Skip to main content

Mesothelioma Lawsuit After Death - Asbestos Exposure


Mesothelioma Lawsuit After Death - Asbestos Exposure


Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer affecting the tissue lining the lungs, stomach, heart and other vital organs caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Between 3800 and 4000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. Life expectancy for the most common form of the disease is only 4-24 months following the onset of symptoms.

Although the link between asbestos and disease has been investigated since the early 20th century, it wasn’t until 1989 that the EPA issued an Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule (only to see it overturned two years later.)

As recently as 2008, asbestos has been found in Polk County, when the Polk County Sheriff’s Department uncovered illegal dumping of the material in Winter Haven. In St. Petersburg, a real estate developer was indicted for the illegal handling of thousands of square feet of asbestos in 2010.

While the EPA has established exposure limits for asbestos, the United States is one of the few developed countries where asbestos is not completely banned. Tampa, Lakeland and Winter Haven all may still have asbestos in some locations.

What causes Mesothelioma?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in the construction industry for fireproofing and insulation. It was also commonly used in Navy ships, the ship building industry, and automotive repair. When the asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can become lodged in the lining of the lungs.

As the fibers build up inside these protective tissues, they can initiate the formation of cancerous cells. Usually, this occurs over a prolonged period of time and is most commonly seen in people who have worked with the carcinogenic material on a day-to-day basis for many years.

Average Asbestos-Related Deaths per Year, By County:

Polk County, Florida : 21
Hillsborough County, Florida: 45
Pinellas County, Florida: 64

One factor that makes mesothelioma particularly deadly is its long latency period, which can span decades. In some cases, as many as 50 years have passed between the initial exposure and the first appearance of symptoms. In men, the average latency period is 47.9 years. In women, the average latency period is 53.3 years. By the time of diagnosis, the disease has usually progressed to such a late stage that treatment is ineffective.

Who might have been affected by Asbestos Exposure?
A common ingredient in ceiling tiles, roofing materials, insulation, flooring and drywall, automotive brakes and clutches; asbestos exposure is high among those who have worked in manufacturing and construction.

Factors that could increase your risk for asbestos exposure include:

Working in an asbestos mine or processing plant
Serving on a military ship
Living near an asbestos mine
Disturbing asbestos materials while renovating an older building

Only in the mid-1970s, when the correlation between asbestos dust inhalation and cancer became undeniable, did the material fall out of favor. Until then, asbestos was also the insulator of choice of the U.S. Navy, which used massive quantities of the material in all of their ships.

Asbestos Exposure in Tampa
Because of it’s popularity in ship building, asbestos exposure cases are more frequently seen in the Tampa Bay area, where the active shipyard repaired many types of ships using asbestos.

Many major corporations who used asbestos in their products knew of the dangers of asbestos in as early as the 1920’s.

Asbestos exposure was most prevalent in the following occupations:

Boiler workers
Chemical plant workers
Construction workers (roofers, plumbers, floor layers, electricians, dry-wallers, and more)
Industrial workers
Insulators
Mechanics
Sailors
Shipyard workers

Are there different types of mesothelioma lawsuits?
Typically, mesothelioma lawsuits fall under personal injury or wrongful death. To file a personal injury case, you must file your claim within four years of your diagnosis. You may qualify for a personal injury lawsuit through either firsthand or secondhand (contact with another who was in contact with asbestos) exposure. You may be able to recover for lost wages, medical expenses (including travel to and from medical treatments) and pain and suffering. If you are bringing a suit on behalf of a lost loved one, you may also be able to recover for funeral expenses and loss of consortium. In some cases, mesothelioma sufferers who have been exposed during work have successfully collected under workers’ comp.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Learn Forex Factory

How to Use Forex Factory Free Trading Tools — A Complete Guide Have you heard of Forex Factory? You probably do since it’s the leading forum for Forex traders since 2004. But here’s the thing… …most traders don’t take the full advantage of what Forex Factory has to offer. All they do is to go into the forum, enter the “Trading Systems” thread, and look for new trading systems. Then they apply the strategies for a while and when it fails, they got back to the forum and look for “the next best thing”. And the cycle rinse repeats itself. No wonder most traders fail because they are in the cycle of hopping from one trading strategy to the next. Now… Forex Factory is more than just a place to find new trading strategies. In fact, they offer useful trading tools that will improve your trading experience, and it doesn’t cost you a dime. Are you ready? Then let’s begin… Forex Factory calendar — stay ahead of the news and never get caught with your pants down The Forex Factory calendar highligh...
Post a Comment
Read more

Average Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlements

Average Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlements Many mesothelioma patients are hesitant to file a lawsuit, fearing their case may take a long time to resolve. However, most mesothelioma claims are settled out of court. What Are Settlements? Mesothelioma settlements are awarded to victims of asbestos exposure who developed mesothelioma as a result of the negligent actions of the asbestos manufacturing companies responsible for producing the asbestos parts and products to which the victim was exposed. Settlements are monetary amounts agreed to by both parties to avoid a trial. Because there is a high degree of uncertainty in trials, settlements are a surefire way to receive compensation. Benefits of Settling Guaranteed Settlements Receive a Negotiated Sum The primary benefit of mesothelioma settlements is receiving an agreed upon sum of money. Going to trial can be risky because the outcome is placed in the hands of a jury, whose opinions may be swayed by the defense counsel. Timely Trials Avoi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tips for Handling Married Couples Finances

If you don’t think that money can be a stumbling block on the quest for true love, maybe you just haven’t watched enough romantic comedies. From the 1930s to the present, rom-coms are chock full of marrying for money (or breaking up based on the lack of it), lavish expenditures, bankruptcies, rich fathers, maxed out credit cards and — lately — student loans and post-Recession economic woes. Just as in the movies, it doesn’t seem to matter whether the stress in your relationship comes from having too much money or not having enough. In fact, according to a 2015 survey by SunTrust bank, nearly half of couples — regardless of income — reported that their spending habits were different from their partner’s. That discrepancy may understandably cause relationship stress. Over a third of survey respondents claimed that money was at the root of their problems. That gives financial advisors a front-row seat on couples’ money drama: from clashing expectations and different values to circumstance...
Post a Comment
Read more