance, and multiply one another, putting individuals at a disproportionate risk of severe illness and death.

According to a report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “asbestos exposure and tobacco smoking interact synergistically for the causation of lung cancer.” This causes changes in the body on a biological level, leading to genetic injury/mutations that dramatically increase the risk of lung cancer.

Who Is Responsible?

Asbestos manufacturers and tobacco companies have known for decades that their products put people at serious risk, yet they failed to take reasonable measures to warn the public or prevent individuals from being harmed. At Levy Konigsberg, we believe that these entities should be held accountable—and the law is on our side.

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, or if your loved one passed away due to lung cancer or a related illness after cigarette/tobacco use and/or being exposed to asbestos, you could have grounds for a lawsuit. Depending on the specific details of your situation, you may be entitled to bring a claim against an asbestos or tobacco company, as well as other liable entities.

Choose a Firm with a Legacy of Success

Taking on these powerful companies can be daunting, but when you have the right legal team by your side, you put yourself in the best possible position for success. At Levy Konigsberg, we have taken on asbestos manufacturers, tobacco companies, and other powerful entities on behalf of our clients—and we have won, time and time again.

• $43.1 million dollars against R.J. Reynolds for the widow and family of a man that developed lung cancer from smoking menthol cigarettes and from exposure to asbestos as an auto mechanic
• $5.5 million dollars against Philip Morris for the widow and family of a man that developed lung cancer from smoking Marlboro cigarettes and from exposure to asbestos as an auto mechanic

In total, we have won more than $100 million for victims of lung cancer and their loved ones. We have also secured numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts in cases against asbestos companies, successfully representing lung cancer victims who suffered from occupational exposure to asbestos, including Navy servicemembers, shipyard workers, insulators, pipe fitters, boiler workers, HVAC technicians, construction workers, drywall installers, demolition crew members, auto mechanics, plant workers, and many others.

As your legal team, we will be there to guide you through every step of the process, providing the personal attention and ongoing support you need. Our asbestos and smoking lung cancer attorneys understand the challenges you are up against, and we know what it takes to win. At Levy Konigsberg, we have the decades of experience, world-class resources, and proven skill necessary to fight for you.

Contact Levy Konigsberg for a Free Consultation

We are nationally recognized as a leader and authority in asbestos- and tobacco-related civil litigation. Since our founding in 1985, our firm has successfully represented countless lung cancer victims and the families of those who have passed away as a result of asbestos exposure, tobacco use, and other related causes. Our attorneys are not afraid to go up against some of the biggest and most powerful companies in the world, and we have a proven record of success when it comes to advocating for our clients’ rights.

Our team is here to help you seek the maximum compensation you are owed. We do not collect any attorney fees unless/until we win your case. In other words, if we do not collect compensation on your behalf, you do not owe us anything.

Recoverable Damages in Cancer Claims

Victims in cancer-related claims are entitled to a financial recovery of their damages. While every case is different, these damages generally include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Costs associated with medications and therapies
• Lost income and lost future earnings
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional injuries
• Other economic and non-economic damages

In cases involving fatal cancers, qualifying family members who file wrongful death and survival actions can recover other types of compensation, including:

• Medical expenses
• Funeral and burial costs
• Lost financial support
• Lost emotional support and lost consortium

In some cases, courts may also award plaintiffs punitive damages. Punitive damages are a class of damages meant to further punish defendants whose conduct rises to an unacceptable standard of negligence, wrongdoing, or impunity. Punitive damages are not awarded in every case, but they are not uncommon in high-stakes and emotionally turbulent cases like those involving cancer diagnoses.

Resources for Victims & Families

• National Cancer Institute Mesothelioma Portal
• American Cancer Society Patient Programs
• CDC Cancer Resource Library