Ohio Mesothelioma Lawyer
The mesothelioma attorneys at Elk & Elk are among Ohio’s finest
Unfortunately, asbestos regulation came too late to help the thousands of workers whose exposure to the ancient, fire-retardant fiber caused an insidious form of cancer called mesothelioma. Fortunately, Elk & Elk’s team of mesothelioma lawyers are armed with 50 years’ experience defending the rights of people affected by industrial America’s use of asbestos.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the lawyers at Elk & Elk Co., Ltd., want to hear from you. While no amount of money can undo a diagnosis, we can help you achieve the financial security you need to get treatment and to support your family. For a free consultation, call 1-800-ELK-OHIO or contact us online.
Federal agencies have been regulating asbestos use since the mid-1970s
A study released in June 2008 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows that between 1999 and 2004, nearly 1,000 people in Ohio over the age of 15 died from mesothelioma. Over that same period, the state’s mesothelioma-related death rate grew from more than 11 to nearly 23 people per million Ohioans.
Trust the lawyers at Elk & Elk when corporate greed is valued over human life
To Elk & Elk’s mesothelioma attorneys, these numbers paint a sobering picture about the lasting effects of this deadly fiber. And the facts behind the numbers, like the idea that Big Business for decades tried to conceal its deadly attributes, makes mesothelioma and the many other asbestos-related maladies even more tragic. The ill effects of asbestos began to surface as early as the late 1800s. Unfortunately, the production of asbestos-containing materials continued to grow until the mid-1970s and widespread removal and regulation of the deadly fiber didn’t really take hold until the mid-1980s.
Any mesothelioma lawyer worth his salt will tell you that when corporate greed eclipses the value of human life, a grave injustice is born. No amount of money can replace the thousands of workers injured by way of asbestos’s deadly side effects, not to mention the thousands of innocents whose mere proximity to asbestos in buildings or processing facilities has caused them harm.
Mesothelioma FAQs
Ohio lawyers answer frequently asked questions about mesothelioma
After a mesothelioma diagnosis, there are a lot of questions. Finding someone you trust to help you get those answers can be especially difficult. The lawyers at Elk & Elk Co., Ltd., are here to help. At our Ohio offices, you will find lawyers dedicated to searching for the truth, supporting your rights and proving your case.
For more information about mesothelioma, explore the following frequently asked questions. You can also schedule a free consultation with our personal injury attorneys by calling 1-800-ELK-OHIO or contacting us online.
Q: What is asbestos?
A: Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in the construction, engineering, and manufacturing industries between 1940 and 1970. Asbestos was popular for its physical properties, including its flexibility, ability to insulate and resistance to fire. Asbestos was commonly used during World War II. It has been discovered in more than 5,000 products since the 1800s.
Q: What types of cancer are caused by asbestos exposure?
A: Mesothelioma is among the most serious forms of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Colon, esophageal and larynx cancer may also be caused by asbestos exposure.
Q: What is mesothelioma?
A: Mesothelioma is a serious form of lung cancer that manifests within the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Mesothelioma may take 20 to 50 years for symptoms to develop, so for people who were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1970, symptoms may just now be developing.
Q: What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
A: Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to that of a lung infection when the disease is in its early stages.
Q: Is there more than one type of mesothelioma?
A: There are two common types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma affects the chest area. Symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and fluid in the lungs. Less common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdominal area and may cause pain, girth, fluid buildup, mass and/or distention. Other side effects of peritoneal mesothelioma may include weight loss, fatigue, fever, anemia, and digestive disorders.
Q: Are there other illnesses associated with asbestos exposure that are noncancerous?
A: Asbestosis is a noncancerous disease caused by asbestos exposure. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath, persistent cough and pain. Asbestosis is a slow-progressing, irreversible disease that has serious side effects, such as clubbing of the fingers, when it’s in its advanced stages.
Q: Who may have been exposed to asbestos?
A: Those who worked directly with or around asbestos have the highest risk for mesothelioma. Unfortunately, many workers breathed in asbestos particles but were not warned of the dangers.
People who were indirectly exposed to asbestos may also be at risk. For instance, construction workers would often bring asbestos home with them on their clothing and unknowingly put their loved ones at risk.
Those who held the following occupations may have the highest risk of mesothelioma:
- Boilermakers: constructing boilers filled with insulation
- Building tradesmen: bricklayers, millwrights and carpenters
- Electricians and mechanics
- Insulators
- Maintenance workers and laborers in manufacturing plants
- Plasterers: fireproofing on steel beams
- Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
- Shipyard workers and Navy personnel
- Steel, refinery and other industrial workers
Q: What is a typical mesothelioma prognosis?
A: Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed by way of clinical and radiological procedures, in addition to biopsies and pathology. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy; however, the typical prognosis for a mesothelioma patient is only a few months, in most cases.
Q: What should I do if I have been diagnosed with mesothelioma?
A: If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos, you may have rights to compensation for your pain and suffering. You should contact the Ohio injury lawyers at Elk & Elk to learn your rights. Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. Ask us about our no fee promise.
Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you need a resourceful, experienced law firm whose track record proves it can take on Big Business and its highly paid lawyers. At Elk & Elk, our team of lawyers, paralegals, doctors, nurses, accountants, economists, analysts, investigators, and experts work hard to level the playing field between average, everyday injury victims and the massive corporations and huge insurance companies that fight tooth-and-nail to avoid paying just compensation to the people they turn into victims.
Call 1-800-ELK-OHIO for a free consultation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You may also fill out our free, no obligation online contact form.