Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure

If a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is possible that asbestos exposure is the cause. As such, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against a manufacturer, contractor or other company for workplace exposure or exposure due to products containing asbestos. By talking to an attorney at our offices, you can get a better idea of your legal rights and options in moving forward with a case.

Overview of Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Every year, several hundred people throughout the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma. The majority of these cases are linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos has been mined and used since the late 1800s and due to its versatility and resistance to fire and heat. However, the thin asbestos fibers may easily be inhaled or swallowed, particularly by workers who dealt with these minerals on a regular basis. Even the families of workers may have been exposed if fibers were transferred onto the worker's clothing and therefore brought home where his or her family would be at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, a membrane that covers and protects most of the body's internal organs. This disease is particularly complicated to deal with and legal action may be difficult, as it may take up to 20 or 40 years or possibly more for symptoms of mesothelioma to present. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer, and immediate medical treatment will likely be necessary for a victim to have the greatest opportunity of surviving. Of course, as with any medical condition and particularly cancer, the severity of the particular case will vary from one patient to another.