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Indianapolis Mesothelioma Lawyer

Injury Lawyer Team > Mesothelioma Lawyer  > Indiana Mesothelioma Lawyer > Indianapolis Mesothelioma Lawyer
mesothelioma lawyer

Indianapolis Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma is aggressive cancer that has a high fatality rate. While treatments for mesothelioma are available, curing the disease is rarely possible. Regardless of age and the cancer stage upon diagnosis, the average life expectancy for this illness is only 15 months.

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Although the government now regulates asbestos, it may be too late for people who have already been exposed. And while you typically won’t find asbestos in newer homes and buildings, there is still no national asbestos ban in the US.

Were you or a loved one diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the entities responsible for your exposure.

The Indiana mesothelioma lawyers at Injury Lawyers Team, sponsored by Rosenfeld Law Offices, can help you obtain the justice you and your family deserve.

Contact our experienced mesothelioma lawyers today for a free consultation. All sensitive or confidential information our clients share with our Indianapolis lawyers will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.

asbestos mesothelioma

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the term for six natural minerals consisting of fibers found in the earth. These minerals are used in many applications, including construction and manufacturing, for their strength, heat resistance, and fire retardant properties, among other uses.

Before the government started phasing out asbestos and asbestos-containing products, these minerals were widely used in construction materials, textiles, and automotive parts.

This substance is dangerous because its fibers easily separate when handled or damaged. These tiny asbestos fibers are too small to see with the naked eye and are easy to inhale. When they enter the lungs, these fibers can get stuck and damage the lung tissue over time, causing mesothelioma and other diseases.

Materials That May Contain Asbestos

Unlike in the 1980s and earlier, most products and materials in the US today are asbestos-free. However, homes and buildings built before the 1980s may still contain asbestos products and materials, such as:

  • Roofing
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Insulation material
  • Vinyl floor tiles
  • Soundproofing material
  • Textured paints and patching compounds
  • Heat-resistant fabrics, gaskets, and coatings
  • Siding shingles

Asbestos-containing materials usually don’t cause health risks unless you damage or disturb them. If you think something in your home contains asbestos, call an inspector to check your house’s materials. If you just had remodeling done, contact an air testing contractor to test your home for asbestos that may have been released from old materials during construction.

Who is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?

People can be exposed to asbestos fibers at work, at home, or during disasters. The following groups have the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

Occupational Exposure

Indiana workers can suffer from asbestos exposure when working with asbestos-containing materials or sharing work sites with people directly exposed to the mineral. Work-related exposures include but are not limited to the following occupations:

  • Auto mechanics
  • Drywallers
  • Electricians
  • Building inspectors
  • Bricklayers
  • Demolition workers
  • Carpenters
  • Boilermakers
  • Ironworkers
  • Longshoremen
  • Sheet metal workers
  • Welders
  • Roofers
  • Plumbers
  • US Armed Forces

Disaster-Related Exposure

Asbestos-containing materials release fibers into the air when damaged. Hence, natural disasters that destroy asbestos materials or naturally occurring asbestos put the following occupations at risk:

  • Firefighters
  • Paramedics
  • Police
  • Construction workers
  • Disaster volunteers

Domestic Exposure

Families of  workers directly exposed to the mineral may inhale it from their family members’ hair, clothes, or skin. Additionally, domestic exposures include:

  • Homes built in the 1980s or earlier
  • Those who engage in hobbies involving asbestos-containing materials, e.g., auto repair, home renovation

Environmental Exposures

Some industrial facilities in Indiana release asbestos into the air and soil, exposing people living nearby. These facilities include:

  • Building demolitions
  • Power plants
  • Refineries
  • Steel mills
  • Manufacturing plants handling asbestos
  • Military bases
  • Shipyards

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indianapolis mesothelioma lawyer

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer that affects the lining that covers the outer surface of your internal organs (mesothelium). It often occurs in the lungs and is almost always caused by asbestos exposure.

It occurs primarily in the lungs but can also affect the abdomen, heart, and testicles.

Symptoms 

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms tend to develop gradually. Most people don’t experience signs or symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

When symptoms do show up, they may include:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Painful coughing
  • Persistent coughing
  • Fatigue
  • Fever and sweating, especially at night
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin of the chest
  • Swollen fingertips

Mesothelioma that occurs in the lining of the abdomen may cause:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Diarrhea or constipation

Many confuse mesothelioma’s symptoms for other less severe illnesses due to its rarity. If you experience one or more of these signs or symptoms, seek professional medical advice immediately. The earlier you detect the disease, the better your chances of prolonging your life.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Testing for this illness may include:

  • X-rays
  • CT scans
  • Lung or stomach fluid analysis
  • Thoracoscopy or laparoscopy

These tests can help confirm mesothelioma and determine its extent.

Treatment

There is no cure for mesothelioma cancer so far. Treatments typically revolve around controlling the patient’s symptoms and prolonging their life.

Possible treatments include:

In addition, a patient will likely receive treatments for individual symptoms to maximize comfort, including medication and fluid drainage (if fluid accumulates in the lungs or abdomen).

Prognosis

Unfortunately, the survival rate for mesothelioma tends to be low, mainly because symptoms don’t develop until decades after asbestos exposure. By the time symptoms manifest, the disease can progress rapidly.

In general:

  • Approximately 50% of patients will live at least one year after diagnosis
  • About 1 in 5 people will live at least five years after diagnosis

Determining the best way to handle this illness is often challenging. If you are unsure how to proceed, our Indianapolis legal team can help you contact a patient advocate in Indiana.

Prevalence of Mesothelioma in Indiana

Around 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the US yearly. The incidence rate peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s when asbestos regulations were practically non-existent. However, people exposed to the carcinogen decades ago are still at risk of developing the disease today.

In Indiana, there were 5,790 asbestos-related deaths from 1999 to 2017, with 1,120 fatalities caused by mesothelioma. The estimated number of asbestos-related deaths is the highest in Lake County, Indiana, where Gary is found, a city known for its steel mills.

Indiana Asbestos Laws and Regulations

The US government has banned asbestos in new processes and placed heavy regulations on asbestos-containing products. Furthermore, the US has not mined asbestos since 2002. However, there is no total ban on this mineral, and its use continues in some industries.

On top of federal asbestos regulations, Indiana enforces its own rules for licensing and managing asbestos abatement:

  • Indiana Code Title 13. Environment § 13-17-6-1: Outlines Indiana’s accreditation and licensing of asbestos contractors.
  • Indiana Code 13-14-1-2 and Section 13-14-8-7: Defines the authority and duties of the Indiana environmental management department, including asbestos management.

Your Indiana mesothelioma lawyer will help you understand how these laws apply to your case during your initial consultation.

The following departments oversee and enforce asbestos regulations in Indiana:

  • Department of Environmental Management Office of Air Quality Indiana
  • Indiana Department of Environmental Management Office of Land Quality
  • Indiana Department of Labor (DOL)

Time is Limited to File a Claim. Get Legal Representation Now!

The Role of Your Indiana Mesothelioma Attorney

Asbestos cases are often complicated. First, there is the problem of determining how and where the asbestos exposure occurred. More than that, there are several ways to pursue damages in Indiana, and deciding which way to go may be challenging.

Finally, mesothelioma is a rapidly developing form of cancer, making speedy legal action crucial.

You need an experienced Indiana mesothelioma attorney to help you:

  • Understand your legal rights
  • Determine where and how you were exposed to asbestos fibers
  • Identify the negligent parties for your exposure
  • Estimate the extent of the damages resulting from your cancer
  • File a legal claim against all possible at-fault parties
  • Negotiate settlement values
  • File a lawsuit in civil court, if necessary
  • Help you recover benefits from the VA, if applicable

Our Indiana mesothelioma attorneys go above and beyond to help clients obtain the justice they deserve. We will discuss the process further during your free consultation if you have more questions about how our lawyers handle each case.

What to Do if You Suspect Mesothelioma 

Mesothelioma is challenging to diagnose due to several reasons. First, it is a rare and complex illness that many doctors never encounter. Thus, it is prone to misdiagnosis as mesothelioma symptoms are similar to other cancers or less severe diseases.

Moreover, the latency period for this illness is around 20 to 50 years. Many people forget or do not mention their history of exposure to asbestos, which would mean a doctor would likely not consider mesothelioma.

With these obstacles in mind, you must be proactive if you lived or worked on or near known asbestos sites, such as manufacturing facilities or military bases. Even if you don’t have symptoms of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, go to your doctor for regular imaging tests to monitor lung changes.

Also, mention your history of exposure to your doctor. If your imaging tests show abnormalities that may indicate mesothelioma, your doctor will consider it a possible diagnosis.

If you need more information about this cancer, our Indianapolis mesothelioma lawyers can help you get in touch with a patient advocate.

Talk to Experienced Indiana Mesothelioma Lawyers Today

Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer. Worse, many people don’t realize they have it until it’s too late. Hence, if you discover that you have this illness, take legal action immediately.

The Indiana mesothelioma lawyers at Injury Lawyers Team have been handling mesothelioma cases for years, including wrongful death lawsuits and trust fund claims. We help clients understand the legal process of pursuing damages for this specific illness and ensure swift financial recovery given the rapid progression of mesothelioma.

Contact our Indiana mesothelioma lawyers today for a free case evaluation. All confidential or sensitive information our clients share with our legal team will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.

Our Indianapolis attorneys handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay for our legal services unless we win your case.

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