By: Carol J. Gibbons, J.D.
So you are having difficulty in breathing and chest pain, or both. Maybe you are losing weight and have a fever. Could you have the flu, or could it be something much more insidious? Something called Mesothelioma!
The symptoms of Mesothelioma can be confused with so many other diseases, and the onset of this deadly form of lung cancer can occur even up to thirty (30) years after exposure to asbestos. And, Mesothelioma does not just visit itself upon the person directly exposed to asbestos but can also affect family members by secondary exposure. In fact, there have been over 100 identified deaths of family members from mesothelioma in the United States. Exposure to asbestos for as short a time period as one to two months may cause mesothelioma to develop 30+ years later. Exposure may have occurred in the workplace when handling asbestos fibers or materials composed of asbestos or at home just by living in the close quarters with asbestos.
Source: National Cancer Institute
Who will help you if you develop symptoms of Mesothelioma ten, fifteen or even thirty years later? Well, first you need a doctor and then you need a lawyer. You already have enough doctor bills, so you will want a lawyer who will cover the legal expenses until your case is settled. Unfortunately, some courts have determined that it isn’t ok for a lawyer to pay litigation costs up front and then get paid after the case is successfully concluded! Talk about adding insult to injury!
When a lawyer engages in this type of client contract it is based on a contingency fee, which is a fee paid to the lawyer ‘only if’ he successfully wins the case. So, basically all of the risk is with the lawyer and not the client. That is law at its best in my opinion. And, there is no ethics violation for this type of agreed upon contractual arrangement. I can see no rational reason why sick people should be denied access to their day in court!
For more information on Mesothelioma, the types and definitive list of symptoms please click here.
If you have been exposed to asbestos at any time, and you have any of the symptoms of mesothelioma, you should see your doctor for a definitive diagnosis. If you need legal advice regarding Mesothelioma, call Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys (800-956-0123) for a free, no obligation, consultation.