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Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Litigation

| Feb 15, 2010 | Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma and Asbestosis are both very serious conditions which can only be caused by direct contact with asbestos. Thousands of people are diagnosed every year with mesothelioma or asbestosis due to exposure to asbestos sometimes decades earlier.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, a protective lining over most of our organs. The most common site for this cancer to develop is in the lungs or abdominal cavity. Unlike other lung cancers, mesothelioma does not have any relation to smoking, but smoking does increase the risk of asbestos related cancers. A doctor may suspect mesothelioma and then confirm with a tissue biopsy.

Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs. Victims exposed to asbestos were unaware that they were breathing in very small fibers of asbestos. These fibers become trapped in the lungs and can not be expelled. The body will attack these foreign fibers in the body, but in so doing cause substantial damage to the lungs. Over time this condition leads to asbestosis.

Both of these serious and rare diseases are caused by direct contact with asbestos. Asbestos is an insulation material widely used throughout the early to mid 20th century. Rhode Island has suffered a sizable number of such cases because of the heavy use of asbestos at the shipyards of Electric Boat.

In early asbestos litigation it became clear that manufacturers of the material were aware of the dangers and chose to ignore safety over profits, not unlike cigarette companies. When it became clear that their negligence was going to cost thousands and thousands of lives, asbestos companies set up trusts with billions of dollars to help compensate the victims of mesothelioma and asbestosis.

My office in conjunction with other asbestos litigators can help you obtain the compensation you deserve if you have been diagnosed with one of these terrible diseases. It is critical to act quickly following this diagnosis. We need to conduct a thorough investigation of where and when you were exposed to asbestos so that we can identify the proper companies that may be liable for damages.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with either mesothelioma or asbestosis, contact our office right away for a free consultation.

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