Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects an estimated 3000 Americans each year. This cancer affects the mesothelium — the cells lining the lungs, abdomen, and chest — and is often fatal. Caused by asbestos exposure, mesothelioma can take 20 years or longer to develop in the body, and is most often diagnosed in its later stages.
Asbestos was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency decades ago, but unfortunately many contractors and building companies continued to use this dangerous material because of its inexpensive and multi-functional nature. Workers in commercial industries like shipbuilding, manufacturing, flooring, military construction, demolition, railroad construction, roofing, and tiling may have handled asbestos on a daily basis without even knowing. Asbestos was widely used as an insulation material, and can still be found today in many different types of structures, including houses, government buildings, schools, hospitals, and office buildings.
If you or someone you love worked around asbestos and developed mesothelioma, you may have a right to sue former employers or manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. Asbestos lawsuits are usually centered around the principle that defendants knew of the health hazards of asbestos, but continued to expose workers and the general public to this material.
Hiring a mesothelioma lawyer can help you find out when and where you or your family member was exposed to the harmful effects of asbestos. Your lawyer can assemble a team of investigators and asbestos experts to determine the cause and find out who is responsible for allowing this to happen. Your legal team can answer your family’s questions about mesothelioma and inform you of your rights to seek compensation. They can also provide guidance and point you toward medical and community resources that can help you make sense of your diagnosis.
The attorneys listed on the AsbestosMesotheliomaLawFirms.comhave many years of experience helping victims get the medical care and resources they need to fight this disease aggressively. If you’ve been harmed by asbestos, you may have a right to significant money damages.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, seek legal help right away. Please search our database of mesothelioma lawyers to find a legal professional near you who can provide the valuable legal information you need to move forward.