Silicosis is more than a debilitating medical condition. This is a failure of safety, oversight, and basic responsibility.
You have the right to hold these negligent employers and product manufacturers accountable for their actions. Now is the time to think about taking steps toward filing a San Pedro silicosis lawsuit.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with silicosis after working with quartz or engineered stone in San Pedro or nearby, you have questions, fear, and frustration. At Frost Law Firm, PC, we understand how life-changing this diagnosis can be for you and your family. Let’s take the next steps together.
The Resurgence of Silicosis
Silicosis is a serious and irreversible lung disease. This is caused by inhaling tiny particles of crystalline silica found in many construction materials, including engineered stone. The engineered stone, known as quartz, contains up to 90% crystalline silica. That is nearly twice as much as natural stone, like granite.
When engineered stone slabs are cut, ground, or polished without proper protective measures, microscopic silica dust is released into the air. Workers who inhale that dust can develop inflammation and scarring in their lungs. The damage is permanent and can be deadly.
Common symptoms of silicosis include:
- Chronic coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue or weakness
- Chest pain or tightness
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
These symptoms can start mildly but often get worse with time. In advanced cases, silicosis can lead to respiratory failure or require a lung transplant.
Why Is California at the Center of the Silicosis Crisis?
In Southern California, especially in San Pedro, there has been a rise in demand for stylish, modern quartz countertops in homes and businesses. That demand has led to a booming countertop fabrication industry.
Unfortunately, this rapid growth has also meant that safety sometimes falls through the cracks.
Many small fabrication shops in the Los Angeles area operate with minimal oversight and inadequate dust control systems. Some do not provide proper respirators or enforce safe cutting procedures. That is a recipe for disaster, leading to real people getting sick.
According to data from the California Department of Public Health, since they began tracking in 2019, over 300 cases of silicosis have been identified among countertop workers, including young workers in their 20s and 30s. Several individuals have died. Many more are living with chronic lung disease.
These are preventable tragedies.
Who Is Most at Risk of Exposure to Crystalline Silica Dust?
While silicosis has become most closely associated with the countertop fabrication industry, exposure to crystalline silica dust is not limited to just one job type. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 2.3 million workers have been exposed to silica.
Unfortunately, many hardworking individuals across various trades are at risk without even knowing it.
If your job involves cutting, grinding, drilling, or otherwise disturbing materials like stone, brick, concrete, or quartz, you may be breathing in dangerous levels of silica dust.
High-Risk Occupations for Silica Dust Exposure
Some of the professions where workers face the greatest danger include:
- Countertop fabricators and installers: Workers in small fabrication shops are vulnerable if protective protocols are not in place.
- Construction workers: Silica is found in concrete, masonry, tile, and drywall. Jackhammering, brick cutting, drilling into concrete, and demolition work can all generate respirable crystalline silica dust.
- Stonemasons and tile setters: Carving, polishing, and cutting natural or engineered stone puts masons and tile professionals at elevated risk.
- Concrete laborers and finishers: Workers mixing, breaking, or resurfacing concrete are regularly exposed to airborne dust.
- Sandblasters: Sandblasting involves using abrasive materials that often contain silica. The process produces large amounts of fine dust.
- Foundry and metal casting workers: Silica sand is commonly used to create molds and cores. Workers who handle or clean these materials face exposure daily.
- Miners and quarry workers: Drilling and blasting through rock or ore disturbs silica-rich materials and releases fine dust into the air.
- Glass manufacturing workers: Producing certain types of glass also involves using silica-rich materials. This places workers at risk during the mixing and heating processes.
Even if you do not work directly with stone, you may still be at risk. Many home renovations, infrastructure, and manufacturing jobs involve indirect exposure to airborne silica dust. In some cases, workers may be exposed by being in the same building as fabrication or demolition work without proper barriers or ventilation systems.
At Frost Law Firm, PC, we know that your health matters, whether you worked in a high-risk job for years or were exposed in a smaller role. And you have the right to demand accountability from the companies that put you at risk.
Who Can File a Silicosis Lawsuit?
Many had no idea their health was at risk when they showed up for work each day. They trusted their employers to keep them safe. They were never told that the air dust could permanently scar their lungs. Some never even had a mask.
If you’re reading this and wondering whether you can file or should file a lawsuit, we want you to know that your story matters. Here’s who may be eligible to take legal action:
You Worked with Quartz or Engineered Stone
Have you been diagnosed with silicosis, lung fibrosis, or serious breathing problems after working with quartz, engineered stone, or other silica-containing materials?
Even if it was years ago, even if you only did it briefly, your exposure still matters.
You may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and the toll this illness has taken on your life.
You Lost a Loved One to Silicosis
No one should lose a spouse, parent, or child to a preventable workplace illness. However, too many families in our community have, and we know how heartbreaking that loss is.
If your loved one passed away from silicosis or a related lung disease caused by silica exposure, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims can provide support for:
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of income or financial support
- Loss of companionship
- The pain of losing someone far too soon
We understand that no lawsuit can bring them back. However, holding companies accountable can offer a sense of justice and help ease your family’s financial burden.
You’re Experiencing Symptoms
Maybe you have not been officially diagnosed with silicosis. But you worked around silica dust, and now you’re struggling to breathe, coughing constantly, or always feeling tired.
That’s not something to ignore.
We can help you get the medical testing you need, and if silica exposure is the cause, we can guide you through your legal options. The earlier we act, the better your chances of getting the care and compensation you need.
You’re Worried You Might Not Qualify
Your right to a safe workplace does not depend on your citizenship status. Silicosis has hit Latino and immigrant communities hard, especially in Southern California’s countertop and stone fabrication industry.
If you’re undocumented or unsure about your legal rights, please know:
- You can file a lawsuit in California
- Your immigration status does not prevent you from seeking justice
You don’t have to stay silent.
Filing a silicosis lawsuit is about standing up for yourself and your family when others didn’t do the right thing. It’s about making sure someone answers for the harm that’s been done.
You Deserve Answers and Accountability
If you’ve developed silicosis after working with engineered stones or quartz, you may wonder how this happened.
How could a serious disease have gone unmentioned in training or ignored by your employer?
Why wasn’t better protection provided?
These are exactly the types of questions we help clients answer. At Frost Law Firm, PC, we investigate the whole story. That includes looking into:
- Whether your employer provided you with adequate respiratory protection
- If water-fed tools or dust suppression systems were used on-site
- Whether you were warned of the risks of silica exposure
- What kind of medical monitoring was provided
- The role that material manufacturers played in failing to warn about product dangers
We often find a clear pattern of negligence by employers, shop owners, and even by some manufacturers. And we hold them accountable.
We know that dealing with a diagnosis like silicosis is overwhelming. You may be uncertain about your health, finances, and future. We are here to help with a San Pedro silicosis lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions About a San Pedro Silicosis Lawsuit
Below you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about silicosis and related claims. For more in-depth information specific to your case, please contact us for a confidential case review.
How Do You Prove Silicosis?
Silicosis is proven through a medical diagnosis and evidence of workplace exposure to silica dust. This includes chest imaging, breathing tests, and a documented work history with quartz, engineered stone, or other silica-based materials.
How Long Do I Have to File My Silicosis Claim?
In California, you typically have two years from the date of diagnosis or when you first notice symptoms that may be related to silica exposure. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations and missing it could prevent you from filing a claim. If a loved one passes away from silicosis, you may also have two years from the date of their death to take legal action.
What Are the Symptoms of Silicosis?
Common symptoms include a chronic cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, and sometimes weight loss. These symptoms get worse over time and may appear years after exposure. In more advanced stages, silicosis can lead to serious lung damage and difficulty performing daily tasks. If you’ve worked around dust and are experiencing these symptoms, you want to get checked out right away.
What Are the Treatment Options for Silicosis?
There is no cure for silicosis, but treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. This can include inhalers, oxygen therapy, medications to reduce inflammation, and regular checkups with a lung specialist. In severe cases, a lung transplant may be considered.
Frost Law Firm, PC Is Here To Assist with Your Silicosis Claim
If you’re in San Pedro or the greater Los Angeles area and have been diagnosed with silicosis after working with engineered stone or quartz products, we want to hear your story.
At Frost Law Firm, PC, our consultations are always free and confidential. We can help you take the next steps, including filing a San Pedro silicosis lawsuit. Schedule a talk with one of our attorneys today.
