Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis or another asbestos-related medical condition can be devastating news for patients and their families. While mesothelioma is a rare type of lung cancer, it is well-known for being incurable and connected to exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma victims often look back on their careers and lifestyles to try and determine where the exposure came from and why the condition formed in the first place. Often times, asbestos exposure occurs because the victim worked in an environment contaminated by asbestos, handled products made with asbestos, and was not told about the dangers of coming in contact with the material.
Courts in the U.S. have handed down thousands of significant awards to mesothelioma victims and their families to compensate them for the harm suffered due to asbestos exposure. In asbestos mesothelioma lawsuits there may be several parties that can be held responsible for their roles in the victims suffering injuries.
Employer Responsibility for Mesothelioma
Depending on the state, companies that knew or should have known that their workers were being exposed to asbestos can be sued for not warning employees about the dangers they faced. Many decades ago, industrial workers often used equipment or went into work environments containing asbestos.
The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration sets very strict standards for how much asbestos workers may be exposed to. Additionally, there are certain asbestos operations that employers must monitor under federal laws to ensure the employees are not placed in undue harm.
Asbestos Products Liability Lawsuits
Decades ago, asbestos was common in many industrial applications because it can withstand extreme temperatures. Asbestos was found in insulation aboard naval vessels, in brake parts, and used in carpentry and construction settings.
Juries have ruled time and time again for plaintiffs finding the asbestos product manufacturers knew for decades that their products were harmful but continued to put them in the stream of commerce and risk people’s health and safety. Depending on the nature of the exposure, numerous companies can potentially be held responsible for an individual developing mesothelioma.
I was Exposed to Asbestos Decades Ago, Can I Still File a Claim?
Courts across the country have ruled the statute of limitations to file a mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit begins when the victim discovers his or her diagnosis, not when the exposure occurred. The time deadlines to file a lawsuit vary from state to state but do not begin until the person actually finds out he or she has mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
Mesothelioma takes decades to develop after exposure to asbestos and victims might not make the connection between their medical condition and the work they did in their younger years. It is also an aggressive disease so diagnosis and treatment should begin as early as possible.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyers
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma and need legal help, contact the nationwide mesothelioma lawyers of The Throneberry Law Group for a free consultation. Our attorneys will work hard to get you and your family the compensation you deserve.