Mesothelioma is a rare and incurable disease caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral within our environment and is still being discovered in different areas around the United States. It is likely that many individuals have come into contact with asbestos in its natural form, but it is prolonged exposure to the substance that can lead to the development of mesothelioma within the human body.
Asbestos has been mined and used within thousands of commercial products all over the world, for centuries. It is often the workers within these asbestos mines and factories that are exposed regularly over time, leading to debilitating diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Secondary exposure to asbestos is also known to affect the family members of different workers, after asbestos dust has travelled home with them on their clothing or skin.
Workers and their families are still affected by asbestos today. Occupations at high risk for asbestos exposure include: insulators, ship builders, construction workers, pipefitters and plumbers, auto mechanics, railroad workers, and more.
Most of those affected do not realize that there is a limited amount of time (or statute of limitations) following their mesothelioma diagnosis. During this short period of time, patients and their families are allowed file a lawsuit against those responsible for their condition. In the case of a mesothelioma patient, medical bills, time off of work, and physical pain will begin to dramatically affect your lifestyle over time. Without compensation, cutting-edge medical treatments and procedures that could prolong your life might remain outside of your budget.
Choosing a mesothelioma attorney can be a difficult decision, as there are many options advertised across all forms of media. Here are some tips on choosing an experienced mesothelioma attorney who will fight for you and your family:
- It is important to make sure that your prospective asbestos or mesothelioma attorney will actually file your case and not simply send it off to some other attorney.
- An initial consultation with your prospective asbestos or mesothelioma attorney should be informative—ask frank questions.
- Contacting an asbestos attorney as soon as you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma, or know you have been exposed to asbestos, is important and helps in preserving your legal options.
- Make sure your prospective asbestos attorney has experience in taking an asbestos or mesothelioma case to trial.
- Your prospective mesothelioma or asbestos attorney should have the information and resources to help prove your asbestos case.
The average mesothelioma patient lives for one to two years after diagnosis. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, it is important to seek medical help, as well as representation from an attorney experienced in handling cases like your own.
