Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue covering major organs. According to the Mayo Clinic, most mesotheliomas stem from asbestos exposure.
Figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that between 1999 and 2015, 45,221 malignant mesothelioma deaths occurred. Further, the annual number of deaths remains substantial despite the declining use of asbestos due in part to federal and state regulations.
If you or a family member have this aggressive cancer, you likely developed it due to exposure to asbestos at work or home. You can consult with a Colorado mesothelioma lawyer for help, as you could potentially hold the responsible party to account for your financial damages and physical and emotional suffering.
Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at 800-794-0444 for a free case evaluation with a team member.
Your Risk of Suffering from Mesothelioma
Scientists do not fully understand why some people develop deadly cancers from asbestos exposure, while others do not. However, the primary risk factors for mesothelioma include:
- Prolonged asbestos exposure at work or home
- Living with someone who works with asbestos
- Having had radiation therapy to the chest
- A family history of mesothelioma
Explaining Asbestos
Asbestos is a skinny, needle-like fiber that occurs naturally. While many nations have completely banned asbestos use, it is not entirely banned in the U.S., although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did ban future uses in 1989.
Several products still contain asbestos, such as brake linings and clutches in cars, fire blankets, and roof shingles. According to the American Cancer Society, several federal and international agencies have classified asbestos as a carcinogenic, a cancer-causing substance. Inhaling asbestos dust and fibers can cause mesothelioma as well as other cancers. Exposure to asbestos can also cause asbestosis (fibrosis of the lung).
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
If you experience any worrying symptoms and are unsure whether you suffered any health effects from asbestos exposure, you can get a check-up at your local doctor’s office. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma are not specific to this type of cancer and can point to other conditions. However, some symptoms seen in patients with mesothelioma of the lung include:
- Shortness of breath
- Trouble swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Painful coughing
- Chest or back pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Lumps under the skin in the chest area
Symptoms of mesothelioma of the stomach (peritoneal) differ somewhat from lung (pleural) mesothelioma and can consist of:
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, do not delay a visit to the doctor. Early detection and treatment can slow disease progression considerably and improve your five-year survival chances. Immediate surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy can lengthen life expectancy for sufferers.
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Mesothelioma Lawsuits
If you suffer from mesothelioma, you could have the option to hold someone responsible for your illness.
Employer Liability
Your employer might have responsibility if you can prove that they did not take reasonable measures to protect you from asbestos exposure, which can include:
- Not providing personal protective equipment
- Failing to monitor asbestos concentrations
- Not limiting workers’ time in asbestos-polluted environments
There could also be other ways in which an employer contributed to your exposure to asbestos and your mesothelioma illness.
Manufacturer Liability
If you suffered mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness due to exposure from certain building materials or consumer products, you could recover compensation.
Many different appliances and everyday products may contain asbestos even today, including some you might not expect to contain this carcinogenic substance:
- Makeup
- Baby powders
- Fake snow on Christmas decorations
- Floor tiles
- Wallpaper
- Crayons
Even if you have not worked with asbestos, you could potentially hold a company to account if one of your live-in family members worked with asbestos in the past. Microscopic asbestos fibers can travel into the house on clothing and hair and become airborne, thus exposing family members to this carcinogen.
If you have mesothelioma, you can speak to a Colorado mesothelioma lawyer to discover any legal options open to you. You may have legal recourse against an employer, a manufacturer, or another party. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can access our database of known products and companies linked to asbestos exposure to determine how your exposure might have occurred. Call us today to get started.
Mesothelioma Compensation
Compensation in mesothelioma lawsuits can vary considerably and depends on the severity of your illness and the circumstances of exposure. For example, if a company acted willfully, putting workers’ lives at risk knowingly, you could potentially receive considerable punitive damages in addition to any economic and noneconomic compensation.
Depending on your circumstances and where you encountered asbestos exposure, you could also receive a settlement from an asbestos trust fund if the liable business filed bankruptcy. A Colorado mesothelioma lawyer can advise you about your best route for recovering compensation. Compensation can include awards for:
- Medical expenses
- Medical equipment
- Pharmaceutical needs
- A health aide or home help
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of life enjoyment
Depending on the severity of your illness, you could also potentially recover other damages. Keep in mind that the Colorado statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years under CRS § 13-80-102. If you miss this deadline, a court might dismiss your claim.
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Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Can Fight for You
Contracting a deadly illness due to someone else’s negligence can be heartbreaking. It can take a physical, emotional, and financial toll on you and your family. We have long known the detrimental health effects of asbestos, and every company or manufacturer should have taken steps to protect workers and consumers from this deadly substance.
Our team understands that considering a lawsuit, especially while you or a loved one fight cancer, can seem daunting and overwhelming. However, a Colorado mesothelioma lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can take charge of your lawsuit and stand by your side throughout.
While you spend time with your loved ones, we can work on your case and file the necessary documents, gather evidence, consult with expert witnesses, and negotiate with insurance companies and opposing counsel. We will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
The sooner you recover compensation, the sooner it can help you and your family pay for any medical treatments or resolve any financial hardships you experienced due to your illness. We work on contingency, so there is no financial risk for you. We only get paid if you receive an award.
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at 800-794-0444 for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our team members.
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