Florida Mesothelioma / Asbestos Attorneys
If you have recently been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you may have a legal claim for personal injury.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that has only been found in those who have been exposed to asbestos. It is not hereditary, and it is not caused by poor lifestyle choices. The only established cause of the disease is asbestos exposure.
There are two types of mesothelioma:
Pleural mesothelioma – the most common. Asbestos fibers are breathed in, travel through the lung and become lodged in the pleura - the thin, saran wrap-type membrane that lines and encases the lung. The process of irritation from the infiltration of the asbestos fibers creates changes in the mesothelial cells.
Peritoneal mesothelioma – less common. This is cancer of the membrane that encompasses the lining of the abdomen.
Unfortunately, there is a very long latency period associated with exposure to asbestos and the cancer it causes. This period can be 10 years, and even as long as 60 years after exposure. If you were exposed to asbestos on the job 40 or 50 years ago, you may just be experiencing the symptoms of mesothelioma now.
The companies that manufactured asbestos knew they were placing people at risk. Alternatives to asbestos were available, but they were not used. Asbestos was readily available and cheap, and it was a good filler and binder. Asbestos was used in products from the 1920’s through the 1970’s and 1980’s, until most of these products were banned in the United States and abroad.
If you worked in any of the following occupations, you may have been exposed to asbestos:
| Machinists |
Painters |
| Lathers |
Plasterers |
| Insulators |
Roofers |
| Welders |
Electricians |
| Millwrights |
Carpenters |
| Pipefitters |
Cement Finishers |
| Brake Mechanics |
Foundry Workers |
| Auto Mechanics |
Tapers |
| Navy Personnel |
Plumbers |
| Sailors |
Inspectors |
| Merchant Marine Seamen |
Bricklayers |
| Navy Yard Workers |
Masonry Workers |
| Longshoremen |
Pipe Coverers |
| Paperworkers |
Crane Operators |
| Boilermakers |
Plantworkers |
| Powerhouse Workers |
Sheetmetal Workers |
| Railroad Workers |
Tapers |
| Papermill Workers |
Steamfitters |
| Aircraft Mechanics |
|
The symptoms of Pleural mesothelioma are pleural
effusions (an accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest
cavity), shortness of breath, chest or back pain, chronic hoarseness, difficulty
swallowing, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and arms, fever, muscle
weakness and sensory loss and nausea.
The symptoms of Peritoneal mesothelioma are pain or
swelling of the abdomen, bowel obstruction, weight loss / anemia, the presence
of tumors in the peritoneal tissues, frequency in urination, night sweats, fever
and loss of muscle tissue.
If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you should
contact a doctor immediately. You should also contact a Florida (FL)
mesothelioma attorney who can advise you of your legal rights. If you have lost
a loved one to mesothelioma, you may have a claim for wrongful death. Consult a
Florida mesothelioma lawyer to better understand your legal situation. Often,
the initial attorney consultation is free, and your attorney will help advise
you of your options, while ensuring your legal rights are protected.
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