Ask any San Francisco mesothelioma lawyer, and they’ll share with you that the Bay Area is home to many factors that put its residents at a notably higher risk of mesothelioma than other parts of the state and nation.
There are ports where shipbuilding and repair occur, several fault lines run through the area where asbestos-laden rock is in abundance, and it’s home to one known Superfund site (Hunters Point Naval Shipyard), where Environmental Protection Agency officials have identified excessive contamination from factories, plants, or mining. Based on these attributes, most would expect our area to top the charts for asbestos-related diseases.
Each San Francisco mesothelioma attorney in our office represents Bay Area residents (and Californians in general) who’ve received mesothelioma diagnoses after product manufacturers, employers, and others unsuspectingly exposed them to asbestos fibers.
Medical care for this condition can be expensive, but funds are available for victims like you to receive the treatment you need. A mesothelioma attorney can sit down with you for a free case evaluation to assess your right to file suit to recover monetary damages. Contact us at Frost Law Firm, PC, to discuss your health condition and your legal rights today.
Asbestos and the Types of Illnesses Exposure Can Cause
According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber often found in the rocks here in our state, especially when located near fault zones like Calaveras, Hayward, and San Andreas. Toxic asbestos fibers are most likely to become airborne when rocks containing these fibrous materials are crushed.
Asbestos lasts a particularly long time once it enters the air, and the longer the exposure a person has to it, the higher the chance of developing an asbestos-related illness like asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
Smoking also increases a person’s risk of developing an asbestos-related medical condition.
Understanding the Different Variants of Mesothelioma
As for mesothelioma, it’s a rare, currently incurable type of cancer that affects the lining of specific bodily organs. The four types of mesothelioma are:
- Pleural mesothelioma: Impacts lung lining, accounting for about 82.1% of mesothelioma cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Pericardial mesothelioma: Takes hold along the lining of the heart
- Peritoneal mesothelioma: Affects the abdominal lining
- Testicular mesothelioma: Impacts the lining of the testicles
Symptoms Mesothelioma Patients Experience
California mesothelioma patients seldom show ill effects like shortness of breath, coughing, weight loss, and others early on after exposure to this toxic substance.
Unlike other forms of cancer, mesothelioma typically has a long latency period, according to a British Journal of Cancer study published by the National Library of Medicine. This refers to the time individuals with asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, begin experiencing symptoms, which is often when their condition has reached a point of no return.
Generally, no surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or targeted treatment can reverse it; however, these treatments can slow mesothelioma’s aggressive progress.
The prognosis for mesothelioma varies depending on factors such as the stage of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, and the type of treatment received.
Sources of Asbestos Exposure in the Bay Area of California
Our San Francisco mesothelioma lawyers often hear from our clients that they never took the time to look into how exposure to asbestos fibers occurs until they developed mesothelioma themselves.
Once they do, they often learn that asbestos was used for manufacturing a wide range of items up until the late 1970s, including producing:
- Home insulation
- Auto parts like car brakes or gaskets
- Roofing shingles
- Floor and ceiling tiles
- Textured paint or patching compounds
The mineral was also used by individuals employed in the following roles due to the nature of their work that required them to work in close contact with these fibers:
- Shipbuilders
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Quarry workers
- Auto or airplane mechanics
- Rail workers
- Plumbers
- Theater workers like stagehands
Essentially, asbestos was widely used for nearly a century from the late 1800s to the latter part of the 20th century for its strength, ability to withstand heat, and fire retardant properties, so it’s plausible it was used for far more purposes and by employees in remarkably more industries than the ones described above.
It’s also worth noting that since these fibers adhere to clothing once “stirred up,” many individuals working in the capacities described above likely brought asbestos home to their loved ones, resulting in their secondary exposure and subsequent diagnoses sometimes referred to as paraoccupational exposure.
What To Do if You Suspect You Have an Asbestos-Related Illness
Like any illness, you should seek medical attention if you have a persistent condition that seems to be unwavering or worsening with time. While there are currently no cures for mesothelioma, as mentioned above, there are treatments that are effective in alleviating typical symptoms.
Plus, if you do catch the onset of your disease at an early enough stage, it’s possible that surgery can eradicate cancerous lesions, which could plausibly limit further progression.
The most common way doctors who suspect patients have mesothelioma confirm their diagnosis is through imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray. Should doctors confirm you have this debilitating condition, you’ll want to seek out care from one of our area’s leading research hospitals or medical centers right away for the best possible outcome.
How Can a San Francisco Mesothelioma Lawyer Help You?
Most individuals who have received a mesothelioma diagnosis in California can attribute their asbestos exposure to a job they previously or currently hold.
As such, they may be eligible to request funds from a wide variety of sources to cover their medical care, lost wages, and any other potential damages, depending on the types of benefits or compensation they qualify for.
An experienced mesothelioma lawyer in San Francisco can come in handy in helping you determine how the onset of your asbestos-related illness occurred, especially if it didn’t occur through your direct employment.
Identifying the source may require an investigation, which may start with a conversation between your lawyer and yourself, moving quickly to family members or co-workers, if necessary, to make sense of your illness’ onset.
Compensation You May Qualify for If You Have This Asbestos-Related Cancer
An attorney can prove invaluable in seeking compensation to cover your medical bills, recoup lost earnings, or other asbestos-related illness expenses. You can also expect your attorney to know and share with you what your financial recovery options are, which may include one or more of the following:
- California workers’ compensation
- Veterans’ benefits
- Social Security Disability (SSD) payments
- Asbestos trust fund proceeds
- Personal injury lawsuits
- Special funds set aside for federal employees from specific industries like railroad or maritime workers
Aside from helping you identify the source of your toxic fiber exposure and funds available to individuals exposed in similar situations, you can expect the San Francisco mesothelioma attorney you consult with to advise you of the eligibility requirements. This includes the elements you may have to prove if filing a mesothelioma lawsuit to qualify for the different types of compensation described above.
Understanding the Statute of Limitations Applicable in Your California Mesothelioma Case
Any experienced mesothelioma lawyer in San Francisco will also know the deadlines (also known as the statute of limitations) for taking legal action.
For example, mesothelioma plaintiffs claiming injury or illness due to someone else’s negligence must file suit within a year of getting hurt or their diagnosis (Cal Code Civ Proc § 340.2). The same one-year filing deadline applies if a surviving family member wishes to file a wrongful death lawsuit after the passing of a relative to cancer.
Extensions to this standard filing deadline may exist. An attorney experienced in handling San Francisco mesothelioma cases can advise you when those exceptions apply to your specific situation.
Let Frost Law Firm, PC Advocate for You
You can trust any San Francisco mesothelioma lawyer in our office to fight on your behalf to ensure you receive maximum compensation and to be a strong advocate in a San Francisco County or nearby Marin County (San Rafael) courtroom to reach a verdict in your favor.
In short, because these attorneys specialize in handling mesothelioma cases, they know what it takes to build strong cases, and how to secure the funds necessary to ensure you can receive the best possible medical care.
Mesothelioma claims or asbestos lawsuits are complex cases that can take some time to build to ensure the best possible result via pre-litigation negotiation or in the courtroom. That’s why it’s best if you develop an attorney-client relationship early on to give you ample time to exercise your rights.
Acting quickly ensures you’ll be able to stake claim to asbestos trust funds, if eligible before they are exhausted. This allows you to hold potential third-party companies responsible for preventable exposure to this toxic substance.
At Frost Law Firm, PC, we’re standing by, ready to help you build a case that justifies the compensation you deserve. So, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced mesothelioma attorney to better understand your legal options.
