Artificial Stone Silicosis: Lawsuit & Workers’ Comp Support

Silicosis from Artificial Stone Fabrication? Why a Dual Legal Approach Makes a Difference

Artificial stone products are everywhere. You’ve probably seen it labeled as “quartz,” “engineered stone,” or “manufactured stone”; this composite material is especially popular in modern kitchens and bathrooms, and it looks great.

But for the workers who spend their days cutting, polishing, and installing artificial stone, this product is an alleged serious health hazard.

At Brayton Purcell LLP, we’ve seen firsthand what artificial stone silicosis can do to people. That’s why we take a comprehensive legal approach, handling both the third-party civil individual silicosis lawsuit against slab manufacturers and suppliers, and when requested by he client, also file a Workers’ Compensation claim. When we say, “under one roof,” we mean it. We have Workers’ Comp attorneys and toxic exposure civil litigators working side by side. It’s all about making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Let’s explore how this integrated approach ensures that our clients receive the full scope of compensation and legal protection they deserve.

Can You File a Civil Lawsuit and a Workers’ Compensation Claim for Silicosis?

Yes, absolutely. If you’ve been diagnosed with a  lung disease or other disease after working with artificial stone, you might qualify for both types of claims. The hirer or employer’s Workers’ Compensation insurance company can cover medical expenses and disability or death benefits. A civil lawsuit? That’s where you can seek from the slab manufacturer damages such as lost wages and income, pain and emotional distress, , and even punitive damages.

In conjunction with co-counsel, we handle both. That way, you’re not juggling two different law firms while also managing your health.

Why Is Artificial Stone So Dangerous?

Here’s the facts: artificial stone contains over 90% crystalline silica. When that material is cut or shaped, it releases microscopic nano-sized particles of silica dust into the air. Even with water controls and masks, the exposure levels allegedly exceed what OSHA allows, meaning you’re breathing in dangerous silica dust. That said, even OSHA’s permissible levels are still highly toxic to the worker.

And the consequences? They are severe, often allegedly resulting in the aggressive, irreversible lung disease known as silicosis. In Australia, artificial stone is already banned because of its link to fast-moving forms of silicosis.

Health Problems Linked to Silica Dust

Exposure to silica dust from artificial stone fabrication has causes several serious illnesses, including:

1. Accelerated Silicosis (aka Progressive Massive Fibrosis): This disease can present symptoms in just a few years after exposure and often ends in lung failure unless you can find a transplant.

2. Acute Silicosis: Sometimes, just months of exposure is enough to cause this. It can lead to a rare and serious condition called pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP).

3. Chronic Silicosis: This develops over many years and causes long-term lung damage that lowers quality of life.

4. Other prominent risks include: lung cancer, COPD, autoimmune issues, and kidney disease.

These are not minor conditions. These are life-altering, and often fatal, diseases.

Why Silicosis Gets Missed

Silicosis doesn’t always look like what people expect. Its symptoms (shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue) often get brushed off as asthma, pneumonia, or just plain “bad lungs.”

Getting the right diagnosis usually involves a few key steps:

1. High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) scans

2. Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)

3. A solid history of work-related silica exposure

4. Sometimes, a lung biopsy

The sooner it’s caught, the better. But unfortunately, many people don’t get diagnosed until things have progressed significantly.

One Legal Team, Two Paths to Justice

What makes Brayton Purcell LLP different? Our Workers’ Compensation attorneys work together with our nationally respected toxic tort litigators to build a united front.

Here’s what that means for you:

1. You may receive disability or death benefits and medical benefits through Workers’ Comp.

2. You also get the chance to hold manufacturers accountable through a civil lawsuit.

3. Everything is handled together, with clear communication and one point of contact.

We’ve been doing this for over 40 years. We have a history of maximizing compensation for our clients.

Don’t Miss Your Deadline

Every state has its own deadlines for filing both types of claims. In many cases, you have just two years from the time of diagnosis (or death) to file a civil third party individual lawsuit. Workers’ Compensation has strict timelines too.  And, there are no so called “class actions” for these workers.

Bottom line? Don’t wait.

The sooner you reach out, the more options we have to help you.

Talk to an Artificial Stone Silica Dust Exposure Attorney Today from Brayton Purcell LLP

If you or someone close to you has developed silicosis or any lung disease from working with artificial stone, we want to hear your story. Whether you need help with a Workers’ Compensation silicosis claim or a third-party silicosis lawsuit, we’re ready.

📞 Call Brayton Purcell LLP at (800) 361-2417

📝 Or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.