When one of our clients hears that they have mesothelioma, they are bombarded with a host of different emotions. They are angry that they have spent their lives doing a job that may end up killing them. They are afraid, not knowing what to expect. They are also sad that their entire life has been disrupted in the worst way.
Our class action lawyers understand this and do our best to handle the legal side of things for our clients. This way, they can focus on getting the medical treatment they need and spending time with their family. While we know that suing your employer or some other party for damages cannot change things, it may help you cope with your medical bills and other expenses.
Here, we will discuss the main cause of mesothelioma. We will also explain which workers are most likely to be exposed to asbestos. Finally, we will explain what your options are if you do get sick as a result of your asbestos exposure at work.
One of the Leading Causes of Mesothelioma is Exposure to Asbestos
There are a host of things that can cause cancer. It seems as if there are new warnings coming out every day. However, when it comes to mesothelioma, one of the worst types of cancer, there is one main cause. People who are exposed to asbestos, either through their job or some other means, are most likely to be diagnosed with this disease.
And, while there are strict regulations in the United States regarding the use of asbestos, its use is not illegal. This means that even today, decades after we first learned how dangerous asbestos can be, people are still exposed to it on a daily basis.
Your Class Action Lawyer Will Have to Prove That You Were Exposed to Asbestos at Your Job
In order to prevail in your lawsuit, your mass tort attorney will need to demonstrate a link between your job and your mesothelioma. While there is always the chance that you became sick due to exposure to asbestos in your personal life, it is unlikely.
Most of the people that our class action lawyers meet with have been exposed to this deadly toxin while on the job. Some of them have worked with or around asbestos for decades. What’s even worse is that many of our clients had no idea they were being exposed to it until it was too late.
It’s Difficult for Your Mass Tort Attorney to Prove Personal Exposure
In most of the cases our mass tort attorneys handle, their clients were exposed to asbestos on the job. However, there are instances where someone has mesothelioma as a result of exposure in their personal life. These cases are a lot harder to prove than those involving work-related asbestos exposure. The other problem is that the defendant will simply claim that you assumed the risk if you chose to be near asbestos in your personal life.
You may live in a building whose insulation contains asbestos. While these buildings were supposed to be clean and stripped of hazardous material years ago, there is always the chance that it wasn’t done properly. There’s also the chance that you were exposed to asbestos while doing home repairs.
For example, roofing materials often contain asbestos. If you chose to repair or replace your roof rather than hire a professional, you could contract mesothelioma. However, it usually takes long-term exposure to the poison for you to get sick. But this doesn’t make it any easier for our class action lawyers to find a responsible party to sue for your illness.
Certain Workers Are Much More Likely to Be Exposed to Asbestos
As briefly stated earlier, there are certain categories of workers who are more likely to be exposed to asbestos. Asbestos exposure is the number one cause of work-related fatalities in this country. I
t is estimated that more than 39,000 Americans die every year as a result of asbestos exposure. Despite the fact that we know how dangerous this substance can be, there are still more than 1.3 million workers exposed to asbestos every day.
There are certain professions that carry a much higher risk of exposure. These include the following:
- Firefighters
- Construction workers
- Demolition workers
- Power plant employees
- Shipyard workers
- Miners
- Factory workers
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. There are dozens of other jobs that put workers at a heightened risk. You just need to make sure you let your mass tort attorney know what you’ve done for a living so they can see if there is a connection between your job and your illness.
You Should Meet With One of Our Class Action Lawyers Sooner Rather Than Later
When a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the prognosis is often grim. This is one of the most aggressive and debilitating types of cancer there is. While there are people who manage to survive for years with this illness, that is rare.
This is why it’s critically important that you contact our class action lawyers as soon as you are diagnosed. Your best chance of recovering damages is by filing a lawsuit against the company you worked for. In addition, your mass tort attorney can also name other potential defendants in your complaint. The only way to know for sure is to talk to an experienced class action lawyer in our office.
We do offer our new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to ask us any questions you may have about your case. This also gives our mass tort attorneys a chance to review your case and see if it has merit.
If it does, we will more than likely be willing to represent you. If, however, it doesn’t appear that we can prove a link between your job and your mesothelioma, we may not be able to help. It’s important that you come to see us sooner rather than later as it will give our attorneys ample time to prepare your case.
Call today and one of our staff will help schedule your free, initial consultation.
