Mesothelioma is one of the rarest, deadliest, and most aggressive kinds of lung cancer known to medical science. Researchers have linked this disease to asbestos exposure.
Because of its flame-retardant qualities and low cost, many companies used asbestos in construction and shipbuilding projects for a generation. Only now, many years later, have the crippling effects of mesothelioma become apparent, and victims are finding they need a mesothelioma law firm to help them pay their medical bills.
At the mesothelioma law firm of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, our experienced mesothelioma attorneys know the devastation a diagnosis brings to you and your family. Treatment for mesothelioma is often costly with a grim prognosis. Your household will almost certainly face serious financial and emotional struggles. If you have developed mesothelioma because of the negligence of your employer or another party, you have legal rights to compensation for the suffering that this disease has caused. You should discuss your situation with a New York mesothelioma attorney today, because you have limited time to act.
WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA?
Some people dubbed asbestos the “miracle mineral” when large-scale mining began in the late 1800s. That excitement dropped off considerably around 1900, when the number of lung cancer deaths in asbestos mining towns spiked.
Doctors soon discovered that this cancer was mesothelioma, a devastating illness that essentially collapses the heart and lungs from the outside. Asbestos was still widely used in insulation and other types of building materials throughout much of the 1900s.
Anyone who worked around these materials, lived in buildings with asbestos, or lived with a person who came home with asbestos fibers on their clothes may have been exposed and at risk to develop mesothelioma.
People who worked on certain renovation projects or at certain places, like the World Trade Center on 9/11, may have been exposed to deadly asbestos fibers.
Once the fibers are inhaled, or absorb through the skin, they become lodged in the body. They can stay there for many years. Over time, these fibers often cause cancerous tumors that develop in the mesothelium, the membrane surrounding the lungs, the cardiac cavity, or the abdominal cavity.
Typically, these tumors develop inside victims years before they reach out to mesothelioma lawyers, as this disease has a long latency period. In addition, lung cancer symptoms often mimic other medical conditions, which can delay diagnosis.
As a result, many victims are not properly diagnosed until the cancer has already progressed to an advanced stage. This advanced stage makes the outcome worse. Having a mesothelioma attorney on your side can make all the difference.
MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT IS OFTEN EXPENSIVE
As with any cancer, treatment for mesothelioma can be painful and costly and may include the following:
A combination of any of the above.
There are some emerging mesothelioma treatments, such as gene therapy and PDT (photodynamic therapy), which a mesothelioma attorney can help explore. While these treatments are more costly than traditional therapies, they have substantially improved the outcome for many victims.
Prognosis usually depends on the location of the tumors, the type of mesothelioma, the stage of progression, whether it has metastasized, and the health and age of the victim. Due to the advanced stage and older age of many mesothelioma patients, the survival period is often less than one or two years from diagnosis.
MESOTHELIOMA CASES INVOLVE COMPLEX LEGAL ISSUES
An asbestos exposure attorney at a mesothelioma law firm in New York can arrange substantial financial compensation for lung cancer victims, and those suffering from asbestosis or related injuries, if another party caused their asbestos exposure. If an employer or property owner exposed you to asbestos fibers, they should be held responsible, including medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. In order to win a case, mesothelioma attorneys must prove that:
The party failed to use ordinary care and negligently caused asbestos exposure;
The exposure caused the mesothelioma;
You suffered injuries as a result of the mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma lawsuit attorneys must establish each element of a negligence case by a majority of the evidence. To prove their cases in court, attorneys must collect substantial medical records, eyewitness statements, and other evidence.
Then, mesothelioma attorneys must present this evidence in a clear and convincing fashion, to maximize compensation.
Even if the negligent company is no longer operating, mesothelioma compensation is still available through asbestos trust funds.
ASBESTOS LITIGATION IN THE PRESENT DAY
There are many aspects of asbestos litigation that are relevant and necessary to achieve a favorable verdict. One of the largest challenges is that since much time has passed since asbestos has been made illegal for use, many of the businesses that used or manufactured asbestos materials have closed.
There are special mesothelioma trust funds that have been set up in these instances. There is roughly 30 Billion dollars available in these mesothelioma trust funds. In these events, there are bankruptcy court proceedings that must take place to obtain a recovery from those funds.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A MESOTHELIOMA LAW FIRM?
Both victims of the disease and family members of deceased mesothelioma victims have valid legal claims. Because of the detailed scientific and medical information involved, it is critical to have a mesothelioma attorney with experience handling these claims.
If you or a family member was diagnosed with mesothelioma, call the New York mesothelioma law firm at Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC. We can be reached at 212-397-1000, or fill out the form below to reach out to us online.