According to the American Cancer Society, more than eight in 10 mesothelioma patients experienced asbestos exposure during their lives. If you develop this rare and aggressive cancer, you likely worked in an industry that used asbestos or lived in a home with asbestos-containing products installed in it.
Some uses of asbestos products in the United States remain legal. Still, this well-known link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma means you could pursue legal action against those parties that contributed to your condition. A Texas mesothelioma lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you identify the party liable for your exposure and calculate what compensation they might owe for the damages endured by you or a loved one.
If you want to discuss your case with the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm team, you can reach us at (800) 794-0444 for a free case review.
Mesothelioma Liability in Texas
While researchers have documented the dangers of asbestos, some manufacturers continue to use the product when creating industrial products. However, most manufacturers discontinued its use in the late 1980s, coinciding with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacting a ban on new uses of asbestos products in 1989.
These days, you can still find asbestos or asbestos-related products in old properties. Among the products that home renovators might encounter that contain asbestos include:
- Roofing materials
- Pipes
- Flooring
- Insulation
- Paint
- Electrical wiring
Other industries that extensively used asbestos include auto mechanics, shipbuilders, oil refineries, and power plants. Military personnel also experienced exposure while building and maintaining bases, vehicles, and other equipment during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam War eras. Even today, overseas deployment to countries that still use asbestos products extensively could expose our servicemen and women.
If you develop mesothelioma, a Texas mesothelioma lawyer can help you determine which involved party you could hold liable for your damages. Liable parties can include:
- The manufacturer who produced the asbestos products.
- The employer that purchased the asbestos products you used on the job.
- The homeowner or property owner using asbestos products.
- The construction company that installed or removed the asbestos products.
Mesothelioma Effects
If you have come into contact with asbestos or asbestos-related products, the symptoms of that exposure will likely reveal themselves many decades later. Asbestos irritates the lining of your heart, lungs, and abdomen, creating scars that become worse the longer your exposure. These injuries contribute to the likelihood that you may develop mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a fast-acting cancer, meaning that if you do not catch it before it has metastasized (spread), the journal Lung Cancer International details the devastating effect on your life expectancy.
Protect Your Loved Ones with the Help of a Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one must fight against mesothelioma, a Texas mesothelioma lawyer can provide the support and resources you need so you can give all your attention to treating your cancer and being with your family.
To get started, a mesothelioma attorney can gather evidence regarding your case and begin to craft the story of your diagnosis. Relevant evidence can include:
- Details regarding how companies negligently exposed workers to asbestos.
- Work records detailing when your exposure might have occurred.
- Bills of sale for asbestos-related products to property owners or home contractors.
- Your medical records noting when you received your diagnosis and your prognosis.
- Your medical bills incurred as you sought treatment for mesothelioma.
With this information, a personal injury lawyer can then calculate what compensation you could receive. Your avenues for compensation may include:
- Medical expenses for treatments such as surgery, chemo, and radiation.
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy and medical equipment to help you return to your previous quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death and funeral costs
Settlement or Trial
Once you make the at-fault party aware of your intent to pursue civil action against them, they might reach out to you with a settlement before you can go to trial. Sometimes, these settlements can cover your losses and protect you against the costs of future treatments. However, more often, these initial offers do not fully cover all your current expenses and account for future damages.
You can ask a Texas mesothelioma lawyer to review any offer before accepting it. They can look over the settlement with you and make sure that the party liable for your damages addresses all your financial needs. If the settlement appears insufficient, they can present a counteroffer, and if settlement talks fail, represent you in court and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Texas Laws That Affect Mesothelioma Claims
Texas law recognizes the unique set of facts and circumstances that mesothelioma cases often present. For example, Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.0031 specifies when the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits resulting from asbestos-related injuries begins. It ties in with Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 90.003, which requires patients to provide each liable party a report detailing how asbestos exposure caused their mesothelioma.
It could take you some time to get up to speed with all the requirements for filing an asbestos lawsuit in Texas. A Texas mesothelioma lawyer can help you understand everything involved in these complicated cases and file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 794-0444
Fight for Compensation with the Help of a Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be a terrifying thing to face. The team with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm understands that combating mesothelioma can also become an expensive endeavor. We do not want to contribute to your recovery stress. That is why Pintas & Mullins Law Firm works on contingency.
You will not receive a bill for the services provided by one of our Texas mesothelioma lawyers unless you receive compensation for your losses. Even then, we only receive a percentage of your settlement, allowing you to retain your savings for other purposes.
When you work with a Texas mesothelioma lawyer with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, you can pursue civil action against the party whose asbestos products contributed to your condition, allowing you to fight for the justice and compensation you may deserve.
To assess your mesothelioma case, you can reach out to the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm by calling (800) 794-0444 today.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form