The Link Between Asbestos and Mesothelioma

The advantageous properties of asbestos have been known for at least 2,000 years. Some evidence exists that the mineral was used as early as 2500 B.C. to strengthen clay pots and vessels. Asbestos is resistant to fire and is relatively easy to incorporate into a wide variety of materials.
Unfortunately, the American public was unaware of the link between asbestos and mesothelioma until the 1970s, more than a century after suspicions were first voiced about the dangers of the mineral. Ample evidence exists, however, to show that not everyone was unaware of the risks.
In the last decade of the twentieth century, Britain’s Chief Inspector of Factories reported that there was a clear link between asbestos and health hazards. Around the same time, a study in France examined the deaths of 50 asbestos workers who succumbed to lung disease.
Shortly thereafter, Dr. H. M. Murray conducted an autopsy on a young man who had been a worker in a British asbestos factory and testified that the man had asbestos in his lungs, which had, at minimum, contributed to the death.
By 1918, Canadian and American insurance companies often chose to decline asbestos workers’ applications for life insurance due to their occupations. In 1927, a report detailed the deaths of nine of the ten workers employed in the carding room of an asbestos factory; the report called the disease “asbestosis,” a less-lethal lung disease, but questions exist as to whether the cause was actually mesothelioma.
In 1932, the U.S. Bureau of Mines, writing to an asbestos manufacturing firm, called asbestos “one of the most dangerous dusts to which man is exposed.” It is also believed that the U.S. Navy was made aware of the link between asbestos and mesothelioma that same year, yet specifications for naval vessels continued to require copious amounts of asbestos. Official warnings were not issued, and no steps were taken to provide workers with protective gear.


By the 1970s, enough information had been discovered to prove that companies manufacturing or using asbestos had entered into a conspiracy of silence to suppress information about the link between asbestos and mesothelioma.
This resulted in courts awarding punitive damages to those afflicted with a disease related to asbestos. Some sought the protection of bankruptcy, but most of the major companies established trusts for the payment of settlements.
Today, the link between asbestos and mesothelioma is typically regarded as a proven fact. The medical profession has yet to offer proof of any cause of mesothelioma other than exposure to asbestos. Among the evidence supporting the link is that, in modern times, the disease was extremely rare prior to the Industrial Age, when the mineral began to be mined and utilized in great amounts. Further support is evidenced by an increased rate of asbestos-related diseases among those who live near natural, aboveground asbestos deposits or in the vicinity of asbestos mines.
Since mesothelioma can occur many decades after exposure, some patients are not sure where and when the exposure occurred. Although the use of the mineral is now restricted, those who retrofit marine vessels, renovate homes built prior to the 1970s or work on automobiles remain at risk.
The link between asbestos and mesothelioma, however, is so well documented that employers are required to provide protective gear for any employee who is at risk of exposure.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits are Your Right

Companies routinely put their employees at risk. Sometimes they’re aware of the risk; sometimes they’re not. Asbestos was used as an insulator for decades in the early 1900s. It was in just about every home or building, as well as in many fixtures. During the course of applying the asbestos, workers breathed in the carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, fibers.

Later on, when the buildings and homes were being remodeled or torn down, workers were again exposed to that asbestos. Even folks who were in close contact with workers who were exposed to asbestos became exposed themselves. That asbestos exposure has reared its ugly head in the form of numerous maladies, one of which is mesothelioma. That’s the reason for the recent increase in mesothelioma lawsuits.
There is no cure for this debilitating condition. Once diagnosed with the affliction, the only recourse a person has is to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. Filing a suit won’t bring a cure, but it will protect the afflicted and their loved ones from any extra expense incurred to treat the problem. Hospital bills rack up fast. Treatments and therapy and medications can cause medical expenses to skyrocket.
If an individual feels that he was exposed to asbestos in an asbestos zone, the lawsuit needs to be filed in a timely manner. The statute of limitations is two years from the date of the initial diagnosis, but that can vary by state. A lawsuit filed on behalf of a deceased person still needs to be filed within two years.
A person who has been exposed to asbestos through a spouse or other individual must also file a suit in the same manner as any others who contracted the disease from asbestos exposure. The same rules apply to anyone exposed to asbestos, not just employees.
To file a mesothelioma lawsuit, the victim needs to detail where and when the exposure occurred. An attorney can hire a private investigator to find out the exact circumstances if they’re unknown. Attorneys are usually willing to take on mesothelioma lawsuits for no-pay up-front. They take their payment as a percentage when the suit is settled. That means an individual who wouldn’t normally be able to afford an attorney can hire one on a speculative basis.
Mesothelioma lawsuits can be filed in the victim’s home state or wherever the attorney feels the chances of getting a positive verdict might be. It’s best to find an attorney who specializes in these cases. He’ll have the resources and connections to push the case through the courts quickly. He’ll also know the best place to file the lawsuit to get the maximum settlement possible.
It’s difficult to say how much a mesothelioma settlement might be. It depends on the severity of the condition and any mitigating factors. Some cases settle for hundreds of thousands of dollars–others can reach into the millions. It really depends on your case and how good your attorney is.
Mesothelioma lawsuits usually don’t go to trial. Out-of-court settlements are common in these cases. An attorney should be willing to take the case to court if the defendant doesn’t offer a fair settlement. It’s easy to search the Internet to find an attorney who handles mesothelioma lawsuits exclusively or at least regularly. Nobody should be a victim twice.

 

Asbestos Lawyers Can Help You if You’ve Been Exposed

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, you might find a lawyer is your best friend. Asbestos lawyers have been filing lawsuits on behalf of clients who were recklessly exposed to asbestos during their jobs, at their homes and in the schools.
For over 50 years, immoral, greedy corporations put their bottom line ahead of the health of their employees. That resulted in a large number of people who became seriously ill just by doing their jobs.
A conspiracy of silence by manufacturers kept the secret until the 1970s. At that point, the government banned the use of asbestos. The new laws had little effect on the people who had already been exposed; the damage was already done.
From the 1920s to the 1970s, asbestos was used as an insulator in products and buildings. It could be found in nearly every factory, warehouse, house, ship, church and school.
Those who worked with asbestos didn’t realize it then, but they were killing themselves. Breathing the tiny asbestos fibers began their journey to mesothelioma, a cruel killer of many a good person. As the asbestos-related cases became more common, asbestos lawyers rode to the rescue.
In spite of the regulations regarding asbestos, workers and their families were still being exposed. As homes were remodeled, buildings were torn down and ships were dismantled, workers were once again exposed to the micro-fibers. In fact, asbestos clean-ups still occur under strict guidelines, and workers are still being infected.
In fact, entire families have been exposed to asbestos just by being in the same room with people who had asbestos in the hair or on their clothing. That means innocent infants, children and spouses suffered right along with the exposed worker. That’s a wrong that asbestos lawyers sought to make right.
The sheer arrogance of manufacturers who believed they could routinely place their workers in jeopardy is incomprehensible. It boggles the mind to think that loyal workers were repaid for their allegiance by being thrown into an asbestos zone with no warning. That is exactly what happened. As dastardly as it sounds, the big companies didn’t care at all.
In fact, the longer the facts about asbestos and its carcinogenic properties were hidden, the more companies were involved in the cover-up. Then the mesothelioma cases began mounting up. The common factor among all these workers was that they worked with or near asbestos. Some made asbestos, some wrapped it on pipe or lined boilers with it and some sprayed it into the engine rooms of ships.
Years later, the sickness came. What started as a whisper then became a roar of indignation. Victims couldn’t believe their companies had sacrificed their workers for extra profit. Asbestos lawyers not only believed the companies were guilty–they knew it.
There’s a paper trail leading right to the front door of many corporations–corporations that prospered because their workers were unknowingly placing themselves and their families in harm’s way. Asbestos lawyers followed that trail and are making those companies pay for their sins.
Lawsuits for impaired ex-employees, stricken wives, cancer-ridden babies and those who died from mesothelioma are being filed all across the U.S. every day. Those with the disease can’t be cured, but they can be made more comfortable. Asbestos lawyers help folks who were exposed to asbestos because workers shouldn’t be treated as an expendable resource.

Mesothelioma Law Firms

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer closely linked to asbestos exposure. It is a deadly and expensive disease that takes a steep emotional, physical and financial toll on its sufferers.
Mesothelioma law firms help those with the disease to get the compensation they deserve for being subjected to hazardous conditions over their lifetime. In the case of mesothelioma, asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of developing the disease.
Asbestos today is a known carcinogen, but during the 20th century, it was used extensively in building materials and insulation. Some forms of asbestos are friable, meaning that they are likely to break apart into fibers. These fibers become airborne and are inhaled by those nearby.
Workers in the construction and demolition fields are at the greatest risk, especially if they worked during the last half of the 20th century when asbestos was still commonly used for building.
Many cancers have a wide range of risk factors with few direct causes linked to them, but the correlation between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure is high. According to the National Cancer Institute, up to 80 percent of those suffering from mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos at one point in their lives.
This strong linkage has resulted in asbestos products being pulled from the market and companies in the United States stopping production of anything containing asbestos, but the risk remains since buildings already built with asbestos-containing materials were allowed to remain, and the risk for those doing construction or improvement projects remains.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs or the abdomen, but it can take up to 50 years after exposure to develop. This cancer is still extremely rare, but there has been an increase in the number of cases. The symptoms of the disease depend on the location of the membrane – called the mesothelium, affected.
Mesothelioma in the lungs results in a cough that gets progressively worse, trouble breathing and fatigue. Other forms of mesothelioma will cause bowel obstruction, anemia or blood clotting. Anyone showing any of these symptoms must visit a doctor for an evaluation. Then the patient should seek out one of the many mesothelioma law firms.
The legal aspects of mesothelioma are many, and mesothelioma law firms have a staff of lawyers with expertise in this niche of the area of the law. Asbestos has long been linked to cancer, but some companies continued to expose their workers to this material, knowing the risks.
In such instances, the company could be liable for their former employees cancer or lung damage. Just as a doctor is the only one who can make a medical diagnosis, only an attorney from one of the mesothelioma law firms is capable of determining whether a victim of mesothelioma has a viable legal case.
Just doing ones job should not result in that person developing a deadly disease. Legal action can get those with mesothelioma compensation for the financial strains and damages the disease incurred. Though money will never return ones health or life, it can help the family to meet their financial needs and the sufferer to pay for medical care.
The first step to getting compensation after a diagnosis should be to choose from one of the many mesothelioma law firms for a consultation and advice about any legal recourse.

Asbestosis Overview

Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory lung condition caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers become lodged within the inner layers of the lung, where they result in scarring which impairs the functioning of the lung.
Unlike mesothelioma, which can also be caused by asbestos, it is not a form of cancer.
Nonetheless, it is a serious health issue. The exact number of people who suffer from asbestosis is difficult to calculate, since many cases are misdiagnosed. However, an average of approximately 500-600 Americans die as a result of this disease every year.
Asbestos has gained notoriety for the health problems it can cause, but it is only dangerous if inhaled. Therefore, although many homes built in the United States prior to the 1970s used asbestos for insulation and other purposes, note that simply living in a home that contains asbestos does not put someone at high risk.
Unless such asbestos is disturbed, it does not enter the air and cannot be inhaled. That is why asbestosis is considered an occupational disease—only those who work with asbestos for many years are likely to inhale enough of it to cause a problem.
It typically takes high levels of asbestos exposure, or exposure over a long period of time, to contract asbestosis. Occupations which can result in contact with a sufficient amount of asbestos include (but are not limited to) miner, shipbuilder, construction worker, railroad worker, auto mechanic, and electrician. In addition, there is some evidence to indicate that the risk is also higher for those who live with someone who works around asbestos.
There is usually a long period of time between a person’s contracting the disease and the moment that symptoms first appear—20-30 years or more in some cases. Therefore, even though there are now many federal regulations against the use of asbestos and asbestos products, someone may still begin exhibiting symptoms today if he or she came into contact with asbestos in the past.
The primary symptom is shortness of breath. This usually appears gradually. At first, the sufferer will have breathing problems only when exerting him- or herself physically, but later breathing will become more and more difficult even at rest.
As the disease progresses, the patient may also experience chest pain and persistent coughing. In advanced cases, there may also be finger clubbing, where the fingertips become more round and spread out.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but some therapies, including oxygen therapy, can alleviate a patient’s breathing problems. Because it can make the patient more sensitive to certain other diseases, he or she will need regular medical care, including annual vaccines for influenza and immunization against pneumonia.
Quitting smoking, always a good idea, becomes even more important for those with asbestosis, as they have a much greater chance of contracting lung cancer. Severe cases may make a patient eligible for a lung transplant.
Someone who has worked with asbestos and who believes he or she may have asbestosis should see a doctor immediately. He or she may also wish to explore legal options, which may provide compensation for those who suffer from asbestos-related illnesses.

Mesothelioma Lawyers Get the Help You Need

Mesothelioma lawyers are fighters. They have to be. The corporations they battle on behalf of their clients are dastardly, scheming and powerful.
These are the same corporations that routinely sent their employees into asbestos zones where they were exposed to the carcinogenic fibers. The companies who were using asbestos knew the insulating material was cancer-causing, but they didn’t care.
They knew that passive exposure in the home could spread the asbestos to the entire family. Profit margins mattered more than their workers’ health. Additionally, these companies doubted any harm could come to them if their employees grew ill.
How could they be proven responsible for an illness like mesothelioma? Smug in their seemingly untouchable status, they continued their pattern of asbestos use in all sorts of products.
Asbestos is practically everywhere. It can be found in yarn, aprons, cigarette filters, paint, putty and rope. It’s also on the minds of mesothelioma lawyers. What began as a grievous offense against their workforce rapidly became a cover-up of the first order. With a wink and a nod, mega-companies denied that exposure to asbestos was harmful to their employees.
Meanwhile companies like Borg Warner, Owens Corning, Honeywell, Pfizer, 3M, Certainteed, Georgia-Pacific and General Electric were exposing their employees to asbestos. Mesothelioma lawyers protect the electricians, plumbers, painters, hod carriers and welders who suffered from their jobs.
A mesothelioma lawyer can file a lawsuit to assure that a victim of asbestos exposure doesn’t have to suffer needlessly. They can’t cure the disease or alleviate the symptoms, but they can get a fair settlement that ensures the bills get paid.
An experienced attorney knows where to file the lawsuit and how to get the facts in the case. They have a support system to investigate the claim. In most situations, an attorney will take a case on a speculative basis. After the settlement, the lawyer gets his percentage. That’s a great arrangement for a victim who couldn’t afford to hire an attorney to take on the big companies.
A victim needs to prove exposure to asbestos at an asbestos zone. Details are important and can be found in the company’s personnel files and through Social Security records. Lists of companies that risked their workers’ health and the occupations most likely to have been exposed can be found on the Internet. That’s also a great place to find a mesothelioma lawyer.
Most mesothelioma lawyers specialize in prosecuting those suits. Law firms with a history of environmental or worker compensation cases are also adept at asbestos-related lawsuits. It pays to stick with a firm that has handled mesothelioma cases for years. They have built-in resources and a familiarity with the process that can accelerate your case.
Mesothelioma lawyers can even file suit on behalf of the spouse or dependent child of a worker who died from asbestos-related causes. It’s important to have the suit filed promptly upon receiving the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Most states have a statute of limitations for filing, including claims filed for deceased persons.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers know how to get satisfaction for their clients. The only recourse most victims have is to punish their heartless employers by suing them. The bottom line is really all that matters to these scoundrels. A good lawyer will get to their bottom line with a fair settlement.

Mesothelioma Attorneys Protect Everyone Who was Exposed

A casual glance around most homes reveals many of the same products. Folks usually have oven mitts, hair dryers, blankets, talcum powder, sheets and cables.
Most homes are made from asphalt, clapboard, finishing cement, insulation, drywall and brick. All of those products and compounds have one thing in common—they contain asbestos. Asbestos has long been known to be a killer.
The workers who made the boilers, gaskets and automobiles we use daily are dying from asbestos-related diseases they contracted from exposure to asbestos at work. Mesothelioma attorneys have been defending those workers against the very companies to which they dedicated their time and, in some cases, their lives.
The names are so common that they’re part of our language. Goodyear, Goodrich, American Standard, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors all imperiled their employees by exposing them to asbestos zones.
Those employees subsequently carried the cancer-causing fibers back home on their clothing and in their hair, unknowingly cross-contaminating their families. Mesothelioma attorneys don’t just file suit on behalf of employees, they also protect those who lived with employees and were infected by their close contact.
In fact, mesothelioma attorneys can even file suit on behalf of the survivors of a deceased worker who died from workplace exposure to asbestos.
Don’t think the list of professionals exposed to asbestos is small or unique. Carpenters, maintenance workers, painters, roofers and even building inspectors have all been put in risky situations for the profit of big corporations. Asbestos was so commonly used back in the early 1900s that it’s almost easier to name the products that didn’t use it.
It isn’t easy to take money from companies as large as those responsible for such a heinous assault on their workforce. General Electric has a battery of attorneys and expert witnesses who will fight to defeat any lawsuit. All the big corporations rely on their attorneys to defray the costs of using a toxic product like asbestos.
In fact, long before the suits began, the companies were hedging their bets and trying to cover up the fact that asbestos was carcinogenic and employees were dying from their on-the-job exposure to it.
Mesothelioma attorneys were having none of that. They began specializing in asbestos-related cases, gaining knowledge and resources to help them beat the big corporations at their own game.
Lawyers can’t heal a person who’s been diagnosed with mesothelioma. What mesothelioma attorneys can do is make the company pay for putting their employees at risk. They can check employee records for dates and places. They’ll see how many cases have been filed against the same company for the same thing.
They’ll prosecute vigorously and demand satisfaction for the afflicted, the deceased and their dependents. They can hammer out a settlement or take the case to trial. They can make life easier for those affected by mesothelioma.
The most insidious thing about mesothelioma is that it takes 15 to 30 years for symptoms to develop. By that time, it’s too late to effect any real treatment short of attending to the symptoms. Dedicated mesothelioma attorneys are championing the cause of mesothelioma victims. They’re bringing justice to the afflicted, comfort to the dying and hope to the survivors.