Mesothelioma Attorney in Gainesville

Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer of the membrane surrounding organs such as the lungs, heart, and stomach. According to the Mayo Clinic, pleural mesothelioma (affecting the lungs) and peritoneal mesothelioma (affecting the stomach) are the most common forms of the disease. Asbestos exposure earlier in life can cause mesothelioma.

Symptoms of mesothelioma of the lungs and abdomen can include:

• Cough
• Chest pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme tiredness
• Lumps of tissue under the skin (chest area)
• Night sweats
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain and swelling

Asbestos Exposure Can Cause Mesothelioma and Other Diseases

Asbestos is a natural mineral fiber known for its strength and fire-resistant properties, which made it a popular material used in the building and manufacturing industries. However, when tiny asbestos fibers are released in the air and breathed in, they can get lodged in our lungs and other organs, causing inflammation, scarring, and serious illness.

Besides mesothelioma, there are many other conditions and diseases linked to asbestos exposure, including:

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease that usually results in scarring of the lung tissue and breathing difficulties. Asbestosis is typically caused by long-term asbestos exposure. Symptoms generally appear many years after asbestos exposure and include:

• A persistent cough
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Chest pain

Asbestosis can put individuals at risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Cancer

Breathing in asbestos fibers can increase individuals’ risk of developing lung cancer. The greater the asbestos exposure, the more a person is at risk for developing lung cancer later in life. Asbestos exposure is also linked to the following cancers:

• Laryngeal cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Colon cancer

Pleural Effusion and Pleural Plaques

The pleura is the membrane around the lungs. Pleural effusion is a condition in which excess fluids around the lung cause shortness of breath and chest pain.

Pleural plaques usually develop several decades after asbestos exposure. They are generally benign and may not require medical treatment. However, while pleural plaques are usually not serious, individuals with the condition have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

In previous decades, asbestos was widely used in construction materials, commercial products, and household appliances. While most individuals only come into contact with small amounts of asbestos these days, those working with the substance can be exposed to large amounts over long periods.

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease. However, occupational asbestos exposure severely increases a person’s chance of developing asbestos exposure-related diseases such as mesothelioma and others. Risky occupations include, among others:

• Construction workers
• Firefighters
• Asbestos Miners
• Shipyard workers
• Manufacturing laborers
• Power plant workers
• Electricians and plumbers
• Car mechanics
• Military service
• Cement plant workers

If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma, asbestos exposure must have occurred at some point in the past. While most mesothelioma sufferers develop the disease after work exposure, some individuals come into contact with asbestos during home remodeling or when using a consumer product. A mesothelioma and asbestos exposure lawyer in Gainesville could determine the source of your asbestos exposure and help you hold the responsible party accountable.

Recovering adequate compensation can be a lifeline for mesothelioma sufferers and families who can face astronomical medical bills and ongoing care costs. If you or a loved one suffers from mesothelioma or another asbestos exposure-related illness, you could have several options for getting justice and compensation.

Depending on where your asbestos exposure occurred in Gainesville, you could receive compensation from an employer, the manufacturer of a dangerous product, or an asbestos trust fund.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

If you developed mesothelioma or another related disease due to your job or by using a defective consumer product, you could hold a company responsible for your damages.

Holding an Employer Accountable

To hold a previous or current employer to account for asbestos exposure, you may have to prove that they failed to protect you adequately from the deadly substance. For example, if an employer failed to provide protective clothing or monitor asbestos levels in your workplace, you could have a case against them.

Since proving an employer’s liability after decades can be tricky, consider consulting with a mesothelioma and asbestos exposure lawyer in Gainesville to help you hold an employer accountable.

Pursuing Damages From a Manufacturer

If you did not come into contact with asbestos during your career but developed mesothelioma, you could have a case against a product manufacturer. Even these days, asbestos can still be found, in traces, in consumer products such as:

• Cosmetics
• Baby powder
• Roof tiles
• Floor coverings
• Wallpaper

Moreover, in the past, asbestos was much more widely used and in higher concentrations than today. If you suffer from an asbestos-related illness, an attorney from our firm can help you shed light on where you came into contact with the substance. Knowing where your asbestos exposure occurred can be challenging, especially if it happened many years ago. However, identifying the source is necessary to hold the responsible party accountable for your damages.  

Wrongful Death Claim

If your loved one passed away due to an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, you could seek compensation. Close relatives, such as the spouse and children of the deceased, could qualify for damages, such as:

• Loss of income and benefits from the decedent
• Loss of companionship and parental guidance
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of inheritance

Our compassionate mesothelioma attorneys can walk you through your options and move forward with a wrongful death claim on your behalf.

Receiving Compensation From Asbestos Trust Funds

Even if you do not qualify for a personal injury lawsuit, you could be entitled to compensation from an asbestos trust fund. In the 1980s, when the dangers of asbestos became clear, the government required companies to set up trust funds to compensate workers exposed to the toxic substance at work. To receive a trust fund settlement, you must file a claim accompanied by the relevant medical evidence.

Filing a trust fund claim can be advantageous for those unable to file an individual lawsuit. However, unlike with a personal injury claim, where you seek specific damages, asbestos trust funds set their own settlement amounts. Therefore, what you can receive may or may not pay for all of your losses.  

Morgan & Morgan Is Here for You

Knowing what to do for the best when you or a loved one develops an asbestos-related disease can be challenging. Moreover, you are likely focused on finding medical treatment options and recovering. This is when our determined mesothelioma and asbestos exposure lawyers in Gainesville can step in and take some of the burdens off your shoulders.

We can analyze your specific case, liaise with your medical providers, and determine all avenues for recovering compensation. While you are recovering and healing, we can take care of all the legal aspects. Our lawyers could move forward with a trust fund claim or personal injury lawsuit and fight powerfully for what you deserve.

Fighting mesothelioma or another severe asbestos-related disease can be astronomically expensive. However, if someone else is responsible for your illness, you should not have to pay for your medical bills and other damages.  

Compensation will depend on your circumstances, such as your age and whether your illness prevents you from working. Generally, individuals suffering from asbestos-related diseases could recover the following damages and more:

• Past, present, and future medical expenses related to the condition
• Costs for caregivers
• Medical devices
• Rehabilitation expenses
• Lost wages and future expected loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of life enjoyment
• Permanent disability

We now know that most asbestos-related diseases do not show symptoms until many years or even decades later. While the statute for personal injury claims in Florida is generally four years, the time typically only starts ticking on the day that you discover your illness or receive an official diagnosis. Therefore, even if your asbestos exposure happened many decades ago, you could still qualify for a lawsuit.

However, when you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, do not wait too long before contacting an attorney for advice and help. Mesothelioma lawsuits can require a great deal of research and preparatory work, especially if you are unsure where your exposure to the toxic substance occurred.

The sooner you consult with our lawyers in Gainesville, the sooner you could receive compensation helping to secure your future and your family’s future.  

Our motivated mesothelioma lawyers could help you receive the settlement you deserve. We can:

• Identify where you were exposed to asbestos  
• Determine who is responsible
• Gather evidence to prove your asbestos exposure claim
• Hire expert witnesses to strengthen your case
• Negotiate a fair settlement with the at-fault party
• File an asbestos trust fund claim
• Take your case to trial and fight vigorously for the maximum possible compensation

When we take your case, you do not have to worry about being able to afford an attorney. You pay nothing unless and until we win and recover for you.

Apart from filing a personal injury lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claim, you could also have other options for recovery depending on your circumstances, such as workers’ compensation or veteran benefits.

Asbestos exposure qualifies as a work injury, which generally entitles victims to workers’ compensation benefits if they develop an asbestos-related disease. Workers’ compensation typically helps those with illnesses that develop sooner than mesotheliomas, such as lung cancer and asbestosis.

If your mesothelioma is connected to serving, you could qualify for veteran benefits. You may be eligible for VA disability compensation and VA health care, among other payments.

Morgan & Morgan understands that time is of the essence for those suffering from an incurable illness such as mesothelioma. However, it can be challenging to know at the outset how long it will take until you receive compensation. The timeframe will depend on your specific case and whether you file a trust fund claim or lawsuit. Some claimants receive a payout in just a few weeks, while others may have to wait a year or more to recover what they deserve.

If someone else is responsible for your asbestos-related disease, you deserve compensation that helps you pay for medical treatments and affords you to live with the dignity and comfort you deserve.

You do not have to struggle alone. Our mesothelioma and asbestos exposure lawyers in Gainesville can fight for full and fair compensation on your behalf. Contact us now for a free consultation to determine your next best steps.