Silicosis Lawsuit

Workers who craft countertops from natural and engineered stone are at risk of inhaling silica dust and developing a serious and sometimes fatal lung disease called silicosis. Stone fabricators who have become sick after being exposed to silica dust may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Get help with a silicosis lawsuit right now.

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Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a product liability lawsuit, you can pursue financial compensation and justice from the companies that caused you or a loved one harm.

Results Secured

$40 million for a veteran exposed to asbestos from Goodyear gaskets
$1.16 million for a Roundup^® victim in New York
$575,000 for a man in Florida who suffered chemical burns from Just for Men^® hair dye

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Rae Theodore

Last updated: Aug 20, 2024

Countertop Workers at Risk of Silicosis Lung

Public health officials are sounding the alarm on a growing workplace danger — stone fabricators have been developing the lung disease silicosis at a frightening rate.

“Each year more than 300 U.S. workers die from silicosis and thousands more are diagnosed with the lung disease. It is frequently misdiagnosed, so actual numbers may be higher.”

– State of California Department of Industrial Relations

Workers can develop silicosis of the lungs by inhaling crystalline silica dust that arises when natural and engineered stone countertops are cut, drilled, chipped, and otherwise manipulated.

About 2.3 million American workers are exposed to the health hazard silica at work sites, according to the American Lung Association.

While natural stone like granite contains some silica, manufactured stone composed of quartz contains more than 90% crystalline silica.

The California Department of Industrial Relations says workers should look for these terms on Safety Data Sheets:

Quartz
Silica
Tripoli
Cristobalite
Tridymite

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with silicosis, LawFirm.com may be able to connect you with top silicosis lawyers who can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Call (888) 726-9160 now to get started with a free case review.

Study Shows Dangers of Occupational Silica Dust

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in July 2023 looked at 52 California patients with silicosis from occupational exposure to silica dust from engineered stone.

Some of the results from that study are listed in the box below.

Silicosis in California Countertop Workers

The median age at diagnosis was 45.
Almost all of the patients were male Latino immigrants.
A delay in diagnosis occurred in 58% of the cases (misdiagnosed as pneumonia or tuberculosis).
38% of the patients had advanced disease at the time of diagnosis.
11 patients were referred for lung transplants.
10 of the patients died of silicosis.

Thankfully, workers who have been affected may be able to file a quartz countertops silicosis lawsuit and pursue compensation to help pay for their medical bills — and hold negligent product manufacturers accountable for the damage they’ve caused.

See if you qualify for a silicosis lawsuit. Get a free, no-obligation case review right now.

What Is Silicosis?

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by a mineral called silica. Workers who manufacture, finish, and install stone countertops may inhale silica dust when performing their jobs.

Once inside the lungs, the silica particles can cause inflammation and lead to a buildup of scar tissue, which can make it difficult to breathe.

“Silicosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a common mineral found in sand, quartz and many other types of rock. Silicosis mainly affects workers exposed to silica dust in jobs such as construction and mining.”

– American Lung Association

Silicosis lung disease is a progressive disease that typically takes 10-30 years after the initial exposure to develop. However, it’s possible for workers to develop silicosis after several months of heavy occupational exposure.

Other health conditions related to silica exposure include:

Autoimmune disorders (lupus and scleroderma)
Cardiovascular problems
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Connective tissue disease
Histoplasmosis (fungal infection)
Kidney disease
Lung cancer
Tuberculosis

If you’ve worked in an environment where silica dust may be present, it’s important to inform your doctor if you begin experiencing any of the symptoms of these illnesses.

Silicosis Symptoms

Symptoms of silicosis tend to start out mild and present as a cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms typically worsen as the disease progresses.

Common symptoms of silicosis include:

A persistent cough
Breathing problems
Chest pain
Fatigue
Fever
Leg swelling
Lip discoloration
Night sweats
Weakness
Weight loss

Cases of silicosis are often misdiagnosed as bronchitis and other types of lung diseases.

The American Lung Association recommends that all workers at risk of silica exposure get regular checkups and be monitored for signs of silicosis, even if they don’t have any symptoms of the lung disease.

Silicosis Treatment

A doctor reviews a chest X-ray with a worker with silicosis Sadly, there is no cure for silicosis. However, treatments can help slow down the progression of this disease and relieve symptoms.

Silicosis treatment options include:

A bronchodilator (inhaler) to relax airways
Pulmonary rehabilitation (lung exercises)
Supplemental oxygen
Surgery (lung transplant)

People with silicosis should also avoid additional exposure to silica and other lung irritants like allergens and smoke.

Compensation from a silicosis lawsuit can help affected workers pay for medical treatments, lost wages, and more.

Reach out to one of our silicosis case managers right now at (888) 726-9160 to learn about your legal options.

Who Can File a Silicosis Lawsuit?

You may be able to file a silicosis lawsuit if you or a family member:

Worked around silica or were otherwise exposed
Later developed an illness related to silica dust exposure

Generally speaking, silicosis lawsuits are filed against the manufacturers of silica-containing countertop products. These product liability lawsuits allege that the manufacturers failed to warn of the health risks linked to their products.

Did you know?

In February 2023, the owner of Spanish kitchen countertop manufacturer Cosentino admitted to concealing the dangers related to its quartz-based product Silestone. He agreed to pay $1.2 million to five stonemasons who sued him for failing to warn of the risks.

Filing a Lawsuit for Silicosis Lung Disease

A lawyer talks to a client about a silicosis lawsuit A silicosis lawyer is a personal injury lawyer who specializes in toxic exposure cases. They can file a lawsuit on behalf of stone countertop fabricators who developed silicosis or another health condition after exposure to silica dust.

A silicosis attorney can handle a silicosis lung cancer lawsuit from start to finish, making the process as easy and stress-free as possible.

A silicosis lawyer and their legal team can:

Verify that you qualify for a silicosis lawsuit through a free case review.
Collect evidence to build a solid case
File a silicosis lawsuit before any deadlines
Negotiate a silicosis lawsuit settlement with each responsible party
Represent you in court, if a settlement can’t be reached

Silicosis lawsuits have strict deadlines called statutes of limitations that vary by state. A silicosis lawyer can let you know what the statute of limitations is in your case.

Once this deadline expires, you will not be able to file a claim for compensation.

Silicosis Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

Silicosis lawsuit settlement amounts may be worth millions of dollars, depending on the specific details of your case.

Factors that may impact silicosis lawsuit settlement amounts include:

Age of the worker
Cost of past and future medical expenses
Severity of the disease
State in which the lawsuit is filed

In August 2024, a 34-year-old stone fabricator with silicosis was awarded over $52 million. The California jury determined that the three slab manufacturers involved in the case were all partly responsible for his illness.

A silicosis lawyer can review the facts of your case and provide you with a possible settlement range.

Chat with one of our caring case managers right now and see if you may be eligible to pursue a silicosis lawsuit settlement.

Need Help With a Silicosis Lawsuit?

Our case managers can answer your questions and connect you with a silicosis lawyer if you qualify.

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Get Help With a Silicosis Disease Lawsuit

If you or a loved one worked with stone countertop products and later developed silicosis, you may be able to pursue compensation through a silicosis lawsuit.

Money from a successful silicosis claim can help you pay for treatments, take care of your family, and hold negligent manufacturers accountable.

The silicosis lawyers that LawFirm.com works with have recovered tens of millions of dollars for people injured by dangerous products.

Our legal partners:

Can handle a case in all 50 states
Have a track record of helping families win cases
Never charge any upfront or out-of-pocket fees

Take the first step toward justice and financial relief now by getting a free case review.

Silicosis Lawsuits FAQs

How much compensation do you get for silicosis?

Some reported payout amounts for silicosis lawsuits include:

$52.4 million to a California stone fabricator
$7.6 million to a Mississippi sandblaster
More than $1 million in settlement money to a foundry worker

Asbestos cases, which are similar in nature, may also provide some clues on silicosis settlement values. Asbestos lawsuits settle for more than $1 million on average.

That said, compensation amounts are likely to vary depending on the specifics of the case. A silicosis lawyer can give you a better idea of how much your case may be worth and provide legal advice.

Can I get compensation for silicosis?

Yes, you may be able to get compensation for silicosis by filing a product liability lawsuit if you were exposed to silica while working on stone countertops.

Silicosis lawsuit cases allege that companies that produce engineered stone countertops failed to warn workers of the dangers of silica.

Can lungs recover from silicosis?

Sadly, the lung damage from silicosis can’t be reversed. However, there are treatments that can relieve symptoms and help improve a person’s quality of life.

How much silica dust causes silicosis?

In some cases, workers exposed to low levels of silica dust over a long period develop silicosis (chronic silicosis). However, new information is showing that workers exposed to high levels of silica dust for several months may also be at risk.

Employers are required to protect workers from being exposed to more than 50 micrograms of respirable silica per cubic meter of air (50 µg/m3) during an 8-hour work day, as per safety guidelines by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

How long can you live with silicosis?

People can live with silicosis for different lengths of time depending on how much lung damage has occurred. In severe cases, doctors may recommend a lung transplant to extend a person’s life.

Is there a silicosis class action lawsuit?

No, there is no silicosis class action lawsuit in the United States at this time, but affected individuals may be able to pursue individual personal injury lawsuits.

Contact our team right now for a free consultation.