Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Dealing with mesothelioma cases can be complicated, so it’s best to work with lawyers who specialize in this area of law. If you’re looking for a Nevada mesothelioma lawyer who will fight for you and your family, you’ve come to the right place.
Frost Law Firm, PC is a multi-state law firm founded on a legacy of legal advocacy. We believe in fighting for those who have been unfairly exposed to asbestos. Our innovative approach to building cases is structured around putting clients first.
Your first meeting with our team of mesothelioma lawyers is always free. Please contact us online or by phone to schedule your complimentary case evaluation.
Understanding Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that covers the body’s internal organs.
Mesothelioma commonly affects the lining of the:
- Lungs (pleural mesothelioma)
- Abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma)
- Heart (pericardial mesothelioma)
Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma deserves to know what caused their illness. An experienced Nevada mesothelioma lawyer can guide the investigation into your illness and cause of the exposure.
At Frost Law Firm, PC, we have a proven history of successfully identifying sources of asbestos exposure dating back decades.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure is the number one leading cause of mesothelioma and accounts for 80% of all cases. Exposure occurs when asbestos or products containing asbestos break down, releasing fibers into the air that people then inhale or ingest.
Keep in mind that decades may have passed between the first exposure and the onset of symptoms. If you’d like to file a mesothelioma claim, we strongly recommend that you work with a team of experienced attorneys.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of exposure develop slowly. From the period of exposure to the first noticeable symptom, as long as thirty to fifty years may have passed.
However, once symptoms begin presenting, mesothelioma may begin progressing at a rapid pace. If you experience any of the following symptoms and know (or suspect) that you were exposed to asbestos, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away:
- Pleural mesothelioma
- Cough (with or without pain)
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
- Abdominal pain
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Frequent nausea
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pericardial mesothelioma
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations or an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or discomfort
Symptoms of mesothelioma may also include lumps under the skin of the chest or abdomen, night sweats, constipation, diarrhea, bowel obstruction, fever, and more.
When Should I See a Doctor?
Never wait to see how symptoms will progress. If you experience even one symptom of mesothelioma, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.
Early diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma can improve the quality of life and prognosis for victims of asbestos exposure.
Treatment Options for Mesothelioma
Treatment is highly contingent upon the extent, severity, and stage of each mesothelioma case. Doctors classify mesothelioma as Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV, depending on how far it has spread.
There are five main treatment options for mesothelioma. They are:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
Not every treatment is appropriate for every case of mesothelioma. It is important that you work closely with your oncologist to create the best possible course of treatment for your specific case.
Legal Options for Victims of Asbestos Exposure
If you developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, you have the right to file a mesothelioma claim. Mesothelioma claims generally fall into three distinct categories:
- Personal injury claims
- Wrongful death claims
- Trust fund claims
A personal injury claim can be settled outside of court or through a jury trial. Monetary compensation secured through this type of legal action can cover a wide variety of losses, including medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. If a claim goes to trial, a jury can award punitive damages on top of compensatory damages.
A wrongful death claim is filed by the surviving family members of a mesothelioma victim. If you lost a loved one to asbestos exposure, your family may be entitled to compensation for certain losses, including funeral and burial expenses, lost support, and more.
A trust fund claim is a claim filed with an asbestos trust fund. These funds were set up by companies that perpetuated asbestos exposure, but have since gone bankrupt. Some of the largest asbestos trust funds include:
- United States Gypsum Trust
- Pittsburgh Corning Corporations Trust
- Owens Corning Corporations Trust
- R. Grace and Co. Trust
- Johns-Manville Corporation Trust
- DII Industries Trust
- Western Asbestos (Western MacArthur) Trust
- Armstrong World Industries Trust
- Owens Corning Fibreboard Subfund Trust
- Babcock & Wilcox Trust
An experienced Nevada mesothelioma lawyer from Frost Law Firm, PC will help you determine if you are qualified to file a trust fund claim.
The Role of a Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyer
A team of health care professionals are the only individuals who should be guiding your medical treatment. And a team of expert attorneys are the only individuals who should be guiding your legal claim.
Mesothelioma claims are complex legal cases that involve tracing liability, exposure, and causation decades into the past. In these types of cases, physical evidence is often long gone. Our experience working with mesothelioma clients and access to nationwide resources makes us uniquely positioned to handle even the toughest of claims.
Why Work With Frost Law Firm, PC?
The Nevada mesothelioma lawyers of Frost Law Firm, PC have a proven track record of standing up for mesothelioma victims and winning. Because for us, winning is personal. We are a personal injury law firm founded on the principle of helping people. Our legacy is uncompromising and unrivaled.
We are proud of the results we have achieved on behalf of our clients:
- $32 million – Secondhand asbestos exposure verdict
- $9.9 million – Mesothelioma verdict
- $9.7 million – Asbestos verdict
- $8.66 million – Asbestos verdict
- $7.45 million – Mesothelioma settlement
- $7 million – Asbestos/product liability verdict
- $5 million – Mesothelioma verdict
- $2.5 million – Mesothelioma settlement
Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Nevada
In Nevada, occupational and environmental exposure are the two most common avenues of asbestos exposure.
Occupational Exposure
Most asbestos exposure takes place in the workplace. Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27 million workers were exposed to asbestos through the course of their employment.
Workers in certain fields or industries have historically faced much higher rates of exposure, including:
- Construction workers
- Oil refinery workers
- Ship builders
- Aircraft & auto mechanics
- Firefighters
- HVAC technicians
- Industrial workers
- Miners
- Building inspectors
- Painters
- Machine operators
- Insulators
- Pipe fitters
- Boiler workers
- Textile workers
- Shipyard workers
- Teachers
- Refinery workers
- Chemical plant workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Metal workers
- Bricklayers
- Welders
Remember, it can take as long as 50 years for the first mesothelioma symptom to develop.
You may also have suffered secondhand exposure to asbestos. A parent, spouse, or other loved one may have brought home asbestos fibers on their clothes, in their hair, or on their body, which then dispersed in your home.
Environmental Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. When left intact in its natural form, it poses little to no threat to human health and safety. Problems arise when asbestos is mined, processed, or otherwise disturbed, releasing microscopic fibers into the environment.
In Nevada, two professors of geoscience from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas found evidence of asbestos fibers in the natural environment. In the face of this troubling news, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) took swift action to silence experts from speaking out.
Officials from DHHS claim that asbestos has naturally occurred in parts of Nevada for hundreds of years. As such, they believe it poses little to no threat to public health and safety. However, the concern does not come from the existence of undisturbed asbestos.
Continual erosion, as well as commercial and residential development can release asbestos fibers into the air and environment. When this happens, residents may be unknowingly inhaling and ingesting these fibers, putting them at risk for mesothelioma.
If you believe your mesothelioma diagnosis is related to environmental exposure, contact a Nevada mesothelioma lawyer to discuss your legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for your financial losses, pain and suffering, and more.
Current and Former Commercial Uses of Asbestos
Although the United States stopped mining asbestos in 2002, it continues to import this toxic substance for a variety of uses. Newly manufactured products can contain startlingly high levels of asbestos. You can find asbestos in:
- Motor vehicle clutches
- Brake pads
- Corrugated sheeting
- Cement pipes
- Roofing materials
- Vinyl tile
Older products pose a greater threat to health and safety than newer products. As buildings, flooring, roof tiles, insulation, and other products degrade over time, they can release asbestos fibers into the air. Legacy products that may contain asbestos include:
- Certain textiles
- Boilers and heating vessels
- Paper products
- Electrical wire conduits
- Transmission, brake, and clutch components
- Corrosive chemical containers
- Heat-protective pads
- Pipe coverings
- Electric motor components
- Insulation products
- Coatings and sealants
- Roofing products
- Floor and ceiling tiles
- Siding and roofing shingles
- Textured paints
- Caulking and joint compounds
Products and items containing asbestos can breakdown over time, slowly releasing intact fibers. Improper renovations, demolitions, or removal projects can also lead to exposure.
Who Is Most at Risk for Developing Mesothelioma?
The single greatest risk factors for mesothelioma is the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers. However, we know that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will go on to develop this form of life-threatening cancer.
Individual circumstances, including health status and genetic factors, can influence a person’s risk factor for mesothelioma.
Your chances of being diagnosed with mesothelioma increase as you age. So even though it can occur in younger adults and even children, it’s still extremely rare in anyone younger than 45. The average age of diagnosis is 72.
The person most at risk for developing mesothelioma:
- Is over the age of 45, and
- Has a history of asbestos exposure.
If you know that you’ve been exposed to asbestos, it is best to work closely with your doctor to monitor your health for any signs or symptoms of cancer.
Exploring Mesothelioma Liability
You’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and now your life is forever changed. The cost of treatment is astronomical, and now you can’t work. Maybe you’re already retired or living on a limited income.
No matter your situation, you need help. And you need it sooner rather than later.
The Nevada mesothelioma attorneys from Frost Law Firm, PC are ready to help you hold liable parties accountable for their actions. Working with a qualified and experienced lawyer for this type of legal claim is important.
Since the latency period for mesothelioma is so long, correctly tracing periods of exposure and identifying liable parties is a complex task. You’ll need the backing of a law firm that has the tools, resources, and knowledge needed to fully investigate your case.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at liability in the:
- Workplace
- Home
- Environment
Workplace
Employers are responsible for creating safe work environments that are free from unreasonable harm. This includes taking preventative measures to minimize the risk of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma. Any workplace that involves the use of any product containing asbestos must provide employees with:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Information regarding where asbestos is located
- Training on proper asbestos handling
Anyone who has developed mesothelioma as a result of workplace or occupational exposure has the right to file a legal claim against their current or former employer. If their employer has since gone out of business, it may be possible to recover compensation from an asbestos trust fund.
Home
When you rent an apartment, condo, townhouse, or home, you expect it to be safe. However, residential housing built before 1981 often contains high levels of asbestos. If a landlord rents a property that contains dangerous levels of asbestos, they may be in violation of NRS 118A.290. This law guarantees the right of a tenant to a “dwelling unit in [a] habitable condition.”
Did you or a loved one develop mesothelioma after living in an unsafe or dangerous rental? A mesothelioma lawyer can help you correctly identify all liable parties in your claim. This may include your landlord, property manager, maintenance workers, or more.
Environment
Exposure to asbestos in any setting can cause the deadly cancer mesothelioma. But if you were exposed to environmental sources of asbestos, who is to blame?
Correctly investigating and identifying sources of environmental exposure is challenging. You will need an uncompromising legal advocate on your side as you hold the at-fault party responsible for what happened to you.
Known Asbestos Exposure Sites in Nevada
Nevada is home to a number of confirmed and suspected asbestos exposure sites, including:
- Bally’s Casino
- Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel (formerly known as Binion’s Horseshoe)
- Black Mountain Industrial Center
- Blue Diamond Sheet Rock Plant
- Caesar’s Palace
- Harrah’s Casinos
- Landmark Hotel and Casino
- Las Vegas Hilton
- Las Vegas Sands
- MGM Hotel & Casino
- Reed Gardner Generating Station
- Sahara Hotel
- Stauffer Chemical Plant
- Sunrise Generating Station
- Tam O’Shanter Motel
- University of Nevada, Reno
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Valmy Power Plant
- The Venetian
- Vagabond Inn
- Washoe Medical Center
Known exposure sites are/were located all across the state of Nevada. You may still have a claim even if you don’t see your place of exposure listed above. Exposure may have occurred in:
- Blue Diamond
- Henderson
- Las Vegas
- Moapa
- Reno
- Valmy
- Winnemucca
Reach out to a Nevada mesothelioma lawyer at Frost Law Firm, PC for a free informational meeting to learn more about your legal options.
Legal Expertise Meets Compassion: We Are Nevada’s Leading Mesothelioma Lawyers
Frost Law Firm, PC is so much more than just another personal injury law firm. For our lawyers, practicing law is personal.
Founding attorney Scott L. Frost has witnessed firsthand the pain and suffering that asbestos exposure can cause. After losing his own father to an asbestos-related cancer, Scott chose to dedicate his legal career to advocating for other victims.
The legacy of Scott Frost’s father lives on as we fight for the rights of people all across the United States. We are proud to be steadfast legal advocates for victims of asbestos and mesothelioma exposure in:
- Hawaii
- California
- Washington
- Oregon
- Florida
- Illinois
- Missouri
- Nevada
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Texas
- Wisconsin
It is our hope that our continued actions will create a safer, happier, and healthier world for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come.
Supporting Loved Ones With Mesothelioma
Acting as a caregiver to a loved one with mesothelioma is a difficult but important task. As a caregiver, you can support your spouse, parent, grandparent, or other family member by:
- Providing healthy and nutritious meals (especially ones that freeze well)
- Helping with housework
- Accompanying them to important medical appointments
- Running errands or shopping on their behalf
- Bringing them interesting books, movies, or other forms of entertainment
- Listening to them talk
Most importantly, ask what your loved one needs the most.
But as a caregiver, you also need your own support team. If you’ve taken on a caregiving role for a loved one with mesothelioma, do your best to prioritize time for self-care. This may involve:
- Taking a few hours away from the house
- Eating proper and nutritious meals
- Meeting with a support group
- Exercising
- Asking for help from friends and family
Remember, you are not alone. Frost Law Firm, PC has the resources and experience needed to help you and your family weather this storm. We’ll help you identify what caused your loved one’s mesothelioma, who was to blame for the asbestos exposure, and what legal actions to take.
Frost Law Firm, PC Is an Uncompromising Legal Advocate for Mesothelioma Victims
Mesothelioma is one of the most devastating diagnoses a person can receive. We aren’t medical professionals, but our team of lawyers has witnessed time and time again the impact that mesothelioma can have on the lives of patients.
It is our goal in all that we do to help our clients recover the compensation to which they are rightfully entitled.
A Nevada mesothelioma lawyer is ready to speak with you. Frost Law Firm, PC offers completely free consultations. We also take many cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t collect any legal fees unless we win your case.
Someone is standing by to speak with you. Contact us by phone or our convenient online form today.
