Have you been diagnosed with mesothelioma in North Mississippi? Your illness may well have occurred due to exposure to asbestos products, in which case you deserve fair compensation from the companies that put these toxic items on the market. Contact Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman for a free initial case review with a seasoned mesothelioma attorney to discuss how our firm can help you pursue financial recovery for your medical bills, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.
Why Turn to the Attorneys at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman for Help with Your Mesothelioma Claim?
Fighting mesothelioma can feel like a full-time job, and while you could be owed substantial compensation for what you’ve suffered, getting it means pursuing a time-intensive legal claim. Fortunately, you do not have to do it on your own. Instead, you can let the attorneys at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman stand up on your behalf. For decades, injured people throughout North Mississippi have turned to our legal team for dedicated advocacy because:
- We believe in the importance of human rights and strive to protect ordinary Mississippians from unscrupulous people and corporations that might try to take advantage of them.
- Our clients are our top priority, and we do everything possible to provide the best legal representation and service.
- We treat every client with compassion and respect so that no one feels like just another case number.
- We know that going to court and trial may give our clients the best chance of getting the compensation they need, so we won’t hesitate to pursue litigation when necessary.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, or the tissues that form the lining around the organs in the chest cavity (the pleura), the organs in the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum), and the testicles (the tunica vaginalis). Mesothelioma forms more commonly in the pleura than in the peritoneum or tunica vaginalis. According to the American Lung Association, asbestos exposure is the most significant risk factor for developing mesothelioma. Scientists believe that tiny fibers or particles of asbestos enter the body through inhalation and then become lodged in the mesothelium. Asbestos fibers cause irritation that, over time, damages the DNA in cells and causes cancer cells to form.
Manufacturers incorporated asbestos into a wide range of products throughout the 20th century due to asbestos’s heat- and fire-resistant properties. As a result, workers in many industries were exposed to the fiber, including:
- Automotive and aircraft engineers and mechanics
- Boilermakers
- Construction workers
- Machinists
- Miners
- Shipyard workers
- Firefighters
- Oil rig/refinery workers
Additionally, the families of workers exposed to asbestos on the job may have also experienced secondary exposure due to fibers carried home on the workers’ clothing.
Who Can You Hold Liable for Your Mesothelioma?
Manufacturers of products containing or incorporating asbestos allegedly knew about the health hazards of asbestos exposure for decades before these risks became more widely known in the 1970s. People who have developed mesothelioma can file claims against those responsible for their asbestos exposure. Workers who suffered occupational exposure to asbestos have also pursued workers’ compensation claims to recover financial benefits available for occupational illnesses.
Options for Financial Recovery Following a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma potentially caused by asbestos exposure, you may have several options for pursuing compensation. First, if your asbestos exposure occurred at work, you may have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim with the employer where the exposure occurred. Mississippi’s workers’ compensation system offers specific financial benefits for people who develop occupational diseases, including:
- Medical benefits that cover the cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment, nursing services, rehabilitation, and related expenses, plus mileage reimbursement for out-of-town medical appointments and procedures
- Wage loss benefits that can equal as much as two-thirds of a worker’s average weekly wage, payable when a worker misses time from their job or suffers a reduction in earning capacity
- Death benefits that pay a worker’s surviving spouse and dependents cash benefits for a percentage of the deceased worker’s average weekly wage, plus a $1,000 lump sum payment to a surviving spouse and up to $5,000 toward funeral and burial expenses
People who develop mesothelioma from asbestos exposure may also have claims against the companies that manufactured the products they were exposed to. These individuals may file product liability claims to recover compensation for financial and personal losses such as:
- Costs of medical treatment, including specialists appointments, surgeries, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy
- Costs of nursing or long-term disability care and replacement services, such as housekeeping
- Lost wages/income from missed time from work or lost earning capacity
- Physical pain and anguish
- Emotional trauma or distress
- Lost quality of life and reduced life expectancy
Some asbestos manufacturers have gone bankrupt due to massive liability from asbestos exposure claims and have set up trusts to manage and pay injury and cancer claims.
How Long Do You Have to File a Mesothelioma Claim?
Under Mississippi’s statutes of limitations, you have limited time to file legal claims for mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure. After receiving your diagnosis, you may have three years to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer(s) of the products responsible for your asbestos exposure. In addition, you may have only two years to file a formal workers’ compensation claim with your current or former employer. Don’t risk leaving money on the table – contact the legal team at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman as soon as possible to start pursuing your legal rights.
How Can a Lawyer Help You Pursue Compensation?
Unfortunately, the corporations and insurance companies responsible for paying your mesothelioma claim might not be eager to part with their money. As such, they might try to argue you were not exposed at work or that someone else is responsible for your condition. Fight back with the help of a mesothelioma attorney from Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman. We can aggressively pursue the financial resources you need by:
- Recovering evidence to build your case, including employment records, medical records, witness testimony, and expert reports/testimony
- Evaluating your legal options for financial recovery, including determining whether you may have workers’ comp or product liability claims
- Documenting your ongoing and future expenses or losses
- Filing your claims and aggressively negotiating with corporate representatives, insurance adjusters, or defense attorneys to get you the compensation you need
- Taking your claims to formal workers’ comp hearing or court if necessary to demand a favorable outcome for you
Contact Us for a Free Claim Evaluation to Discuss Your Options
If you’ve received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may have the right to pursue financial compensation from the companies that exposed you to asbestos. Contact Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our mesothelioma attorneys to discuss your legal options for pursuing financial relief for your harm and loss.
