Albany, New York: Kitchen Countertop Lung Disease

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Is a Recognized Super Lawyer Who Is Committed to Providing Unparalleled Personal Injury Service. If You, or a Loved One, Have Developed Silicosis After Working with or Around Stone Countertop and Stone Countertop Slabs, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Explore Your Best Options for Effective Legal Relief.

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Stone kitchen countertops have been in style for years, but their popularity could conceal a serious risk to contractors and construction workers.

Health officials have long warned that stone countertops, both natural and artificial, contain high concentrations of silica. Silica, a common mineral, can aerosolize during grinding and installation. Its particles are microscopic enough to be inhaled. Once inside the body, silica can cause extensive damage to the lungs and surrounding tissue. Over time, exposure can even cause silicosis, a life-threatening illness with no known cure.

In Massachusetts, public health officials recently confirmed the state’s first-ever case of silicosis in a stone countertop worker. Investigators believe that the man, a 40-year-old who spent more than a decade in the industry, developed silicosis after working with quartz-based stone.

“The confirmation of this case in Massachusetts is a tragic reminder that silicosis is not just a distant threat,” the state Department of Health said in a statement. “It is here, and it is seriously impacting the health of workers in Massachusetts.”

Officials in Albany have yet to sound the alarm on silicosis. Still, anyone who works with kitchen countertops in or around the Capital District has likely been exposed to the same risk.

If you, or a loved one, has been diagnosed with silicosis after working with stone kitchen countertops, you could be entitled to significant compensation. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped our clients in Albany and throughout the state secure more than $250 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us today at 1-866-529-53349 to speak to a silicosis lawyer near Albany and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Silica, Stone Countertops, and Lung Disease

Silica is a naturally occurring mineral found in everything from plants to rock and soil. It is not an inherently dangerous substance and can, in certain forms, even be consumed safely and without any threat of complication. In the United States, some manufacturers use silica for industrial purposes. Silica, for example, can help prevent food spoilage; when combined with other minerals, it can reduce corrosion and improve insulation.

However, some kinds of silica can be dangerous.

Natural and artificial stone countertops are usually made from materials rich in crystalline silica, along with resin, pigment, and other compounds. Some stone countertops contain more than 90% silica by content. During processing or installation, small amounts of silica fiber can disperse into the air and settle onto nearby surfaces. These fibers are small enough to be inhaled.

Once inside the body, silica fibers can cause extensive damage. If silica fibers are inhaled, they can be pulled inside the lungs. Since silica is resilient, it cannot be broken down by your body’s natural defenses. Instead, the fibers become embedded in lung tissue and, over time, can provoke widespread inflammation. This can cause symptoms including, but not limited to, the following:

1. A persistent cough;
2. Inflammation in the lungs;
3. Fatigue; and
4. Unexpected or unwanted weight loss.

Silicosis can be fatal if left untreated, but it is usually manageable if diagnosed early. However, even with proper treatment, silicosis can pose additional risks. Silica fiber can inflame lung tissue, and inflamed tissue is more likely to trigger cellular mutations than healthy tissue. If a series of mutations causes a cell to replicate at an abnormal rate, the mutated cells could coalesce into a tumor and lead to lung cancer.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit for Kitchen Countertop Lung Disease

If you have developed silicosis after working with stone kitchen countertops, you could be entitled to take action against a product manufacturer, retailer, or former employer.

Of course, filing a lawsuit is very different from negotiating a settlement or securing a court-ordered award. In New York, there is no single legal theory used to litigate silicosis-related claims. The right strategy for your case depends on the specific causes and circumstances of your exposure.

As a general rule, to win a silicosis lawsuit, you must be able to establish that:

1. You were exposed to silica in the workplace;
2. Your exposure to silica caused silicosis, lung cancer, or another serious condition;
3. You have sustained damages as a direct result of your diagnosis; and
4. The defendant was negligent or in some other way liable for your exposure and associated injuries.

More often than not, proving each of these elements is challenging and requires the right combination of solid evidence and sound legal theory.

Personal injury lawsuits are, after all, high-stakes affairs for everybody involved—not just you, but the defendant, too. With courts across the country now recognizing that kitchen countertop workers have a right to compensation, many companies fear that settling a lawsuit could open the door to further litigation. Instead of accepting responsibility, they will often fight back with everything they have.

How the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Win Your Silicosis Lawsuit

Silicosis is a slow-moving disease.

Unlike the early-stage symptoms of influenza, COVID-19, or the common cold, the early-stage symptoms of silicosis take years to develop. According to some estimates, it takes about 10 years, on average, for silica exposure to cause noticeable medical problems. At first, these problems are often minor. Instead of being recognized as telltale signs of a serious illness, they are frequently brushed aside and attributed to a pre-existing condition or to a lifetime of hard work. By the time silicosis is diagnosed, it is usually too late for doctors to do anything other than treat its symptoms.

You could still be eligible to file a lawsuit even if you have not worked with kitchen countertops in years. However, New York’s courts expect claims to be backed by solid evidence, and obtaining solid proof from a worksite you have not visited in years, or which may no longer even exist, is typically anything but easy.

You do not have to risk your rights. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades filing, fighting, and winning cases just like yours. We could help you strengthen your claim by taking steps, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Investigating former worksites, even if they have closed or no longer exist;
2. Identifying the materials or circumstances that led to your silica exposure;
3. Assessing your damages, ensuring that you do not get taken for a ride during settlement negotiations;
4. Talking through your options for legal support and compensation while your lawsuit is still pending; and
5. Aggressively representing your interest, whether during settlement negotiations or at trial.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer could easily make the difference between a failed claim and a successful recovery, and you may not have to pay anything out of pocket to get started.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades representing injured workers. We know that, when you are facing down a silicosis diagnosis, putting money aside for a lawyer may not be your priority. This is why we work exclusively on a contingency fee basis. In other words, we never ask our clients to pay upfront for our services. Instead, we accept payment only as a percentage of your final settlement or court-ordered award. If we cannot win your case, we do not get paid.

Talking to a silicosis lawyer is risk-free and free of charge. Contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a kitchen countertop lung disease lawyer near Albany and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Albany, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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