Glendale Mesothelioma Lawyer

Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma?

As you discuss treatment with doctors and how this diagnosis will affect you and your family, you should consider calling an experienced Glendale mesothelioma lawyer for a free legal consultation.

The licensed attorneys at Phillips Law Group may be able to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for Arizona injury victims for nearly 30 years. Our founder Jeff Phillips was selected as a member of the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 each year from 2014 to 2019.

Your consultation is entirely free, and you are not under an obligation to take legal action. If we find you have a case and you hire our firm, we do not charge upfront fees. We do not get paid unless you do.

You can call us anytime, 24/7 1-800-706-3000 or fill out aFree case evaluation form.

Do I Have a Valid Case?

This is a very difficult question to answer without discussing your situation in a free legal consultation. There are many factors to consider when trying to determine if someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma may have a viable case.

These factors could include:

  • Documentation you may have about your work history, particularly anything that establishes when you worked for different employers
  • Things you remember about your work history, such as when you may have worked with asbestos-containing materials, or worked near others who handled these materials
  • Whether others have already come forward to obtain compensation from your previous employer
  • Evidence that has already been found that may show your previous employer used products with asbestos

It is important to contact one of our Glendale mesothelioma lawyers as soon as possible to discuss your situation in detail. We can determine if you may have legal options.

Contact us today to learn how we may be able to help.

Valuing Your Mesothelioma Case

Our attorneys may be able to pursue many different forms of compensation in a mesothelioma claim. The types of compensation that may be available depend on the specifics of your claim.

You or your loved one could be eligible for compensation for:

  • Palliative care
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation
  • Surgery
  • Testing, such as MRIs
  • Physical pain
  • Loss of wages
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Emotional suffering (depression, anxiety, stress, etc.)
  • Medical equipment to help with any loss of mobility from your treatment or the progression of the disease

You or your loved one could pass away as your case makes its way through the legal process. If this happens, our Glendale mesothelioma lawyers may be able to pursue wrongful death compensation, which could include:

  • Loss of companionship
  • Funeral costs
  • Lost care
  • Lost guidance
  • Loss of services
  • Mental anguish
  • Loss of retirement and insurance benefits

There is no cap on the amount of compensation an injury victim can recover in Arizona. The state does not have caps on damages like some other states. If you have a case, our attorneys may be able to pursue the full value of your damages.

Complete a Free Case Evaluationform today to discuss compensation you may be eligible to pursue.

Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Attorney

The main benefit of having one of our experienced attorneys representing you is that he or she can handle the entire legal process on your behalf. We do this so you can focus on medical treatment and being with your family.

There are many aspects of the legal process we are ready to manage for you, if you have a case, including:

Investigating Your Old Employer(s)

Your employer cannot be held liable unless we can prove they used materials that contained asbestos and knew or should have known it was dangerous. This can be very difficult because your old employer may have gone out of business ”“ people are often diagnosed with mesothelioma decades after being exposed to asbestos.

You need an experienced attorney who knows where to look for this information to have a chance of building a strong case. We know where to look for this information, including who to request this information from.

Negotiating for Compensation

Many injury claims are resolved via settlements. In a mesothelioma case, this may mean agreeing to a settlement with an asbestos bankruptcy trust. These were set up by companies that have been sued numerous times by those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Sometimes settlements occur as both sides are preparing to go to trial.

Our Glendale mesothelioma lawyers are prepared to negotiate on your behalf. We know how to determine the fair value of a mesothelioma claim. We are ready to go to trial if necessary, so we will not accept lowball offers from the other side.

We can discuss other parts of the legal process and answer your questions in a free consultation.

Deadline for Taking Legal Action

There is a deadline for taking legal action in Arizona known as the statute of limitations. If the statute of limitations passes and your attorney has not filed a claim, you may lose the right to pursue compensation. This is why it is so important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after learning of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Generally, personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date the victim is aware he or she can take legal action. Wrongful death claims also have a two-year deadline, which is two years from the victim’s death.

However, there can be exceptions to these deadlines. For example, if your claim is against a government entity, you must file it within 180 days of your diagnosis.

Our Glendale mesothelioma lawyers can determine the deadlines that may apply to your claim. The clock is ticking so it is important to contact us right away.

Reach us by phone: 1-800-706-3000

Liability for a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

This is a common question people have when they think about taking legal action for their mesothelioma diagnosis.

In many cases, the victim’s employer could potentially be held liable for the diagnosis. Employers have a legal obligation to maintain a safe work environment, warn workers about possible dangers, and provide safety training.

It is important to note there could be other entities that may be liable for someone’s mesothelioma diagnosis, such as:

  • Property owners ”“ For example, maybe a contractor was exposed to asbestos while working on residential or commercial property. Contractors could have also been exposed on government property, such as a school or municipal building.
  • Product manufacturers ”“ Companies that made asbestos-containing products could potentially be liable for making unsafe products. Thousands of products used to contain asbestos, so many manufacturers could potentially have liability.
  • Mining companies ”“ Asbestos was mined, and this could have resulted in asbestos particles becoming airborne, putting workers and those who lived nearby at risk for exposure.

Steps to Take After Receiving a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

There is a lot of fear and uncertainty that comes with learning you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. One of the most common questions from people in this situation is what to do next.

Here are some steps that may be helpful after receiving this devastating news:

Get a Second Opinion

Mesothelioma is a rare disease so many doctors are not very familiar with what it looks like. This is why you may want to get a second opinion from another doctor who treats this condition. Another doctor may find you have a different disease or be able to give you more information about treatment options.

Learn More About the Disease

It is important to learn more about the disease so you and your loved ones know what to expect, particularly symptoms of the disease and symptoms you may suffer during treatment.

It is also important for doctors to learn more about your condition through tests and other interventions.

Determine Your Course of Treatment

Even though the prognosis for this disease is not good, there are treatment options available. Even if treatment will not change the outcome, it may help to alleviate symptoms and possibly improve quality of life. The most common treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

There are multiple hospitals in Phoenix that treat patients with mesothelioma, including:

Get Help Dealing with Symptoms and Treatment

People may not realize there are ways to deal with respiratory symptoms. For example, you can work with a respiratory therapist to improve your breathing.

You may also want to learn more about good nutrition or meet with a dietician. Good nutrition is very important for preparing yourself for treatment and dealing with aftereffects. Dieticians can also help you if you have been losing weight without trying to.

Create Your Support System

This is a time when you need to be able to lean on family members and close friends, because there will be so many physical and emotional challenges. For example, mesothelioma patients are often fatigued from doctor visits and just doing routine tasks they used to take for granted. They may need help with things like cooking meals and doing things around the house.

Contact a Qualified Lawyer

An important part of dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis is exploring possible legal options. Our Glendale mesothelioma lawyers may be able to pursue compensation for your medical bills and other damages.

However, there is limited time to act, so it is important to contact us as soon as possible.

Call us today at 1-800-706-3000 .

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, which is the thin layer of tissue covering most of your internal organs.

This form of cancer is most often caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Once inhaled, these fibers can be trapped in the mesothelium and eventually cause this condition to develop, often decades after the initial exposure to asbestos.

There are different types of mesothelioma depending on where the asbestos fibers travel in the body.

What are the Different Types of Mesothelioma?

There are several types of mesothelioma, according to the American Cancer Society. These include:

  • Pleural mesothelioma ”“ This type of mesothelioma affects the chest and lungs. It is the most commonly diagnosed form of mesothelioma.
  • Peritoneal mesothelioma ”“ This makes up a much smaller percentage of mesothelioma cases. It starts in the abdomen and can get into the liver or spleen.
  • Pericardial mesothelioma ”“ This is a very rare form of the disease that is in the membrane around the heart.
  • Testicular mesothelioma ”“ This occurs when the lining of the testicles develops cancer.
  • Epithelioid mesothelioma ”“ This form of mesothelioma affects the epithelioid cells. This is generally more responsive to treatment.
  • Sarcomatoid mesothelioma ”“ This affects the sarcomatoid cells, which are more resistant to treatment.
  • Biphasic mesothelioma ”“ This affects both sarcomatoid and epithelioid cells.

Mesothelioma Symptoms to Watch for

There are several symptoms of mesothelioma to watch for, particularly if you believe you were exposed to asbestos at some point in the past. These can include:

  • Pain the abdomen
  • Swelling of the abdomen
  • Weight loss you cannot explain
  • Feeling nauseous
  • Painful coughs
  • Pain in your chest
  • Lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest
  • Fever
  • Obstruction of your bowels

If you discover these or any other possible mesothelioma symptoms, you should seek the opinion of a qualified doctor right away. The sooner you catch the mesothelioma, the better the prognosis may end up being.

If doctors diagnose mesothelioma, you can contact our Glendale mesothelioma lawyers right away for a free legal consultation.

Call 1-800-706-3000 .

Differences Between Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer. The main difference is lung cancer involves tumors in the lung itself. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, which is around internal organs, like the heart, lungs, kidney, stomach and liver.

Another major difference is how mesothelioma attacks healthy cells. There is little separation between healthy and unhealthy tissues. This is what makes this condition so difficult to treat. Chemotherapy and radiation are often more effective when tumors can be isolated within an organ, which is much more difficult with mesothelioma.

High-Risk Jobs for Asbestos Exposure

Many different industries put workers at high risk for exposure to asbestos and asbestos-related illness. This includes:

  • Construction (commercial and residential)
  • Manufacturing
  • Auto repair
  • Shipbuilding
  • Chemical processing
  • Industrial power plants
  • U.S. Navy
  • Petroleum refining
  • Architecture
  • Engineering
  • Mineral excavation and manufacturing

Some of the specific job titles of those who may have been exposed to asbestos include:

  • Chemical engineer
  • Welder
  • Brick masons
  • Painters
  • Insulators
  • Drywall installers
  • Boilermaker
  • Machinist
  • Shipyard worker
  • Sailor
  • Sheet metal worker
  • Electrician
  • Auto mechanic
  • Stationary engineer
  • Millwright
  • Pipe layer
  • Plumber
  • Pipefitter
  • Steamfitter

There are numerous workplaces throughout Arizona where workers could have been exposed to asbestos, particularly power plants. This includes:

  • Ari-Zonolite
  • Chandler Power Plant
  • Luke Air Force Base
  • Good Samaritan Hospital
  • R. Grace/Solomon Mines
  • Metate Asbestos Corp.
  • American Asbestos Cement Corporation
  • Tucson Gas & Electric Company
  • Apache Mine
  • Phillips Asbestos Mine

If you worked at one of these places, or in one of the jobs mentioned above, you could have been exposed to asbestos. If you notice any symptoms, you should immediately seek medical treatment to find out if you have contracted an asbestos-linked disease.

Call our Glendale mesothelioma lawyers to discuss possible legal options. Call 1-800-706-3000 .

Claims Against Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts

If our attorneys determine you may have a case, one of the things we need to find out is if there is an asbestos bankruptcy trust we can file a claim against. These trusts were set up by companies that were sued by a lot of former employees over asbestos-linked diseases.

There are numerous companies that have set up these trusts, such as:

  • Armstrong World Industries
  • ASARCO LLC
  • Combustion Engineering
  • Eagle-Pitcher Industries
  • Harbison Walker Refractories Company
  • Johns Manville
  • Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corp.
  • National Gypsum
  • Owens Corning Fibreboard

Filing a claim with an asbestos bankruptcy trust is like filing a lawsuit without a trial. You still need to establish you have an asbestos-related illness and it was caused by exposure to asbestos. Our attorneys may need to provide your medical records and records of your work history, but it depends on the trust.

Once claims are submitted to the trust, they are reviewed by the trustees. They have certain criteria they look at to determine if money should be paid out. After that, the trustees may make an offer, and your attorney can try to negotiate.

Your eligibility for filing a claim with an asbestos trust is something we can discuss in a free legal consultation.

Can Mesothelioma be Cured?

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for mesothelioma. It may be possible to treat the cancer and have it go into remission.

Like most cancers, the prognosis is better the earlier it is detected. The problem with mesothelioma is that it often goes undiagnosed until the later stages when people begin experiencing symptoms.

While each patient is different, those who have peritoneal mesothelioma often survive longer than those who have pleural mesothelioma.

Your doctor can explain your prognosis in detail, along with possible treatment options and the chances of treatment pushing the cancer into remission.

Contact a Glendale Mesothelioma Attorney

You need to be focused on your medical treatment and spending time with your family, not the legal process. This is why it is important to hire an experienced attorney who can manage the legal process on your behalf.

We welcome the chance to assist you during this difficult time. Contact us today to set up your free legal consultation and find out more about how we may be able to help. There are no upfront fees and our attorneys do not get paid unless our clients receive compensation.

Our office is in Phoenix, about a half hour from the Glendale City Court. However, if you cannot come to us, we can come to you. Injury victims can also contact our firm anytime, 24/7 via phone or our online case review form.

We are here to discuss your potential case. Call 1-800-706-3000 or complete aFree Case Evaluationform.