New York City, 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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Silicosis is not uncommon, but we are still learning about its risks and causes.

For years, local and state regulators have warned that anyone who works with stone kitchen countertops could be at risk for silica exposure. Silica is not inherently dangerous, but certain types can be unsafe during processing, grinding, and installation. This is because silica fiber, in raw or pulverized form, can be inhaled. Once it enters the respiratory system, it is nearly impossible to remove. Over time, it can trigger symptoms that may not seem serious but can develop into silicosis, a life-threatening disease.

In neighboring Massachusetts, health officials recently confirmed the state’s first-ever case of silicosis definitively attributable to countertop installation.

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

New York City is a long, challenging drive from the Massachusetts border, but construction workers and contractors across all five boroughs face the same risks as their colleagues in New England.

You do not have to accept a life-altering diagnosis without fighting back. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has helped workers in New York City 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 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a silica claims lawyer near New York City and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Silicosis in NYC Kitchen Countertop Workers

Silica is a naturally occurring mineral found in plants, soil, rock, and even water. In manufacturing, silica is often used for its innate properties. It can be used to prevent food spoilage, for instance, and can be combined with other minerals and compounds to reduce corrosion and improve insulation.

However, working with certain forms of silica can be unsafe.

For years, federal agencies such as OSHA have sought to reduce potential silica exposure. In a recent publication, OSHA identified a small group of high-risk occupations for silicosis. These occupations include commercial fishing, general manufacturing, and all people who “install natural and [artificial] stone countertops.”

“In recent years, the disease has become prevalent among stone fabrication workers due to the rise in popularity of countertops made from engineered stone,” the Massachusetts Department of Health said in a recent statement.

Exposure is often a matter of material. Quartz-based countertops, for instance, are comprised almost entirely of silica. During routine processes, like grinding and installation, tiny silica fibers can disperse into the air and spread throughout the surrounding environment. They are small enough to be inhaled; once inside the body, they can begin poisoning it from the inside out.

If you, or a loved one, has been diagnosed with silicosis, it is not too late to fight back.

Call Jed Dietrich, Esq., at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a kitchen countertop lung disease lawyer near New York City and begin exploring your best options for recovery.

The Early-Warning Signs of Silicosis

Silicosis is a dangerous disease, and not just because its symptoms can be life-threatening.

Instead, one of the great dangers of silica exposure lies in the long latency period of silicosis. In medicine, a latency period, sometimes called a latent period, is a term used to describe the time between exposure to a dangerous substance and the onset of symptoms. If, for example, you spend time close to somebody with COVID-19, you could fall sick yourself. The hours or days it takes for you to start feeling ill are part of coronavirus’s latent period.

The latent period for the most common conditions is measured in hours and days. However, in silicosis, the latent period can span years, with most diagnoses occurring at least a decade after initial silica exposure. At first, early-stage symptoms may seem innocuous and provide little reason to worry. They often include:

1. A cough that will not go away;
2. Feelings of general fatigue or malaise; and
3. Unexpected, unwanted, or unplanned weight loss.

More serious problems inside the body accompany these subtle changes. Silicosis can, for instance, scar and inflame lung tissue. Aside from causing respiratory trouble, inflamed tissue provides an ideal environment for cancer. In fact, lung cancer is a significant and not-uncommon complication of silicosis.

Your Rights After a Silicosis Diagnosis in NYC

You do not have to take on the full cost of a silicosis diagnosis.

If you were exposed to silica at work, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your exposure, any of the following persons or parties could be named as a defendant:

1. A kitchen countertop manufacturer;
2. A contractor or subcontractor; or
3. A former employer.

Your options for recovery are primarily dependent on the damages that you sustained.

In the legal field, the term “damages” describes the physical, financial, and emotional hardship that you have faced as a result of an injury. Unlike most states, New York does not cap damages in most personal injury lawsuits and silicosis claims. You could be entitled to damages for:

1. Your outstanding medical bills;
2. The cost of anticipated care;
3. Physical rehabilitation;
4. Reimbursement for paid co-pays and deductibles;
5. Reimbursement for exhausted vacation time and PTO;
6. Lost income from work;
7. Diminished earning potential;
8. Pain and suffering;
9. Loss of enjoyment; and
10. Wrongful death.

Although New York does not have a damage cap for most silicosis claims, courts must adhere to a strict statute of limitations. If you wait too long to take action, the statute of limitations could elapse, and once it does, you may not be able to file a lawsuit or recover any compensation.

Do not take chances with your recovery. For more than 20 years, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of workers across New York City and throughout the state. We know what it takes to build a compelling case for compensation, and we have the results to prove it. Send us a message online or call us today at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a silicosis lawyer near New York City 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 New York, 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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