Malignant Mesothelioma Legal Rights
Malignant mesothelioma lawsuits fall into the category of asbestos litigation and have been on the rise since asbestos was regulated under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (1970). Between 1994 and 2002, the number of malignant mesothelioma lawsuits filed increased each year, with 2002 having twice the number of mesothelioma claims filed as 1994.
There are several reasons believed to be responsible for the sharp rise in the number of mesothelioma lawsuits filed, the most notable being increased media attention and public awareness and the information science revolution; although malignant mesothelioma continues to be a somewhat unknown disease because of the fact that it is relatively rare.
Mesothelioma Lawyers
Mesothelioma lawyers are specialized asbestos attorneys who focus their talents towards the litigation of malignant mesothelioma lawsuits. Asbestos lawyers provide legal aid to all peoples suffering from asbestos-related diseases, whereas mesothelioma lawyers only provide legal aid to those afflicted with malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma lawyers can help claimants get the proverbial "ball rolling" in regards to their mesothelioma lawsuit by filing the claim before the statutory deadline passes. When a mesothelioma lawsuit is filed as an injury claim, the statutory deadline falls several months after a conclusive mesothelioma diagnosis is made. When a mesothelioma lawsuit is filed as a wrongful death asbestos claim, the statutory deadline falls shortly after the claimant's death. Wrongful death asbestos claims are to be filed by the claimant's executor of estate.
Mesothelioma lawyers can also help to determine all parties liable for your contracting malignant mesothelioma in addition to locating the source of asbestos exposure. This can be an extremely difficult task considering the fact that malignant mesothelioma is a latent disease that can take anywhere from 30 to 40 years to fully develop and become symptomatic. Mesothelioma lawyers hire specialists who are adept at such a task.
The Internet is an excellent resource through which to find mesothelioma lawyers and get more information about mesothelioma victims' right to compensation. Search engines allow Internet users to target searches for a specific location and disease. For example, if someone living in California has contracted malignant mesothelioma, the search would be for California mesothelioma lawyers, or California mesothelioma law firms. Searches can be even more targeted to include California pleural mesothelioma lawyers, or Los Angeles mesothelioma lawyers.
Malignant Mesothelioma Information
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the mesothelial tissue lining of three of the body's largest cavities: the pleura (lung cavity), the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (heart sac). Malignant mesothelioma can affect any of the aforementioned sections of mesothelial tissue and is therefore found in three distinct forms:
- Pleural mesothelioma: the most common type of malignant mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma is often confused with viral pneumonia because of symptomatic similarities between the two.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma: the second most common type of malignant mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is often confused with bowel irregularities.
- Pericardial mesothelioma: the least common type of malignant mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma causes cancerous growth in the tissue surrounding the heart.
Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of malignant mesothelioma, though the carcinogenic mineral is responsible for a variety of other diseases including asbestos lung cancer, asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening and fibrosis. There are 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of malignant mesothelioma reported each year in the United States alone where asbestos has been regulated for over 30-years. The disease is believed responsible for an estimated 200,000 deaths worldwide.