According to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (AZDEQ), manufacturers have used asbestos since the early 1900s in different industries. Over the last several decades, businesses phased out its use because of its connection with lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the mesothelial cells that line your organs. Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma with specific tests and other forms of evidence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) registered more than 45,000 fatal cases of mesothelioma from 1999 to 2015. A delay or failure to diagnose mesothelioma can have serious repercussions for patients. The longer it is before patients start treatment, the less likely it is that patients can survive this rare and aggressive cancer.
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, you might qualify for compensation related to your diagnosis. Consult an Arizona mesothelioma lawyer to find out what your legal options are. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 614-2067 to discuss your situation with a team member.
Investigating Asbestos Exposure Resulting in Mesothelioma
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that manufacturers and construction workers used for many years because of its resistance to heat and neutral conductivity.
Because of the time lapse between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis, it is often difficult to determine when exposure took place. Construction workers have a high risk, especially older construction workers who worked with asbestos or helped remove products containing asbestos from buildings. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm has compiled a database of companies and products that used asbestos that it can access to determine how and when your exposure occurred.
Medical Expenses
Doctors can identify mesothelioma through a series of diagnostic tests. However, because mesothelioma symptoms mirror the signs of more common diseases, it is often difficult to notice the early stages of mesothelioma. This difficulty can delay your treatment.
Treatment for mesothelioma can quickly become expensive. Surgery is one of the first options for treatment because the surgeon can remove most or all the cancer cells before they can spread. Oncologists often opt for chemotherapy and radiation therapy for later-stage cases since these treatments cover a wide area effectively.
Treatment costs are just one of the many medical expenses that you could incur. You will likely have to deal with hospital bills, ongoing medical care costs, and specialized care visits. As your condition progresses, you might also have to pay for in-home care.
These medical expenses result directly from your asbestos exposure. You can take legal action against the company, employer, or residential property owners responsible for exposing you to asbestos. A personal injury lawsuit can help you recover compensation to mitigate the damage to your finances. Doing so helps protect your family from excessive medical debt and lets you focus on other parts of your recovery.
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Potential Compensation
Medical expenses can build up quickly, leaving patients with hefty debt because of their treatment. Therefore, many victims choose to file lawsuits against the person or company that exposed them to asbestos. The compensation that they can collect from a lawsuit could help them with their medical expenses.
In the lawsuit, you can claim compensation for any expenses related to your injuries and recovery. Besides medical costs, you can also claim expenses such as:
- Lost income from missing time at work
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
An Arizona mesothelioma lawyer can use billing statements and other documentation to prove the connection between your mesothelioma and those expenses. They also can use various formulas to calculate your pain and suffering damages. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today to get started.
Determining Liability
Liability is an essential part of your case. You can only file a civil suit against the people or companies responsible for your injuries. In your case, it will depend on your exposure points. Many businesses have liability insurance policies, meaning that their insurance company will likely become involved in any litigation you pursue.
Insurance companies play an important part in civil lawsuits as they often protect and represent their clients in court. A personal injury lawyer can work directly with the insurance company to work out a settlement that compensates your current and future financial needs or try the case in court.
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Reasons to Hire a Lawyer
Because an insurance company will likely become involved in your case, you might find that hiring an attorney can protect your interests. Insurance companies have a reputation for being aggressive while defending their clients. Having a lawyer means you have someone to fight for you against the insurance company.
Civil lawsuits can become complicated, especially if the company that caused your asbestos exposure has filed bankruptcy, and you must determine whether they established a trust fund to cover your injuries. The stakes in your case are high, and you want to do anything that you can to improve your chances of winning the case. An Arizona mesothelioma lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of suing a corporation within the two-year deadline for personal injury lawsuits set out in A.R.S. § 12-542.
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Your recovery from mesothelioma will have plenty of challenges and put stress on your family’s financial situation. However, you can take legal action to stop the damage caused by someone else.
Rather than spending years trying to pay off medical debts, you can file a lawsuit against the people or company responsible for your asbestos exposure. Receiving compensation might prove the difference between your family having to dig out of medical debt and you getting to focus on your recovery without worrying about long-term medical expenses.
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, you could be entitled to compensation. Discuss your case with an Arizona mesothelioma lawyer to learn what your options are. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 614-2067 to discuss your case with a member of our legal team.
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