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What Are Mesothelioma Lawsuits?
When Do You Need a Mesothelioma Lawsuit Attorney?
Though the lethal danger of asbestos have been well-known since the around the Great Depression, corporations still used asbestos regularly throughout the 20th century. Fixed on maximizing profits, greedy companies put millions of lives at risk of mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that attacks the lungs and is primarily caused by asbestos exposure.
Though rare, thousands of people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Many of these cases arise from the negligence of corporations who exposed its workers or the public to asbestos despite it’s carcinogenic potential.
Workers’ compensation and personal injury claims involving mesothelioma can be very complicated. Mesothelioma is typically not diagnosed until decades have passed since initial exposure. People exposed at 20 years old may not be diagnosed until they are 70. Because of this, necessary research often must go back decades. Facts and timelines to prove where and when exposure occurred require time, effort and resources you likely do not have.
This is when you need to turn to the experienced, passionate lawyers at Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. For more than 25 years, we’ve been standing by Alabama families who need help getting their lives back on track. We secure the highest possible settlements allowable by law. We’ve gone up against some of the biggest companies in the country – and won. We understand the unique circumstances of mesothelioma cases better than any attorneys in the state. Call us today at (205) 322-8880, or fill out the form. We’ll be here waiting to help you take the first step toward getting the compensation you have long deserved.
When Do You Need a Mesothelioma Lawsuit Attorney?
- Mesothelioma is primarily caused by inhaling or swallowing airborne asbestos.
- Between 2 to 10 percent of people with heavy, prolonged asbestos exposure develop mesothelioma.
- 11 million people were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1978.
- Symptoms typically take 20 to 50 years to develop.
What Are Mesothelioma Symptoms?
There are three types of mesothelioma: pleural (the most common), peritoneal and pericardial. The following symptoms can be signs of mesothelioma:
- Abdominal swelling or tenderness
- Anemia
- Appetite loss
- Bowel obstruction
- Chest pains
- Chills
- Cough and coughing up blood
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Feelings of fullness in stomach
- Fever
- umps under skin on abdomen or chest
- Heart failure, palpitations, murmurs and irregular heartbeat
- Night sweats
- Pain
- Pressure on the heart
- Reduced chest expansion
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Wheezing
What Jobs and Industries Are Most Commonly Linked to Asbestos?
- Mining
- Construction
- Insulation
- Ship and boat building and repair
- Handling industrial and miscellaneous chemicals
- Railroad work
- Work with nonmetallic mineral and stone products
- Blast furnaces, steelworks rolling and finishing mills
- Manufacturing industries
- Electrical light and power
- Elementary and secondary schools
What Products Are Most Commonly Linked to Asbestos?
- Insulation
- Automotive parts
- Tiles and textiles
- Cement
- Floor backing and drywall taping compounds
- Fire proofing and prevention materials
- Vinyl products
- Plastics
How Do You Build a Successful Mesothelioma Case?
Claims involving mesothelioma are unique. Mesothelioma does not occur in one sudden event, like a fall or burn.
Proving precisely when and where you were exposed to mesothelioma is necessary. An experienced mesothelioma attorney will work with medical experts to trace your exposure, even if it was decades ago. These experts already have extensive evidence and research at their disposal to help expedite your case.
Because so much time passes between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis, it can be hard to trace which company or person to seek damages against in a claim. Businesses are bought and sold, move and change names. Our attorneys have a proven record of tracking down which employers can be held liable in asbestos cases.
A strong mesothelioma case must have an accurate estimate of how much compensation should be awarded. Only an experienced mesothelioma attorney will know the medical and daily costs that have mounted over decades. Excellent mesothelioma lawyers can also properly estimate future costs, as well as pain and suffering and physiological damages.
How Can You File a Mesothelioma Claim With An Experienced Attorney?
Mesothelioma is preventable. This means it is typically caused by negligence, which is precisely what you need to file a successful workers’ compensation or personal injury claim.
When filing a claim to prove negligence, you will be asked to show detailed medical records and answer questions about your asbestos exposure. Though this may be tedious, it is crucial to securing you compensation for lost wages, medical bills, costs of caregivers, funeral and other expenses insurance won’t cover.
An attorney who is experienced at building mesothelioma cases will handle much of this work for you. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or had prolonged asbestos exposure, call Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. today at (205) 322-8880, or fill out the contact form above.
You’ve suffered long enough. We want to make life easier for you and your loved ones. Though your exposure to asbestos occurred decades ago, it’s not too late to hold whoever caused you pain and suffering accountable.