Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer that often causes death within approximately a year of being diagnosed. Symptoms often do not show up until the disease has progressed to later stages.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, compensation may be available for damages, including the cost of medical treatment, pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity. Pursuing compensation for a mesothelioma diagnosis is complicated, which is why you should consider seeking legal representation.
The experienced legal team at Phillips Law Group has been recovering fair compensation for Arizona injury victims for nearly 30 years. Award-winning founding partner Jeffrey Phillips has served as lead counsel in more than 40 jury trials and obtained verdicts in several Arizona counties.
The consultation with our attorneys is free of charge. We also do not get paid unless our clients receive compensation.
Learn more. Call Phillips Law Group today. Free consultation. Ph: 602-222-2222
How Can I Be Sure If I Have a Case?
There are many factors to take into consideration when determining if a claim may be valid. If you take advantage of our free consultation you can learn more about whether you may have a case for compensation. Some of the information we may consider includes:
- Information about former employers, including the years worked and their location
- Specific details about the type of work you did, where it took place and when you may have handled materials that contained asbestos
- Any known information about former co-workers who have already filed a mesothelioma claim
- Any evidence you may be aware of that establishes a former employer used materials containing asbestos
Call one of our qualified mesothelioma lawyers to discuss the circumstances of your diagnosis and possible legal action. We do not charge for this free review, and we also do not collect any upfront fees if we represent you. No payment is due unless we achieve a favorable verdict for you.
Get started with ourFree Case Evaluation formor call 602-222-2222 today.
What is the Value of My Mesothelioma Case?
Placing a dollar amount on a mesothelioma claim is difficult because there are many factors that go into determining its value.
In general, the types of compensation you could be eligible for may include:
- Loss of wages
- Any testing required
- Palliative care
- Chemotherapy and radiation treatments
- Surgical interventions
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, stress and more
- Medical mobility equipment you may need as the disease progresses
- Physical pain
If you have a loved one with a mesothelioma diagnosis who passes away during his or her lawsuit, our qualified Prescott mesothelioma attorneys may be able to recover wrongful death damages, which may include:
- Loss of companionship
- Burial costs and other funeral expenses
- Final medical bills of the deceased
- Future lost financial support, including wages and benefits if the deceased had survived
- Pain and suffering the decedent endured before passing
- The value of the loss of household services performed by the deceased
- Loss of care and guidance
- Mental anguish
Call Phillips Law Group today. 602-222-2222
Who May Be Liable for My Diagnosis?
When considering who may be liable for exposing workers to asbestos, an individual may have to go back many years in his or her employment history. This is one reason why it can be very important to hire an experienced lawyer who knows how to find out if old employers were using asbestos-containing materials. The attorneys at Phillips Law Group know where to look for this information, which can be very difficult to find because old employers may have gone out of business
However, our attorneys know old employers are not the only ones who may have liability for a mesothelioma diagnosis. Other potentially liable parties could include:
- Private property owners
- Government entities that owned buildings containing asbestos
- Commercial property owners
- The Armed Forces
- Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products
- Mining companies
Are There Any Deadlines for Filing a Claim?
Arizona does have a filing deadline if you intend to pursue a claim for compensation. The time period for filing a lawsuit is two years from the date you discover you have a valid mesothelioma case.
There is also recourse for survivors of a mesothelioma victim to pursue a wrongful death claim on his or her behalf. The statute of limitations is two years from the date the victim passed away.
There may be some rare exceptions to the two-year deadline. For example, if the negligent party is a government entity, notice of claim must be filed within 180 days of the diagnosis.
At Phillips Law, we have detailed knowledge of the laws that apply to these claims. We are ready to assist you.
What are the Benefits of Hiring an Attorney?
The legal process is complicated and involves many steps. Building a robust case takes a detailed investigation and understanding of how to validate a case.
This is not something most injury victims have the time or resources to deal with. This is particularly true when the victim has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and needs to deal with treatment that can be extremely debilitating.
You should consider talking to an attorney about how he or she could assist you throughout the legal process. The Prescott mesothelioma lawyers at Phillips Law Group are prepared to manage the investigation and filing of a claim, whether we are filing a lawsuit or a claim with an asbestos bankruptcy trust. These were set up by companies to deal with mesothelioma claims by former employees. We have many years of experience negotiating for fair compensation and a proven record of recovering fair compensation for our clients.
Common Types of Mesothelioma
When someone inhales asbestos fibers, they become embedded in the lining of the lungs. Over many years, these fibers develop into tumors in the lungs and chest and can cause mesothelioma.
There are many different types of mesothelioma. The four most common include:
Pleural mesothelioma”“ Approximately 70 percent of mesothelioma victims are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs and chest. People who are diagnosed with this disease have a high mortality rate. That is because the disease is often not detected until the later stages. Those who begin treatment when the disease is in Stage 1 could survive three years or more with successful medical treatment. However, those in Stage 4 typically only survive for about one year.
Peritoneal mesothelioma”“ This affects the abdomen, liver and spleen and affects about 20 percent of mesothelioma victims. These patients typically undergo surgery and receive hyperthermic intraoperative peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), also called heated chemotherapy. The survival rate is often longer with peritoneal mesothelioma; often up to five years or more with successful treatment.
Pericardial mesothelioma”“ There are currently only 200 known cases of mesothelioma in the lining around the heart. Patients treated surgically often live for years, surpassing the estimated survival rate of six weeks to one year after being diagnosed.
Testicular mesothelioma”“ This type of mesothelioma is so rare that to date there are less than 100 documented cases. Treatment often includes both chemotherapy and surgical interventions. Patients often survive approximately two years after a diagnosis.
What Are Some of the Warning Signs of Mesothelioma?
Many patients diagnosed with this aggressive cancer discover that they may have been exposed as much as 10 to 20 years before any symptoms began to appear. By the time a victim begins to show signs of losing weight, suffering from chest pain or experiencing extreme fatigue, he or she could already be in Stage 3 or 4 of the disease. Shortness of breath, which can be connected to many conditions, could also be an early symptom of pleural mesothelioma.
Other Symptoms That May Indicate Mesothelioma Include:
- Pleural effusion; the buildup of fluid around your lungs (seen in 90 percent of patients diagnosed)
- Coughing that may be accompanied by wheezing or shortness of breath
- Pain in the chest, ribs or abdominal area
- Unexplained onset of muscle weakness
- A dry, wheezing cough that does not go away
- Multiple respiratory complications
- Fever that is unrelated to other illnesses
- Vertigo or other issues related to balance
- Nausea or bloating
- Night sweats
- Sudden weight loss
What Occupations Have the Highest Risk of Asbestos Exposure?
By the early 1970’s, asbestos was being manufactured in thousands of products. Workers handling those products daily had a significantly higher risk of exposure. Some of the occupations with the highest risk of exposure include:
- Fire fighters
- Oil workers
- Asbestos miners
- Auto mechanics
- Chemical plant employees
- Construction workers
- Demolition contractors
- Oil refinery laborers
- Paper mill employees
- Printing factory workers
- Roofers
- Ship builders
- Steel manufacturer laborers
- Military personnel
Types of Asbestos Exposure
There are three main ways someone could be exposed to asbestos fibers:
- Occupational exposure”“ Because workers in various industries were repeatedly exposed to asbestos, this is by far the most common way.
- Secondhand exposure”“ If a worker was unknowingly exposed to asbestos fibers at work, the asbestos fibers can follow the worker home and expose other family members. This type of exposure may also be referred to as domestic, household and indirect exposure.
- Environmental exposure”“ There are some instances when individuals may be exposed to asbestos in a natural environment, such as in an asbestos mine.
If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos and are having health problems, it is important to meet with a doctor to find out if you may have mesothelioma. If you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, you can meet with a lawyer in a free consultation to determine if you may have legal options.
What do I do After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?
Being told you have mesothelioma is devastating news. There are several steps victims often take to learn more about their situation and options that may be available:
- Getting more than one opinion from a doctor who is more familiar with the disease
- Learn about the disease so you know what to expect
- Work with your physicians to determine your ongoing plan of care
- Seek specialized treatment to help you manage specific symptoms
- Create a system of support that may include friends and family members
- Contact a qualified mesothelioma lawyer to protect and manage your legal interests
There are many organizations that may be able to support you and your family during this difficult time, including:
Speak with One of Our Prescott Mesothelioma Attorneys Today
At Phillips Law Group, we have the resources needed to fully investigate a mesothelioma claim and gather evidence of asbestos exposure. If we represent you, we are prepared to manage every aspect of the legal process so you can concentrate on your medical treatment. Our mesothelioma lawyers can communicate with you to make sure you are always informed about the status of your case.
Our personal injury attorneys have nearly 30 years of experience representing hundreds of thousands of consumer clients. To date, we have recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for the clients we have helped, and our founder, Jeffrey Phillips”“ is an award-winning attorney that has served as lead counsel in more than 40 jury trials.
If you have a case and we represent you, we collect no money from you for our fees unless we first achieve recovery for you.
Call Phillips Law Group for your completely free consultation today. Ph: 602-222-2222
Available 24/7