When you have been exposed to asbestos because of a company’s negligence, you may not experience the symptoms of mesothelioma for years or even decades after your exposure. This can be particularly scary because you may not realize that you even need treatment for this exposure until well after it has already done severe damage. Unfortunately, asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma—a fatal disease—but you should not have to worry about whether you or your family will pay for the medical expenses. Instead, you should contact an attorney to see how he or she can help you with your mesothelioma claim.
What is mesothelioma?
People most often hear of mesothelioma when they hear about asbestos exposure. This is because mesothelioma is one of the most common diseases you can get after you have been exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a treacherous disease that attacks different parts of your body, including the linings of your lungs and chest. It is also possible to get pleural mesothelioma that causes significant amounts of scarring of lung tissue, and even peritoneal mesothelioma which can begin attacking the lining in your abdomen.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
The symptoms of mesothelioma can crop up as late as two, three, or more decades after you were initially exposed to asbestos. You will likely notice different breathing problems such as:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
If you are dealing with mesothelioma that attacks your abdomen lining, you will likely see symptoms in the form of digestive problems, like:
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling
- Weight loss
- Bowel issues
Where do people encounter asbestos?
Unfortunately, even though asbestos was banned from buildings and materials in the late 20th century, it is still possible to come into contact with asbestos today. Many buildings have vinyl tiles or heating ducts that contain asbestos, though you are likely not at great risk for asbestos exposure unless the materials themselves are damaged in any way. This can cause asbestos fibers to become airborne. If you worked in the construction, shipbuilding, or plumbing industry prior to the 1980s, it is also highly likely that you came into contact with asbestos regularly. Even if you did not work in any of these industries, many Americans encountered airborne asbestos through second-hand exposure, whether it was because they lived or worked near to shipbuilding yards, factories or asbestos mines. It is even possible to get mesothelioma if your spouse worked in an industry where the asbestos fibers could cling to their clothes.
If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, trust a skilled attorney, like a personal injury attorney from Yearin Law Office, to build evidence for your case so that you can get the compensation you deserve and the treatment that you need. For more information on how a lawyer can help, contact a law firm as soon as possible.