Mesothelioma is a very serious work-related condition that can result from asbestos exposure. The condition can develop years after exposure, which means it can be harder to prove how the illness occurred.
Because proof has to be produced, the client has to be interviewed and this interview can take a while because a foundation has to be built for the claim. The interviews focus on where the exposure occurred and how and when the diagnosis was made. For instance, your workers’ comp attorney may ask if exposure occurred while you were working in construction. If the answer is “yes,” then an investigation takes place into the structures you worked on at the time you claim to have been exposure.
Unfortunately, there are many types of workers throughout the Twin Cities that have been exposed to asbestos resulting in mesothelioma. In addition to construction workers, plumbers may have worked around boilers containing gaskets, pumps, or insulation containing asbestos. Others include power plant workers, U.S. Navy veterans, oil refinery workers, shipyard workers, manufacturing workers, steel mill workers, electricians, machinists, mechanics, and miners.
According to the CDC, Minnesota is among the sixteen states that have the highest incidence of mesothelioma.
Most of this exposure occurred between the 1950s and the 1980s. Navy veterans make up 1/3 of the number of U.S. Citizens diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.
These individuals usually notice difficulty breathing, pain under their rib cage, weight loss without reason, or painful lumps and swelling in the abdomen. It can be difficult to tell the difference between lung cancer and mesothelioma, but doctors can find out the difference with biopsies and imaging.
Unfortunately, malignant mesothelioma isn’t typically found until it is in its advanced stages. When it is advanced, it is much more difficult to treat. Treatment can include radiation, chemotherapy, and/or surgery.
Due to the devastating and highly expensive nature of a mesothelioma diagnosis, victims may opt for workers’ comp benefits or, if they wish to achieve a more significant settlement, they can file an injury claim. An experienced attorney can evaluate the case and determine which type of claim will be the best.
There are some mesothelioma victims throughout the Twin Cities that choose a personal injury lawsuit, depending on what led to the illness, and others choose to take workers’ compensation benefits, particularly for the medical care.