Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the slim layer of tissue around most of your internal organs. The vast majority of cases primarily affect the lungs. There are a wide variety of treatments available for mesothelioma, but there is no cure.
Pleural Mesothelioma, that which occurs in the lining surrounding the lungs, is the most common type. The primary risk factor for this disease is occupational exposure to asbestos. Undisturbed asbestos insulation is not the main culprit. It is when the elements of asbestos are mined or insulation is removed from a structure that the dust is thrown into the air and inhaled. The inhaled dust is the dangerous exposure.
Casual exposure to asbestos has not been observed to cause mesothelioma. The people who are in the highest risk category are those who work with asbestos directly, inhaling the dust. And, even most people who have occupational exposure to asbestos dust do not end up with mesothelioma. The scariest part of this disease is that diagnosis comes 20-60 years after exposure.
While there is no cure for mesothelioma, there are legal remedies. Many of the companies who manufactured asbestos insulation have already created funds for victims of mesothelioma. Several of these companies have declared bankruptcy. Also, one of the highest risk groups of individuals is those who served in the United State Navy on certain ships when asbestos was being used on board.
Asbestos litigation is very complicated, and involves multiple defendants and multiple jurisdictions. There are also Veteran’s benefit issues involved when the victim served in the Navy. We work with a network of attorneys nationwide to ensure that our clients recover the maximum possible. Mesothelioma is a tragedy, but there is a legal remedy.