Mesothelioma Lawyers

Representation for Asbestos & Mesothelioma Mass Torts

Exposure to asbestos is one of the most common causes of lawsuits in the United States, and for good reason. The use of asbestos has been completely banned by the government due to the life-threatening effects resulting from prolonged inhalation, not the least of which is mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the membrane lining of people’s lungs and abdomen. When mesothelioma becomes malignant, there are three known varieties: malignant pleural mesothelioma which occurs in the pleura or the lungs linings, malignant pericardial mesothelioma which occurs in the abdominal cavity wall, and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma which occurs in the lining of the heart.

Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may want to do a background checks on the various buildings you lived or worked in.

Mesothelioma symptoms include:

• Dry cough
• Shortness of breath
• Anemia
• Fever
• Weak muscles
• Chest and / or stomach pain

It is possible the building or product illegally utilized asbestos—and you might not be the only one it affected. As soon as you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is crucial that you retain a mesothelioma attorney to investigate your case.

What Legal Recourse Is Available?

It can take 10 to 40 years for symptoms of mesothelioma to develop. For this reason, you can take legal action against a property owner, employer, or manufacturer who is responsible for your exposure. So long as you file a suit or join a mass tort within a year after your diagnosis, you should meet the statute of limitations.

If the afflicted has already died from mesothelioma, surviving family members may pursue the case. When you identify where you were exposed to asbestos, have an attorney find out if there are others that were also affected and ask if they are thinking about pressing charges.

Effects of Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is caused by being exposed to asbestos and is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Symptoms include: chest pain under the rib cage, painful coughing, shortness of breath, unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest, unexplained weight loss, lumps of tissue in the abdomen, and abdominal swelling.

About 40% of patients with mesothelioma survive the first year after they have been diagnosed. This survival rate depends on many factors such as age, cancer stage, cancer type, race and gender. Patients with a long term survival rate have attributed their success to that of specialized treatment from a mesothelioma specialist, medicine, changes to their diet including better nutrition.

Common Causes of Mesothelioma

Causes of mesothelioma primarily stem from occupational asbestos exposure, but there have been cases of environmental exposures. Asbestos was an effective insulation material used for years and years primarily in commercial and industrial products. It took until 1989 to finally become regulated as a result of a joint effort between the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. Although insulation workers seem to have the highest incidence rate of mesothelioma (Asbestos insulation workers are 300 times more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma than those with no exposure), many other industries have seen diagnoses such as:

• Shipbuilding
• Power plants
• Several other industrial settings

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma specialized treatment is a must to ensure a much longer survival rate. These treatments are costly, so it important to get the compensation that is deserved. An overwhelming majority of cases never reach the courtroom as they are almost always ended in settlement. Settlement amounts factor in:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Physical and mental distress
• Bills that accumulate

Turn to Us for Aggressive & Reliable Representation

Dealing with mesothelioma is no easy thing. By pursuing justice you contribute to public awareness of asbestos and help prevent future cases. Our mesothelioma lawyers aggressively pursue these cases to reach a suitable settlement as quickly as possible. We can handle the legal proceedings so our clients can focus on more important things during this period.

Recommended Reading:

• Asbestos Still Being Found