Mesothelioma is an asbestos-induced cancer of the membrane surrounding and protecting the internal organs. Mesothelioma most commonly strikes the lining of the lungs, but can also affect that of the abdomen, heart or testicles. Severe symptoms of mesothelioma of the lung include shortness of breath, chest pain and cough. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our firm to speak with an experienced asbestos attorney about your legal rights.
Mesothelioma Resulting from Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately many individuals continue to be diagnosed with this fatal disease. The law firm of Summers and Wyatt has proudly represented mesothelioma and asbestos victims and their families now for over 30 years. Unlike many firms, Summers & Wyatt has never advertised for this type of work, nor has it ever advocated for the mass screenings of certain employee groups (like labor unions) in an effort to drum up business. Although the majority of Summers & Wyatt clients over the years were exposed to asbestos while working in some of the larger local industrial plants like DuPont, Combustion Engineering, and some of the T.V.A. facilities, Summers & Wyatt has represented many clients whose exposure to asbestos came from other settings including military, railroad, or exposure in the home through a loved one who worked at a job site where asbestos was used. In doing so, Summers & Wyatt has handled cases originating from exposure to asbestos from throughout the country including particularly southeast Tennessee, middle Tennessee and northwest Georgia.
Please know that if you contact Summers & Wyatt about your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case, a lawyer based in Chattanooga will speak with you and give you sound legal advice about your situation. Summers & Wyatt is NOT a 1-800 number -- as you unfortunately see often on TV -- where you are likely to be connected to a law firm in some far away state that has no intention or ability to advise you or actually handle your case. These 1-800 number law firms often are pure "case brokers", who will simply farm your case out to some other law firm.
Instead, if you contact Summers & Wyatt, a knowledgeable and experienced attorney will speak with you, evaluate your potential case, and, if feasible, pursue legal justice for you. If you contact Summers & Wyatt about your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case, you will not be some random number and you will not have difficulty speaking on a regular basis (in person even if you like) with an attorney about your case. Rather, your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case will receive the personalized attention, from an attorney, that it deserves. That is the way Summers & Wyatt has been handling mesothelioma and asbestos cases now for over 30 years, and that is one of the reasons why we have been successful in doing so. The fact that other law firms associate and refer cases to us speaks volumes as well about our standing in the mesothelioma and asbestos legal community.
Summers & Wyatt continues to receive calls and accept new mesothelioma and asbestos clients based on the great reputation and solid results that Summers & Wyatt has historically achieved for its clients. That is the only form of advertising that Summers & Wyatt utilizes. If you appreciate and share these values, and if you want an experienced attorney to review your potential mesothelioma and asbestos case, please contact Summers & Wyatt as soon as possible.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related lung disease and would like to speak with an attorney about your rights, contact Summers & Wyatt, P.C. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. If you have not yet been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related lung disease, but you have concerns or questions because you know you have been exposed to asbestos, our attorney will be happy to speak with you about that as well. To speak with or schedule a free consultation with a lawyer at our firm, call 423-933-2738, or contact us by e-mail.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Q: What is asbestos?
A: A microscopic threadlike fiber, asbestos is a common mineral found throughout the world. It is mined and used in consumer products and construction materials because of its strength and flexibility and its heat-resistant properties. If asbestos becomes airborne and dust like, it can be breathed into and lodged in the lungs. Asbestos particles in the lungs can cause terrible - even fatal - diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer that can take decades to develop after asbestos exposure.
Q: Who are the typical victims of asbestos diseases like mesothelioma?
A: Most typically, victims of asbestos disease and injury are people exposed to high concentrations of asbestos in industrial settings over extended periods. Workers in the following industries and professions have been historically at high risk: asbestos mining; manufacturing of asbestos-containing products such as insulation, piping, and ceiling and flooring materials; shipbuilding; welding, plumbing, pipe fitting and steam fitting; railroads; building demolition; and construction. These occupational exposures have declined drastically since the 1970s when the federal and state governments started heavily regulating asbestos.
Q: I was exposed to asbestos in my previous career and now have mesothelioma - can I get any help?
A: People exposed to and injured by asbestos in their work may be eligible for workers' compensation benefits. The states vary in their treatment of workers' compensation claims for asbestos-related diseases - some states treat them more restrictively than other disease claims and some more generously. In some states and in some situations, workers may, in addition to receiving workers' compensation, be able to sue their employers. Workers also may have legal claims against other potentially responsible third parties, such as insurance companies and asbestos manufacturers.
Q: I worked in the asbestos industry 40 years ago and have developed the asbestos-induced cancer mesothelioma. Is it too late to sue?
A: Deadlines, also known as statutes of limitations, for bringing asbestos lawsuits vary widely from state to state. Sometimes the deadline is calculated from the date of exposure and sometimes from the date of disease development. Some states have even enacted laws to revive expired asbestos claims or to make exceptions for asbestosis. Some states calculate a new deadline if you develop a second asbestos disease. Therefore, it is important that you speak to a knowledgeable attorney today to preserve what legal rights you may have in your jurisdiction.
Q: I heard my old employer declared bankruptcy because it was sued so often for asbestos injuries. I haven't developed asbestos disease yet, but I have a lot of anxiety that I will someday. Do I have any legal options?
A: You should speak to an attorney with experience in handling asbestos cases. Sometimes bankruptcy courts set up trust funds for present and/or future victims of asbestos. Your employer could be one of those companies with a trust fund. Depending on your jurisdiction, there may be other legal remedies for your fear of developing disease, or for the future danger that you may develop it. Finally, other potentially responsible parties may exist, such as asbestos manufacturers and insurers.
Q: My father was an asbestos miner. My mother recently died from asbestos-related cancer. Do I have any legal rights related to her death?
A: You should speak with an experienced asbestos lawyer right away to protect what legal rights you or your mother's estate might have. Before asbestos safety regulation began in approximately the 1970s, industrial employees who worked with asbestos commonly brought microscopic fibers home on their clothing, exposing their spouses when they handled the clothes during laundering. Your mother may have been a victim of this type of secondhand exposure. The laws that apply to these types of situations vary from state to state.
Q: My spouse has asbestosis and the stress of living with this disease causes her extreme anxiety and depression. Does she have any legal right to compensation for her emotional problems?
A: Some states recognize a right to recover damages for mental illness or emotional problems related to wrongful exposure to asbestos. You should speak with a skilled asbestos lawyer in your jurisdiction to determine whether your spouse has any available legal remedies in your state. For example, she may have a legal claim to workers' compensation and/or a potential claim against a former employer or another third party, such as an asbestos manufacturer or insurance company.
Q: I am a shipbuilder who was exposed to asbestos and I have lung cancer. I'd like to pursue my legal rights, but I am also a tobacco smoker. Should I bother?
A: Either exposure to asbestos alone or smoking alone increases your risk of developing lung cancer, but the risk becomes enormous when both risk factors are present. You should apply for workers' compensation and seek the advice of an experienced asbestos lawyer as soon as possible to determine your legal options. Whether you can bring lawsuits for your cancer based on your asbestos exposure, and whether it matters legally that your own action by smoking increased your risk of lung cancer, depends on the laws of your state.
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