Find a Mesothelioma and Asbestos Attorney
A Mesothelioma Victims Guide to Pursuing an Asbestos Settlement
Aug 21, 2009
Asbestos refers to bundles of heat, chemical and fire-resistant fibers consisting of a group of naturally occurring silicate compound minerals. Used widely in all types of industries including vehicle manufacturing, construction and shipbuilding throughout North America since the late 1800s, it was first identified as a problematic material in the 1970s. Mesothelioma victims may have developed the disease after exposure to asbestos.
Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Ban on New Uses
According to the National Cancer Institute's Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk fact sheet, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission realized at the time that asbestos fibers could be released into the environment during use in gas fireplaces and wallboard patching compounds. They banned the use of asbestos in these products, with a voluntary ban by some manufacturers of other asbestos products following into the 1980s.
The EPA banned all new uses of asbestos in 1989. However, the product had been widely used across the country to that point; domestic consumption of asbestos in 1973 alone was about 803,000 metric tons. Several agencies, including the EPA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, have since classified asbestos a carcinogenic agent, a substance that causes cancer. (Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition. National Toxicology Program, 2005).
About Mesothelioma and Common Symptoms Experienced by Mesothelioma Victims
Mesothelioma is one of several types of cancers caused by exposure to asbestos. The NCI's asbestos fact sheet explains that mesothelioma victims suffer a rare type of cancer of the thin membranes lining the chest and abdomen; however, it is the most common type of cancer attributed to asbestos exposure. Common symptoms include:
- a dry cough or shortness of breath
- abdominal pain or swelling due to fluid build-up
- anemia
- chest pain and/or a persistent cough
- fever, sweats, or weight loss
- nausea
- swelling of the feet
Only a doctor can make a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma or one of its subtypes. Contact a medical professional for more information.
Exposure to Asbestos Information for Concerned Workers in Construction and Mining
Workers can protect themselves from exposure to asbestos by wearing employer-provided protective equipment and following health and safety standard procedures.
Concerned workers may want to contact one of two divisions of the U.S. Department of Labor if asbestos exposure is a concern and it is not resolved or addressed in the workplace. Call the Occupational Health and Safety Administration at 1-800-321-OSHA to report health and safety issues in maritime, construction, service and manufacturing workplaces.
Questions and concerns regarding asbestos safety in mining workplaces should be directed to the Technical Compliance and Investigations office of the Mine Safety and Health Administration at 1-202-693-9700.
Where to Find a Mesothelioma and Asbestos Attorney
Mesothelioma patients may not have been aware of the health risks at the time of their exposure to asbestos at work or while using asbestos products. In Bell vs. Dresser Industries Inc., one of the largest asbestos verdicts in the country, five men were unwittingly exposed to asbestos in the workplace. An 11-1 jury vote awarded the surviving men, and the estates of those deceased, a combined asbestos settlement of $130 million.
Choose an attorney with experience in asbestos law, preferably one experienced in dealing with mesothelioma patients. Ask for their case history, success rate, and references from prior mesothelioma victims.
In Canada, contact personal injury lawyers Greg Monforton & Partners in Windsor, Ontario, at 1-800-663-1145. In the United States, contact mesothelioma attorneys Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook & Brickman LLC, out of Charleston, South Carolina, at 1-888-293-6883.
American mesothelioma patients may also wish to contact New York/Connecticut firm Early, Ludwick & Sweeney LLC, creators of Mesothelioma.com, at 1-800-336-0086.
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