Sacramento Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer in which malignant or cancerous cells are found in the Mesothelium. The Mesothelium is a protective sac covering most of the body’s internal organs – where cancer attacks. Unfortunately, far too many companies have ignored warning signs and put their bottom line above consumer safety and employee health. This has endangered many Americans’ lives with dangerous asbestos exposure.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and believe it was caused by asbestos exposure, you may seek compensation for your personal injury damages. Call our Sacramento mesothelioma attorneys today for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

At our law firm, we understand that this is a challenging time for you and your family. Our mesothelioma lawyers would like to help you navigate the legal system to ensure you receive fair compensation for your damages. Contact our legal team today to schedule a free consultation with one of our asbestos-exposure attorneys to get started on your case.

Asbestos is a collection of naturally occurring fibers found in rocks and minerals. In the past, asbestos was heavily used in various industries, primarily building and construction, because of its insulative and heat-resistant properties. While the use of asbestos is prohibited today, it was often used – and can still be found – in wall and attic insulation, shingles, roofing tiles, paint, fabrics, clutches, brakes, pipes, boilers, oil and coal furnaces, and walls and floors surrounding wood-burning stoves, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In many cases, asbestos continues in old buildings and materials and may pose a risk of exposure and related disease if disturbed.

Asbestos products were used extensively in the 20th century in various applications, and most of these products were directly responsible for a person’s exposure to asbestos. The individuals who manufactured the products and those who used them at commercial and industrial job sites, including refineries, power plants, shipyards, steel plants, and more, are responsible for causing mesothelioma.

Because many of the products were used in home construction, some homes can also contain asbestos. Even worse, many companies continued to use the products even after learning about the potentially fatal risks of asbestos. When asbestos was first used, the health effects of asbestos exposure were not understood. Today, exposure to asbestos fibers can have devastating consequences, including the risk of developing lung disease/lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. According to Cancer.gov, it usually takes about 20 years for mesothelioma to develop if a person is exposed to asbestos.

In all asbestos exposure cases, mesothelioma diagnosis must be established by a biopsy of affected or suspicious tissues and by a definitive microscopic examination by a trained pathologist. The biopsy will require an invasive procedure such as thoracoscopy, pleural biopsy, or laparotomy or laparoscopy.

The removed tissue may be treated with special biological or chemical stains that help the pathologist establish a solid diagnosis. The pathologist will check the rate of growth and biological virulence of the tumor, which must be staged, if possible, by X-ray, CAT scan, MRI, or other types of scans to clarify its location within the body and also to estimate the likelihood of the effective curative or palliative therapy. However, the staging of Mesothelioma by X-ray is often unreliable.

Malignant mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer found in the Mesothelium. As referenced above, the tissue layer surrounding and covering the internal organs is directly related to asbestos exposure. While the most common type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma in the tissues surrounding the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma – when the affected tissue covers the abdomen – is also possible.

Malignant mesothelioma, as stated above, is a deadly form of cancer. Complications from the disease include pain in the chest, trouble breathing, aches and pains throughout the body, and fluid in the chest. A person diagnosed with mesothelioma will likely undergo intensive medical treatment, which can be painful. The Mayo Clinic states that these medical treatments include surgeries to decrease fluid in the chest and remove cancerous tissues and surgeries to remove a lung that is affected by cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment.

Sadly, even with aggressive treatment, malignant mesothelioma is not curable in most asbestos-exposure cases.

Because asbestos is a collection of fibers found in various materials (listed above) present in homes, schools, offices, and places of work across the country, nearly anyone has the potential to be exposed to the fibers throughout their lifetime. However, those who experience prolonged exposure are the most at risk of developing mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.

Asbestos particles are distributed into the air and inhaled into the lungs when disturbed. For example, demolishing asbestos materials can release the fibers into the air. If someone lives in a home that contains asbestos, their exposure to the fibers will likely be minimal unless the fibers are disturbed, such as during a home improvement project.

Those who are most at risk of asbestos exposure, and therefore most at risk for the development of mesothelioma, are those who have been directly exposed to asbestos in their place of work. This includes mechanics, boilermakers, electricians, construction workers, demolitionists, machinists, laborers, manufacturers/factory workers, pipe workers, and sheet metal workers. This list is not inclusive.

In addition to those who have been directly exposed to asbestos, family members of those who were directly exposed to asbestos may also be at risk. In many cases, asbestos fibers are carried home on the clothes of those directly exposed; after many years, the at-home exposure for family members can be significant enough to cause mesothelioma.

The following video discusses mesothelioma’s causes, signs, diagnosis, and treatment.

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma, or watching as a loved one learns of their disease and goes through the treatment process, can be a very emotional and traumatic experience. For many people, taking all measures possible to prolong life and fight cancer is desirable, even though this can mean painful treatments, substantial medical bills, and a slight chance of recovery.

If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma or lose a loved one to mesothelioma, reach out to the best Sacramento mesothelioma lawyer to learn about your legal options. You have the right to pursue civil action if you can establish the source of the asbestos and prove negligence. For example, if you worked in an industry where you were exposed to asbestos fibers for many years and had no knowledge of the presence of asbestos or/and the dangers of asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation.

The best mesothelioma lawyer in Sacramento County, CA, can seek compensatory damages that consider the full extent of your losses. This includes compensation for your:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses and future medical expenses
• Health services and home treatment costs
• Future lost wages (if applicable)
• All other economic and noneconomic damages

If you have lost a loved one due to mesothelioma, you may also be able to seek damages for loss of guidance and companionship, as well as compensation for funeral and burial benefits.

One of the most challenging components of filing a mesothelioma claim is the plaintiff’s duty to establish the cause and source of asbestos. In fact, if causation cannot be established, a claim will not be successful (other components of a claim include establishing the existence of a duty of care, proving negligence and breach of a duty of care, and damages).

Proving the source of asbestos and the cause of mesothelioma will require an intensive investigation. Because many people who suffer from mesothelioma today were exposed to asbestos fibers 20 or more years ago, the investigation may include tracking down old employers and co-workers, gaining access to the company’s testing records and materials lists, interviewing manufacturers and distributors, determining whether or not any other people in the industry/place of employment have developed an asbestos-related disease, and more. Proving causation will also require the expertise of medical professionals, who may be required to testify on your behalf.

Our Sacramento mesothelioma lawyers work with several experts who can help to build your asbestos exposure claim and provide professional opinions to the court regarding the cause of your mesothelioma diagnosis.

As Sacramento mesothelioma lawyers, we have an essential role in helping you understand the claims process and laws on filing a civil action: investigating your claim, including the cause of your mesothelioma and the source of asbestos exposure; building the claim and consulting with experts; filing your claim; negotiating with insurance adjusters to recover the settlement amount that you deserve, and taking your claim to court and litigating when a settlement agreement that addresses the full extent of your losses cannot be reached.

Our mesothelioma attorneys are here to support you throughout the claims process. We understand that you are probably facing many fears about your future and that this sentiment is likely true whether you are someone diagnosed with mesothelioma or the surviving family member of a loved one who has died because of asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma.

We work on a contingency fee basis. Our Sacramento mesothelioma lawyers never expect payment for our legal services unless your asbestos exposure case is won. If your claim is flourishing and you recover damages, we will be paid based on a percentage of your winnings (the specific percentage is agreed to in advance). You will never be expected to pay a retainer hourly or fees associated with an investigation and hiring experts. Our law firm covers all these upfront costs.