Asbestos Exposure - Cause of Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure that has been identified with respect to mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a mineral that is milled into microscopic fibers. The most common form of asbestos used in the United States is known as chrysotile asbestos. Mesothelioma may be caused by asbestos exposure from a variety of products that released dust when they were cut, sanded or broken apart.

Asbestos has been historically used in hundreds of consumer and industrial products including: gaskets, packing, joint compounds, boiler cement, furnace cement, brake linings, clutch facings, insulated wire and cable, lighting fixtures, welding rods, roofing, siding, floor tile, and electrical panels.

The risk of mesothelioma from asbestos exposure also may come from asbestos in products used on or inside equipment such as pumps, valves, boilers, furnaces, compressors, turbines, engines, steam traps, heat exchangers, industrial ovens and printing equipment.

Asbestos in products has been phased out of most industries, but is still being used in the United States. There are currently efforts in the United States Congress to ban the use of the compound.

Mesothelioma usually arises at least fifteen years after a person's first asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma victims are usually shocked to learn that exposure that occurred many years ago have caused their cancer.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma even when the exposure occurred only for a short duration. For example, exposure to asbestos from a summer job while a teenager has been known to cause mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure was the cause of mesothelioma for people who have worked in various trades including, but not limited to, the following:

Auto repair;
Boat construction;
Building inspection;
Carpentry;
Commercial painting;
Construction and restoration;
Electrical work;
Engineering;
Factory work;
Foundry work;
Furnace repair;
Insulation work;
Merchant marine;
Plumbing;
Welding work;
US Navy.

Mesothelioma is a preventable disease. Unfortunately, workers were not warned about the dangers of asbestos contained in these products and this failure to warn has resulted in widespread incidents of mesothelioma and asbestos cancers.

ATTENTION: Mesothelioma has no known cure and often causes severe pain, suffering, and other types of damage, such as loss of consortium, and loss of income. Additionally, due to the exceedingly high cost of mesothelioma treatments, many families exhaust savings and accumulate financial debt in order to pay for the medical expenses of their family member.

Under the law of most states, pain and suffering from mesothelioma may be compensated through the award of money damages, usually obtained with the help of experienced mesothelioma attorneys. In some states other types of damages may also be recovered.

Asbestos litigation affords mesothelioma victims the opportunity to receive financial compensation and hold accountable the companies that caused their asbestos exposure.

IMPORTANT: If you or your family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should get in touch with a mesothelioma lawyer as early as possible to determine if you have a mesothelioma case and to:

Preserve your rights to bring a legal action against the responsible parties within the limited time frame allowed by law, known as statute of limitations;
Obtain maximum compensation in your case by being able to:
- Preserve evidence and establish facts of the asbestos exposure while the claimant is still alive and able to provide information;
- File and resolve a lawsuit against the responsible parties before they file for bankruptcy or, if they already have, to obtain compensation before their bankruptcy trust funds run out of money;
Expedite your case, as courts tend to give higher priority to mesothelioma lawsuits where the claimant is still alive.

Find out whether you have a case by speaking to one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers via our 24/7 toll-free hotline at 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529) or by submitting an email inquiry (see form above). Our attorneys will be quick to respond to you and happy to answer all of your questions.

NOTE: While our offices are located in the states of New York, New Jersey, and California, many of our mesothelioma lawyers are licensed to practice law in a number of U.S. states and have the capability and extensive experience of representing mesothelioma clients throughout the United States. You are encouraged to contact us with any questions.

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