CHICAGO ASBESTOS AND MESOTHELIOMA LAWYERS

The tissue that lines your lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs is called mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a tumor of that tissue. It usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen or other organs. It can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer.)

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but serious type of cancer. Most people who get it have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes a long time for the disease to form.

Symptoms include

Trouble breathing

Pain under the rib cage

Pain, swelling, or lumps in the abdomen

Weight loss for no known reason

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. Your doctor uses imaging tests and a biopsy to make the diagnosis. Malignant mesothelioma is often found when it is advanced. This makes it harder to treat. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy.

CHICAGO ASBESTOS AND MESOTHELIOMA LAWYERS

Attorneys Representing Clients Exposed to Asbestos and Diagnosed with Mesothelioma In Illinois & Nationwide

Chicago Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawyers

Exposure to asbestos is common among blue collar professionals, and unfortunately, often those family members who have lived under the same roof with them. Over time, workers and their families can be continually exposed to asbestos, and effects of those hidden dangers do not show up for years or even decades. If one or more of your family members has suffered from the effects of ongoing exposure to asbestos, you have the right to seek just compensation from those responsible. Speak with an experienced Chicago asbestos and mesothelioma attorney right away who can advise you of your rights and help you recover full damages for your injuries.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that has been directly linked to exposure to asbestos. When the tiny fibers of asbestos are breathed in, they quickly move to the ends of the small air passages of the lungs and travel to the lining of the lungs, where they do damage to the lining, known as mesothelial cells. Mesothelioma may not occur until 20 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos, and early symptoms are easily confused with other lung illnesses, such as pneumonia. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos, whether on the job or at home via a family contact, and who presents any symptoms that could be possibly mesothelioma, should see their doctor immediately. Far too often, mesothelioma is diagnosed too late, treatment is delayed, and the condition becomes fatal.

Who is at Risk to Asbestos Exposure?

Low levels of asbestos are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil where our food comes from. However, most people do not become ill from the minimal levels of exposure they receive to this toxic substance. People who are exposed to high levels of asbestos on a regular basis for a sustained period of time are most likely to end up with mesothelioma and other health complications.

There are certain industries that pose a much higher danger of this ongoing exposure. These include:

Construction: Asbestos-based products have been used in many areas of general construction. Insulation, drywall, floor/ceiling tiles, shingles, texture coatings, caulk and other construction materials have been known to contain asbestos fibers.

Mining: Underground mines are widely known to pose ventilation problems and mine workers have been forced to breathe in large quantities of asbestos dust on a daily basis.

Industrial Plants and Factories: Industrial facilities of all kinds – from textile factories to power plants to oil refineries – have used asbestos extensively in the course of their operations.

Railroads: Railroad workers have had to deal regularly with replacing asbestos-based insulation while maintaining the steam pipes, boilers and other units critical to their operation.

Auto Mechanics: Brake pads, clutches and other auto parts contained high amounts of asbestos fibers that become airborne during regular inspections and installations.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact the experienced Chicago asbestos injury lawyers at Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. to discuss your case. At HM&M, we have over 20 years of experience helping victims and their family members that have had a high level of exposure to asbestos leading to harmful health conditions such as mesothelioma. Our legal team works with investigators to determine the root cause of your illness and hold the responsible parties accountable.

If you are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma or lost a family member to the disease, you have grounds to make a legal case against the manufacturer or company who knowingly exposed you or your loved one to asbestos.

Exposure can be prevented. Medical researchers and product manufacturers have known this for nearly a century and yet too many kept quiet and chose not to inform the public — or their own employees — about the severe health consequences of working around asbestos.

The World Health Organization estimates that 125 million workers worldwide have been exposed to asbestos. In the U.S., about 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually, most of whom have pleural mesothelioma.

Hiring a Lawyer

The reality of asbestos litigation is that not all cases are created equal. This is why it’s important to consider talking to an attorney if you have been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. You usually only have between one and four years after your initial diagnosis to file a claim.

You usually only have 1–4 years after your initial diagnosis to file a claim.

Qualified mesothelioma attorneys can help you understand litigation procedures and file a timely legal claim. They can also see your claim through the case process and possibly improve your chances of obtaining compensation.

Depending on court rules and individual case circumstances, an attorney may be able to get your pleural mesothelioma case fast-tracked for trial.

Once you find a qualified, experienced mesothelioma lawyer, you will work together to determine when and how you were exposed to asbestos, how much and how long you were exposed, what injuries occurred because of exposure, and who to hold accountable — all of which is needed to make a strong case. These attorneys are usually paid a percentage of any compensation you may obtain.

Should you pass away before your case is resolved, they can work with your family or estate to continue pursuing legal claims against those who caused your injuries. They may be able to obtain compensation to help provide for your family, assist with remaining medical bills and address other losses.

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Filing a Claim

Asbestos lawsuits begin with filing a document called a complaint or petition. But filing a complaint involves preparation that is best done with the assistance of an experienced pleural mesothelioma lawyer.

An attorney can help by first determining whether you are eligible to file an asbestos personal injury claim. Each state limits the amount of time available to file a lawsuit through laws known as statutes of limitation. An attorney can help determine where to file your lawsuit, which isn't necessarily in the state where you live. They can also find the statutes of limitation that govern how much time you have to file a claim.

Files

Determining when and where you can file requires careful analysis of a number of factors that are specific to your case. These factors include when and where you were exposed to asbestos and the identity and location of the defendants. Some states also require claimants to reach a certain stage of severity in their illness before they can pursue their legal claim. So it will be necessary to review your medical history, as well as your asbestos exposure and work history before filing your complaint.

Since time is important, it's a good idea to contact a pleural mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible to start the case process. Your attorney will gather facts and organize a complaint that follows the court's procedural requirements. But fact-gathering doesn't end with filing a complaint.

Obtaining Mesothelioma Compensation

Litigation claims are the most common source of mesothelioma compensation. The only way to obtain compensation this way is to file one of two claims:

A personal injury lawsuit (exposure on the job)

A wrongful death lawsuit (the death of a loved one)

The standard treatment options for pleural mesothelioma are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Doctors have achieved the best results by combining two or more of these options to fit each patient’s unique situation, which is called a multimodal approach.

When mesothelioma is diagnosed in an early stage, major surgery supported by chemotherapy and radiation can enable a patient to live years beyond their initial life expectancy. However, these aggressive curative treatments will not benefit all patients. In many cases, doctors instead recommend palliative treatments, which aim to relieve cancer symptoms and improve quality of life.

Researchers are also developing experimental treatments, such as immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and gene therapies, which have the potential to improve survival rates and minimize the side effects of cancer treatment. Eligible patients are encouraged to apply to clinical trials that study these new and innovative courses of treatment.

sumber : https://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/treatment/

              https://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/lawyer/

              https://www.hurley-law.com/construction-accidents/asbestos-and-mesothelioma

              https://medlineplus.gov/mesothelioma.html