Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cancer are two diseases generally caused by exposure at work. In short, some of the hardest workers in our country have been tragically exposed to a dangerous set of fibers– asbestos. While these workers were working towards the American dream, they were unknowingly exposing themselves and their families to mesothelioma, a so-far incurable disease that doesn’t form for 20 to 50 years.
If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma, you are in the medical battle for your life. You deserve financial reparations. We at John Foy & Associates are sorry for your struggles. We know that the only way we can help is by filing a personal injury claim or joining a class action lawsuit.
Give us a call at 404-400-4000 for a free consultation.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare and serious type of cancer that develops in the protective lining (mesothelium) of many organs. The cancer usually occurs in one of four places– the lining of the lungs, the stomach, heart sac and the testicular sac.
You probably already know that the most common cause of mesothelioma is from exposure to asbestos. The disease takes a long time to form and can appear 20 to 50 years after a person’s exposure to asbestos.
According to the American Cancer Society, 3,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. The disease is more common in older people– the average age of diagnosis is 69. This is probably because of the changes in workplace exposure to asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency established a ban on new use of asbestos in 1989. At the same time, the EPA required school systems to inspect for asbestos and to either remove or cover up the material so it won’t get into the air.
I suspect my father was exposed to asbestos and that has caused his cancer. What should I do?
We are very sorry for your father’s cancer. Before you contact a personal injury attorney, gather some information. You don’t need to be a detective, but compile as much information about your father’s exposure to asbestos. Write down his work history, including his specific job and the years he worked.
Was your father a ship builder, plumber, insulation installer, railroad or automotive worker? Was he in the U.S. Navy, Marines or Coast Guard and exposed to asbestos-insulated ship piping? Did he remodel old houses? Was he a fireman?
Take your information to a Mesothelioma/Asbestos Cancer Claim Attorney at John Foy & Associates. Our firm has been around for more than 20 years and our only purpose is to help people who have been injured due to the negligence of another person or business. Call our office at 404-400-4000 for a free and confidential consultation.
We have medical advisors and legal researchers who can help us with your case.
What are the common symptoms of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer?
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic, here are the common symptoms of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer:
- Trouble breathing
- Painful coughing
- Blood expelled while coughing
- Pain under the rib cage
- Unexplained weight loss
- Swelling, pain or lumps in the abdomen or chest
If you or someone you love has the symptoms, please seek medical treatment immediately.
What are the causes of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer?
The most common causes of mesothelioma and asbestos cancer is exposure to asbestos. Even a brief exposure many years ago can cause these diseases. The American Cancer Society reports that there are rare cases that are possibly caused by exposure of high doses of radiation. Men are more likely to have this disease, but again, the American Cancer Society suspects this is because men are more likely to work in jobs with heavy exposure to asbestos than women.
Mesothelioma was discovered a long time ago. Do I still have the ability to file a claim?
The link between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been known since 1968. In the 1990s, a British researcher predicted that there would be an “epidemic of mesothelioma.” And a U.S. government study predicted that men born in the 1940s would be the most affected.
Normally, there is a two-year time limit to file a personal injury claim. But this disease takes such a long time to form and there is no way to anticipate filing a claim until you have the disease. People are still being exposed to asbestos; most famously many of the first-responders to the Twin Towers after the attack on 9/11 sadly passed away from the disease.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call our attorneys at call at 404-400-4000 and we’ll walk you through your options in your case.
Why was asbestos used in construction?
Asbestos was used in construction as a fire retardant and insulation because it has high heat resistance and fiber strength. Asbestos is so fire resistant that it was once used in firemen’s gloves and theater curtains.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos can also be found in:
- Attic and wall insulation
- Vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
- Roofing and siding shingles
- Hot water and steam piping covering and insulation
- Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets
- Car brakes and clutches
Who is more likely to get mesothelioma?
People most likely to get mesothelioma are those who have worked around asbestos. However, because the material is so fine, wives and children were exposed as well. Anyone doing the laundry for a worker would have been exposed.
People exposed to asbestos also can develop lung cancer or a very serious, progressive non-cancer disease called asbestosis.
My loved one passed away from mesothelioma? Do I have any sort of legal claim?
If your loved one has passed away from mesothelioma, we are very sorry for your loss. This is a hard disease to fight and it must have been very difficult to watch. You or another family member may have the chance to file a wrongful death claim. This allows the appropriate family member to recoup some financial losses, including the loss of income, from the negligent party.
Is there a cure for mesothelioma?
Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for mesothelioma, but the National Cancer Society reports that treatments are improving to extend the life of patients.
I am worried that our family doesn’t have enough money to fight a Mesothelioma claim. What should I do?
No personal injury attorney should charge you to fight a Mesothelioma claim. Their fee comes out of any settlement. If there is no settlement, the firm is supposed to absorb the fee. Please find an experienced personal injury law firm with enough resources to fight this battle for you.
You only have one chance to fight this claim. Please protect yourself.
How can John Foy & Associates help me?
John Foy & Associates is a large, well-established personal injury firm located in the heart of Atlanta. Over the last 20 years, we have recovered almost a billion dollars for our clients. With more than 20 attorneys and almost 100 staffers we have the resources to fight multi-billion companies that have huge in-house legal teams. Insurance companies know us and they know they can’t cajole our clients into taking less than they deserve. We have a lot of partners in the medical community who can help as witnesses and also advisors to make sure you are getting the best possible care.
Give us a call at our toll-free number, 404-400-4000. We staff it 24 hours a day, seven days a week, specifically to help people like you.