Mesothelioma is a devastating type of cancer that affects thousands of people. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a dangerous mineral that was used in a variety of consumer goods for many decades before its carcinogenic properties became known. At Bailey & Glasser, LLP, our attorneys are here for victims of mesothelioma and their families.
Our mesothelioma attorneys can advocate for your rights and best interests during a legal claim against those who caused or contributed to your illness. We are passionate in our fight for justice for mesothelioma victims.
How a Mesothelioma Attorney Can Help You
A mesothelioma attorney from Bailey & Glasser, LLP can explain your rights as a victim, including the right to a potential lawsuit, workers’ compensation claim or asbestos trust fund claim. We will work closely with you to identify your legal goals and help you pursue them, with an eye for detail and aggressive legal strategies.
Our law firm can go up against any defendant, including major product manufacturers and corporations, on your behalf. Our attorneys will also connect you to vital mesothelioma resources during this difficult time in your life, helping you and your family plan for the future and move forward with as much peace of mind as possible.
About Mesothelioma and the Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a group of six minerals that are all confirmed carcinogens, meaning they are known to cause cancer in humans. Before this was confirmed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 1987, however, asbestos was a popular manufacturing ingredient. It was used in a large number of products to add durability and greater resistance to heat and corrosion. Thousands of these products still exist today, especially in the building materials used in homes and structures prior to the 1990s.
Common asbestos-containing products include:
- Adhesives and glues
- Attic and wall insulation
- Automotive brakes and gaskets
- Boilers and furnaces
- Cement or mortar
- Drywall
- Electrical products
- Fire-resistant cloth
- Friction products
- Joint compounds
- Pipe covers
- Roofing tiles and shingles
- Textured paint
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Wallboard
Exposure to asbestos, even in a small amount, can cause mesothelioma and a range of other serious illnesses. Mesothelioma is an aggressive and fatal type of cancer with no known cure. It develops in the mesothelial tissues, which is the thin membrane that surrounds and protects many of the organs, including the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma – cancer of the lining around the lungs – is the most common type, responsible for 82.1 percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses in the U.S. from 1999 to 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can develop when asbestos particles get lodged inside the body, where they can remain for many years. The average latency period – the time between the date of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma – is an average of approximately 20-60+ years. In this time, asbestos can cause enough irritation, damage, and scar tissue to result in serious illnesses, including cancer.
Common signs and symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- A cough that won’t go away
- Painful coughing
- Chest pain
- Tightness in the chest
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic fatigue
- High temperature and sweating, especially at night
- Lumps forming beneath the skin of the chest
- Swelling of the face and arms
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
In many cases, mesothelioma is not discovered until one of the later stages of this cancer, such as stage III or IV. This means the cancer has metastasized (spread) to more than one part of the body. Sadly, this can limit the treatment options available to a victim. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may improve a patient’s quality of life and life expectancy.
How Common Is Mesothelioma in New Mexico?
Mesothelioma is a relatively rare type of cancer. The mesothelioma cancer burden in New Mexico was 80 new cases and 70 deaths from 2015 to 2019, based on data provided by the CDC. This placed it number 40 in the list of states in the country in terms of new mesothelioma cases within the five-year study period.
Bernalillo County, New Mexico had the highest number of mesothelioma cases, with 24 new cases from 2015 to 2019. The number of mesothelioma-related deaths in Bernalillo County outstripped the number of new cases; 25 people lost their lives to this cancer in this time span. Nationwide, around 3,127 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year.
Your Legal Options After Being Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
Being exposed to asbestos just once could potentially result in mesothelioma. No amount of asbestos exposure is safe (source: the National Cancer Institute). However, those who are most at risk of cancer and other illnesses associated with asbestos are people who are around it frequently or regularly. This includes workers in high-risk occupations for asbestos exposure, such as construction workers and firefighters who are around asbestos-containing building materials.
After being diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can explore your potential legal options with an attorney. You may be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit against one or more parties for negligently allowing you to be exposed to asbestos. This may include an employer, property owner or product manufacturer. If the individual or entity that exposed you to asbestos has gone bankrupt, you may still be eligible for compensation through an asbestos trust fund claim. These funds were set up by many companies to compensate victims who were exposed to asbestos by their products.
Compensation Available
A successful claim or lawsuit for mesothelioma could pay a victim and his or her family for a variety of related losses by holding someone accountable.
A financial award could pay for the following losses:
- Past and future medical bills
- The cost of mesothelioma treatment
- Lost wages and earning opportunities
- Lost future capacity to earn
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Psychological trauma or anguish
- Wrongful death damages
- Loss of consortium
- Attorney’s fees and out-of-pocket costs
While no amount of money can make up for a diagnosis as devastating as mesothelioma, a fair settlement or judgment award may make it easier for you and your family to move forward.
Learn More | Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP for a Free Consultation
You do not have to deal with a mesothelioma diagnosis alone. A mesothelioma lawyer at Bailey & Glasser, LLP can guide you and your family through a legal claim while answering your questions and concerns. Our attorneys are compassionate and committed to helping victims of asbestos exposure. Contact us today to request a free mesothelioma case evaluation.
