Before the severe health effects of asbestos were common knowledge, asbestos was a mineral typically used in various aspects of construction and infrastructure. For those who served in the Coast Guard, they may have been in buildings and ships that contained asbestos. Their increased risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses may result in a mesothelioma diagnosis—but not until years have passed. Mesothelioma can take a long time before it develops and affects your health.
If you or a loved one was in the Coast Guard and they’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the lawyers at Frost Law Firm, PC can help. Our firm has provided our legal expertise to veterans in the past. We understand how Coast Guard veterans and mesothelioma are closely linked and will fight for you to get the justice you deserve.
Where Could Coast Guard Veterans Have Been Exposed to Asbestos?
Those who served in the Coast Guard may have come into contact with asbestos if they were on a ship or used aircraft. The Coast Guard used vessels similar to the Navy and aircraft similar to the Air Force. Unfortunately, asbestos was used in their construction because of its natural qualities of being fireproof and a reliable insulator. These qualities also meant that asbestos could have been in the Coast Guard’s facilities. This goes beyond boiler rooms and engine rooms—asbestos could have also been present where the service members slept and ate.
As ships needed repairs and buildings were renovated, those who worked on these projects may have disturbed asbestos-containing materials. When asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers into the air. These are dangerous in any situation, but when considering the close quarters of ships and poor ventilation, asbestos had a better chance of remaining in the air and affecting those who were in the environment. Anyone could inhale the fibers. If the fibers settled on their clothes or hair, others around them could have inhaled the fibers when they were around them as well.
Unfortunately, this also means that family members could have been exposed to asbestos—referred to as secondhand exposure. Because there isn’t a safe level of asbestos to be exposed to, families of Coast Guard veterans could also suffer from asbestos-related illnesses.
While receiving this diagnosis can be devastating, it’s important to know who you can turn to. Getting skilled and experienced representation from personal injury lawyers increases your chances of getting the benefits and compensation you deserve.
Frost Law Firm, PC Can Help Coast Guard Veterans
As a veteran with mesothelioma, you deserve to get care for what you’re going through. Our lawyers will fight for you to get fair compensation so you can focus on spending time with loved ones. When we represent you, we’ll seek compensation for your economic and noneconomic damages. Let’s look at the differences between the two.
Economic damages have to do with the financial losses of the illness. Mesothelioma can require significant forms of treatment. A patient could be doing a form of chemotherapy and radiation, undergoing surgeries and the recovery process, and taking medicine for pain. With those expenses along with visits to the doctor, hospital, or other kind of specialists, the medical expenses can be extensive. When someone has an aggressive form of mesothelioma, this treatment is often necessary to help slow the spread of the cancer and also treat pain. However, when the reality of the cost sets in, the patient may wonder if they can afford it. Coast Guard veterans shouldn’t have to worry about how they’re going to afford their care. We’ll calculate the total of the care you’ve received and will continue to receive and include this in your compensation.
Another part of economic damages includes lost wages. You may have had to miss work when you were undergoing treatment before and lost days of pay. In the future, you may not be able to work any longer. This can be financially devastating to a person and their family. As your lawyers, we’ll see the wages you’ve lost and would have earned had you not received a mesothelioma diagnosis. This will be included in the compensation we’ll fight for you to recover.
While the financial aspect of compensatory damages is essential for a claimant’s recovery and peace of mind, there’s another aspect called noneconomic damages, which have to do with the emotional losses of the illness. The illness and treatment can take a major toll and you may experience pain and suffering. Receiving the diagnosis, feeling its symptoms, and going through the hardships of treatment is a lot for one person to experience. There’s also the loss of enjoyment of life. You may not be able to do certain activities that you used to enjoy or have to miss out on events because of treatment. These damages do not have a direct monetary value, but their impact is still significant. Our lawyers will assess how mesothelioma affects your life and will seek appropriate compensation.
Frost Law Firm, PC has years of experience fighting for Coast Guard veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. We’re dedicated to getting justice for those who were exposed to asbestos while serving our country. While the future may be uncertain, we’re here to provide some clarity about your situation. When you have the financial security of fair compensation, you can approach the future with more confidence as you undergo treatment and spend time with family.
To get started on your claim, we’ll meet in an obligation-free case evaluation where we can go over the facts of your case and answer your questions. Get in touch with our law office today. Our Hawaii mesothelioma lawyers are ready to help you.
