If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer related to asbestos exposure, your life has likely been turned upside down. Concerns about undergoing treatment, missing weeks of work, and expensive medical bills can cause an unbearable amount of stress. Unfortunately, for many people the stress of a cancer diagnosis is enough to prevent them from doing the one thing that could have a huge impact on their lives: filing a lawsuit. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a mesothelioma cancer lawyer in New York may be able to help. I’ll tell you more about who is eligible to file a lawsuit and how a lawyer can assist you below.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancerous tumor that forms in the lungs, abdomen, or heart. The first noticeable symptoms are shortness of breath and chest pain. While cancer treatments like surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy can improve quality of life, mesothelioma is incredibly lethal: patients tend to live for no more than a year after they are diagnosed.
According to the American Cancer Society, 8 out of 10 mesothelioma diagnoses are connected to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a well-known carcinogen that is unsafe regardless of the amount inhaled. Usually, however, mesothelioma emerges after long-term exposure to high levels of asbestos. The disease is often caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers.
Asbestos exposure can occur after using a product that contains it, or working somewhere where asbestos exists. If you think your cancer may have been caused by exposure to asbestos, contacting a New York mesothelioma cancer lawyer at Buttafuoco & Associates may be in your best interest. Our experienced team can help you build your case so you and your family can focus on your health.
When Can I File a Lawsuit?
Mesothelioma lawsuits are entirely within the realm of possibility, as long as you have the documentation to prove it. First, you will need to have evidence from your cancer treatment center showing that you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. This could include any medical records and reports that describe your diagnosis and treatment. In addition, you must document your history of exposure to asbestos. This could include employment records showing that asbestos was found in your workplace, testimony of your own and/or others about the exposure, and any other official records regarding your exposure. The best way to ensure that you properly build a case is to work with a mesothelioma attorney in New York. At Buttafuoco & Associates, we have successfully handled many such cases. To tell us more about your situation, call 1-800-NOW-HURT.
Types of Mesothelioma Lawsuits
There are many types of mesothelioma lawsuit types. Personal injury lawsuits are common if a company failed to warn you about asbestos in a product or workplace. For example, recently Johnson & Johnson has been under significant scrutiny for failing to reveal to consumers that their talcum powder contained the dangerous carcinogen.
If a family member died after a mesothelioma diagnosis that a company was responsible for, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit to cover their medical and funeral expenses, as well as income they lost due to their illness. Likewise, if someone passes away before their lawsuit concludes, the family or estate can receive compensation. As you can imagine, these cases are incredibly complicated, so working with a lawyer is the most promising course of action.
How a Mesothelioma Attorney in New York Can Help
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, working with an attorney can help you get necessary compensation to cover expensive medical bills, lost time from work, and other expenses incurred while you are ill. While hiring an attorney may sound complicated, in reality it can alleviate a significant amount of stress as your legal team will personally investigate and gather evidence in support of your case. This way, you can focus on your recovery.
If you would like to learn more about how a lawyer can help, call Buttafuoco & Associates at 1-800-NOW-HURT.
