Contracting mesothelioma may be a direct result of asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral fiber used in commercial manufacturing for the production of certain products. In Oklahoma, asbestos fibers can appear in manufacturing facilities that produce building construction materials for fire retardant products, home and building insulation, and other purposes.
However, the workers exposed to asbestos during this manufacturing process can develop cancers like mesothelioma in the body over time. When a worker inhales asbestos fibers, the microscopic particles can become lodged in the lining surrounding a person’s lungs. Over time, these particles can turn into cancerous cells, causing the person to contract diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
If you or a loved one contracted mesothelioma from working in a manufacturing facility that produced asbestos fibers, you might be able to file a personal injury lawsuit in Oklahoma to recover damages. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 to discuss the details of your case in a free case review and learn how an Oklahoma mesothelioma lawyer might be able to help you.
Asbestos Protection in Oklahoma
Inhaling asbestos fibers is a lung hazard. Because of this, Oklahoma keeps close tabs on asbestos removal in the state with help from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), both federal agencies.
The Oklahoma Office of the Department of Labor and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality both describe the conditions in which asbestos is handled or removed. There are also forms for asbestos manufacturers and suppliers can file with the state’s departments.
Mesothelioma Mystery
About 3,000 people receive a mesothelioma diagnosis every year, according to the American Cancer Society. The disease is found mostly in older men, many of whom worked in an asbestos-product manufacturing facility earlier in their lives.
A person may have mesothelioma growing inside the body without feeling any symptoms for years. Once the symptoms arise, it may already be too late for any treatments to have a positive effect.
The dangerous effects of mesothelioma may already be within a person, and yet the symptoms might not show up for years later. By then, the mesothelioma may be already in a later stage, making any healthy recovery difficult.
If detected early, mesothelioma is treatable. It depends on a few factors, such as the person’s age, when detection of the cancer occurs, what type of mesothelioma it is, and how extensive the spread is throughout the body.
If asbestos exposure is the probable cause of a mesothelioma diagnosis, and you want an Oklahoma mesothelioma lawyer to help you pursue your case, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today. Our team can listen to the details of your situation and review possible next steps with you. If you choose us to represent you, we will work on your behalf to secure a financial settlement that meets your needs.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 794-0444
Asbestos Exposure
In personal injury lawsuits involving asbestos and mesothelioma, most parties agree that the term “asbestos” signifies a hazard. A person who hears about asbestos in a radio or TV ad may generally understand that asbestos can cause cancer and that a person suffering from asbestos exposure could recover damages. But most people do not know the science behind asbestos in products and how it interacts with humans exposed to its fibers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asbestos can separate into tiny particles that a person can easily inhale after handling the minerals. That is because these particles linger in the air. The CDC also says asbestos particles enter the body through inhalation, a common route that leads to illness.
The Cleveland Clinic writes that more than 5,000 products either have or once had asbestos. Employees in certain industries also had a higher risk of asbestos exposure, including those who worked in shipbuilding, construction and building, railroads, and industries that conducted chemical, plastic, and rubber manufacturing. The risk of developing mesothelioma rises the longer one is exposed to it.
Settlement for Mesothelioma cases
In a typical asbestos exposure leading to a mesothelioma case, the court looks at various areas to determine any possible settlement amount. This may include getting answers to the following:
- Amount and frequency of asbestos exposure
- If the worker was exposed to asbestos regularly over a long period, then financial compensation could range higher for a plaintiff who developed a case of mesothelioma.
- Liability of a company producing asbestos products
- If an asbestos-producing company was negligent in warning its workers about the hazards of asbestos fibers in the air, then they would be seen as negligent, and settlement payouts may be high.
- Lost income, medical expenses, and physical and emotional harm
- Settlement considerations may often be higher if asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma in a person and contributes clear harm to the person in the form of lost income and medical costs.
- The person’s age
- A younger claimant below age 50 could get a higher settlement than an older person in their 70s or older because of the work income that could have still been earned by the younger person.
- State of the personal injury lawsuit
- Different rules around mesothelioma and asbestos cases abide in different states. A legal team can help you file a personal injury lawsuit.
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Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one is figuring out what to do now that you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may feel uncertain about the future. In addition to seeking medical treatment for your condition, you might be wondering if you have a case for financial compensation.
It might be time to find an Oklahoma mesothelioma lawyer who can help with your case. The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you understand the complexities of your case and the laws in Oklahoma regarding personal injury lawsuits.
If you are considering taking legal action, you might want to start now. You have a limited time to file your lawsuit. Most states have set statute of limitations deadlines that govern how long people have to file lawsuits. Oklahoma requires filing personal injury lawsuits within two years, per Oklahoma Statutes §12-95.
If you wish to get started, call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 794-0444 for a free case review.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form