Asbestos Attorneys Can Help You
If you have an asbestos-related disease, you should contact a mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA victims trust from Des Moines Injury Law, LLP for the legal support you require. The process of filing a claim can be a complicated and confusing process for someone without the proper legal training.
With decades of experience in representing asbestos and other personal injury clients, your mesothelioma lawyer in Des Moines, IA from Des Moines Injury Law, LLP will help you manage the number of steps that need to be taken throughout the process.
What are the Warning Signs for Asbestos Poisoning?
Asbestos has become more regulated in today’s society, than it ever has before. Even after major changes in building requirements, this material still presents a worrisome risk to the health of those exposed. Building materials that may have asbestos can be flooring, roofing, insulation, and more. Even around household items or certain products, asbestos could be present. While older buildings are more likely to have asbestos, it is important for the everyday person to be aware of this sneaky, and vicious fibre. Asbestos is especially threatening because it cannot be tasted, smelled or seen. And, once absorbed into the body through inhalation or ingestion, it remains and cannot be easily pushed out of our system.
Overtime, asbestos accumulates and can eventually cause very serious health illnesses. Someone that is exhibiting the following systems, may want to get an exam from their doctor immediately for suspicion of asbestos poisoning. If you have been diagnosed with asbestos exposure and a condition known as mesothelioma, please call a mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA trusts as soon as possible.
#1 Swollen Fingertips
About half of those diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses, have swollen fingertips as a symptom. This swelling may also be referred to as “clubbing”, where the tips of the fingers inflame and appear broader and rounder. Clubbing happens slowly and can go unnoticed until a friend or family member expresses concern about the fingers odd shape.
#2 Difficulty Breathing
When asbestos is inhaled, it can lead to scar tissue building up in your lungs causing shortness of breath. This scar tissue makes it more difficult for your lungs to permit full inhales and exhales. Trouble with breathing is typically one of the first signs of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma. A mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA has to offer can help you to determine whether or not compensation is available for this deadly condition.
#3 Extreme Tiredness
When combined with other symptoms, fatigue can be a sign of an asbestos-related illness. A person may experience extreme tiredness, in addition to swollen fingertips and trouble breathing.
#4 Wheezing
Wheezing is different than shortness of breath, in that a whistling sound occurs particularly when taking a big deep breath in. Wheezing is caused due to inflammation in the lungs. For those who do not smoke, wheezing may be an indicator of asbestos exposure.
#5 Unrelenting Dry Cough
After exposure, the effects may not be detectable for several years or even decades. A person who was around asbestos regularly and in high quantities for a period of time may not show symptoms until upwards of fifty years later. A person may develop an unrelenting, dry cough due to scar tissue building up in the lungs over time.
Are asbestos fibres more likely to be in my home, or workplace?
As a mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA provides, we have known of cases that involve asbestos found in large amounts in both the home and workplace. In fact, asbestos poisoning is a leading cause of occupational cancer for Americans. Exposure can lead to illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pleuritis, asbestosis, pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and peritoneal mesothelioma. If you live in an older home, asbestos may be present in:
- Refrigerators
- Range hoods
- Fireplace logs
- Freezers
- Insulation
- Recessed lighting
- Door gaskets
- Outlets
- Roofing and shingles
- Vinyl flooring
- Textured paint
- Head source covers
The above asbestos sources are not exhaustive. If you have been exposed to this deadly hazard, and now you’re facing medical problems, please reach out to a mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA community members trust from Des Moines Injury Law.
Proving Asbestos Exposure
When a person is exposed to asbestos, it can take decades before signs of asbestos-related diseases start to present themselves. You will need to seek advice from a medical professional in order to receive a diagnosis. Your doctor will likely run a series of tests depending on your symptoms. You will probably have to undergo testing that may include: physical exams, X-Rays, pulmonary function tests (PFT), and biopsies. Because it can take a long time before asbestos victims discover the illnesses, the statute of limitations will not start until a person is diagnosed.
Another important factor will include proving that you were exposed to asbestos. Depending on how and where you were exposed, there may be some research required in order to gather this information. This is a process that each mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA clients recommend from Des Moines Injury Law is all too familiar with.
Taking Care of Yourself After Exposure
If you were exposed to asbestos, illnesses related to exposure can take many years to present themselves. Knowing that you were exposed to asbestos can be hard to deal with. Although this is something beyond your control, there are steps you can take to stay ahead of any potential illnesses.
It will be important that you regularly work with your doctor so that symptoms can be managed effectively and efficiently. You will also need to stay attuned to your health by paying attention to any new symptoms and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The longer diseases such as mesothelioma or lung cancer go undetected, the fewer treatment options there will be available.
Collecting Damages
If you are an asbestos victim, you may be able to collect compensation for the asbestos-related disease that you suffer from. It’s probable that you financially suffered as a result of your diagnosis. Depending on the stage of cancer you have, your medical bills could vary. A mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA locals depend on can explain what damages you can pursue, but, in general, the following are the types of damages asbestos victims may be entitled to:
- Lost wages
- Past and future medical care
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses
- Any other expenses you receive due to your illness
Let a Mesothelioma Lawyer Des Moines, Iowa Families Rely on Help You
If you are suffering from illness related to asbestos, a Des Moines mesothelioma lawyer understands it’s likely that you have your hands full. Depending on your prognosis, you will be busy managing the treatments that are required for your health. Call us to schedule a risk-free consultation with a mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA provides from Des Moines Injury Law LLP to discuss your case.
What to Expect From an Asbestos Lawsuit
After you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos, one of the first thoughts you may have is whether you are able to recover any sort of compensation for an illness you may be suffering from. Especially when the exposure was years ago, you might not be sure what to expect. However, when you discover that you are suffering from an illness directly linked to asbestos exposure, a Des Moines IA mesothelioma lawyer at Des Moines Injury Law, LLP want you to understand your legal rights and want to help you recover compensation. These kinds of cases can become complicated quickly, especially when the exposure was decades ago and when the company who manufactured the product or who has the product is no longer in business. While complicated, it is still possible to recover compensation. Speak with Des Moines IA mesothelioma lawyer today to see how we can help you with your case.
Is there a statute of limitations for suing?
Many people are hesitant to pursue any legal action at all because they think they will not be able to recover anything since the asbestos exposure happened so long ago. In fact, many people who suffer from mesothelioma after asbestos exposure don’t even show signs of this illness until around 10 years after the exposure. In some cases, it can take much longer for any signs or symptoms to show up. Thankfully, many state laws take this into account and do not start the clock based on when you were exposed. Instead, you likely have anywhere between 1 and 5 years to file a lawsuit after you discover the illness/after a doctor has diagnosed you with the illness. You can speak with a Des Moines IA mesothelioma lawyer from our firm to determine what the state’s laws are on this.
What if a family member is the one who suffered from asbestos exposure?
In some cases, a family member is the one who was exposed to asbestos and died because of an illness directly caused by the exposure. When this is the case, speak with a mesothelioma lawyer in Des Moines IA to see how we can help you recover compensation on their behalf. The statute of limitations, in this case, is usually shorter.
What kind of compensation can I expect to receive?
As with any injury or illness claim, we cannot guarantee our clients any set dollar amount as we pursue your claim (and be wary of any law firm who guarantees you a certain amount). Many companies who manufactured products with asbestos have already shut down or gone bankrupt, thus they have set aside certain funds to compensate victims who are suffering from illnesses related to their products. When this is the case, they may only have a certain amount left in their funds and thus a settlement could be lower.
Additionally, your compensation award is also determined by your illness and how it affects your life. It may be:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Lost future wages
There are many factors that come into play with asbestos-related cases, and it is important to speak with a mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines IA victims trust as soon as possible to discuss your case. For more information, please call Des Moines Injury Law, LLP today.
Multiple reports over the past several years claimed that the number of deaths from mesothelioma was decreasing, but a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) contradicts those reports, concluding that the number of mesothelioma deaths has actually increased.
According to the data compiled by the CDC, there were more than 45,000 people who died from malignant mesothelioma during a fifteen year period. The data shows that the number of victims increased each year during that time period. On average, approximately 2,500 victims are dying each year from mesothelioma.
At Johnston Martineau, PLLP, we understand how devastating the diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness can be for a victim and their family. Call our office to meet with one of our mesothelioma lawyers in Des Moines, IA and learn how we may be able to help get you the financial damages you deserve.
Asbestos-Related Illness
For years, asbestos was heralded as an incredible building material which could prevent the spreading of fires, thereby keeping buildings – and those inside – safer. Asbestos was used in multi-family homes, commercial buildings, schools, and other structures.
Asbestos was used in building products for decades, even though there was evidence that it caused malignant cancers. It wasn’t until the early 1970’s – more than 30 years after the links to cancer were discovered – that asbestos was finally banned.
Certain occupations have reported high rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-cancers, including construction workers, building demolition, machinists, and mechanics. Railroad workers are particularly susceptible to mesothelioma because of all the asbestos they were exposed to for years. If you were working in an industry that used asbestos, and you have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, please call the mesothelioma lawyers in Des Moines, IA from Johnston Martineau, PLLP.
Asbestos was used in multiple products that railroad workers used and were exposed to every single day, including insulation for brake shoes, ceilings, gaskets, and steam pipes. Railroad workers also routinely handled sheets of asbestos, cutting and fitting the sheets onto items that they were repairing. Workers had no idea they were being exposed every day to such deadly material. But railroad officials knew and for decades, and as the right mesothelioma lawyers in Des Moines, IA might explain to you, they put profits over the lives of their workers.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases that victims can develop years after they have been exposed to asbestos include:
- Asbestosis
- COPD
- Diffuse pleural thickening
- Laryngeal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Pleural plaques
Contact a Des Moines, IA Mesothelioma Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related cancers or conditions, it is critical that you do not delay in contacting a mesothelioma lawyer Des Moines, IA families can count on because of the stringent statute of limitations that are in place for filing a claim.
The mesothelioma lawyers in Des Moines, IA, from Des Moines Injury Law, have extensive experience in representing victims suffering from asbestos-related conditions. We understand how devastating a diagnosis of mesothelioma is and have earned a solid reputation for our compassion for victims and their families, as well as our aggressive advocacy to get them the financial compensation they deserve.
Call our office today for a free and confidential consultation. Our personal injury firm has extensive legal experience representing victims who have been injured by asbestos exposure and developing mesothelioma. Our legal team will work diligently to get you the financial compensation you deserve for the losses you and your family have suffered.
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