An Introduction To Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Federal law in the US entitles individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma to file a lawsuit against the errant company or companies. Mesothelioma, being a deadly form of cancer, ruins the prospects of victims and their families. This effectively means that mesothelioma lawsuits are a necessity – something that can mitigate the sufferings of the family.

Mesothelioma lawsuits are complex, and hence require the services of expert mesothelioma lawyers or law firms. Since the disease has an extremely long latency period, the manifestation of the disease can come after several decades of actual exposure to asbestos. For instance, in several cases it was found that people now being diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos thirty to forty years ago, or even before that. Consequently, mesothelioma lawsuits become extremely challenging, as they call for extraordinary efforts on the part of the lawyers or law firms. Mesothelioma lawsuits often result in millions of dollars for the victims.

While dealing with mesothelioma, it is pertinent to remember a few basic things about mesothelioma lawsuits. Perhaps the most important is the fact that mesothelioma patients should file their lawsuits almost immediately upon diagnosis. This is because many states across the US have a time limit for filing mesothelioma lawsuits.

Mesothelioma lawsuits are a boon for ailing family members or dependents when the earning member is diagnosed with the cancer. The lawsuit seeks to offer a secure future to the dependent family members, and also helps them to treat the patient. In case mesothelioma is diagnosed too late and the patient passes away, the regulations are slightly different. However, even in this case, it is advisable for family members to file the lawsuit as soon as possible in order to realize a successful settlement.

Individuals can also file a lawsuit if they have respiratory problems and are a close family member of someone who worked with asbestos. It is possible that individuals working with asbestos may have carried asbestos dust and fibers to their homes, thereby infecting other members. Although it is understood that the patients identified with mesothelioma may not come out of the painful experience of parting with their near and dear ones, lawsuits often help by mitigating the pain to an extent by providing a secure future.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is generally caused by the inhalation of fibers from asbestos, which is a carcinogenic material. It is commonly seen among workers in the construction industry who have long exposure to asbestos. It can also be caused by living in asbestos insulated buildings for a long period of time, Genetics plays an important role, and some people are more vulnerable to the risk than others.

This form of cancer is relatively rare, and involves the mesothelium, which is the tissue that lines an organ. This tissue secretes a liquid that enables the organs to move. Mesothelioma tumors tend to affect the lungs, the stomach, the heart and other organs.

Unfortunately, mesothelioma is a serious disease with high fatality rates. If the tumors are malignant, the survival rate is not encouraging. The average survival time after diagnosis is about a year. However, if the cancer is treated aggressively, the patient has a good chance of living at least two years, and the five-year survival rate is improving.

The most common form of the disease is pleural mesothelioma, which invades the chest cavity. In these cases, the asbestos fibers travel into the pleura, which is the lining that surrounds the lungs damaging the cells, and results in cancer. Onset is slow, and the most common symptom is persistent chest pain. Other forms of mesothelioma are the peritoneum mesothelioma (which manifests in the abdomen) and the pericardium mesothelioma (which affects the heart).

Mesothelioma is the issue in thousands of asbestos lawsuits today. Many people are coming forward with these lawasuits seeking damages for medical bills, wages lost, pain and suffering, and so on.