Workers Compensation for Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a serious type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, many individuals and their families were unknowingly exposed to cancerous asbestos at work. Construction workers, shipbuilders, and other workers breathed in these toxic fibers over the course of their lives setting them up for terminal cancer later in life.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in your work environment or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to take legal action against your employer. The Clearwater mesothelioma and workers' compensation lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can assess whether or not you have a viable case and may be able to file a mesothelioma worker's compensation claim on your behalf.
How Do You Know if You Have Mesothelioma?
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer associated with mesothelial tissue. One of the primary causes of mesothelioma is significant exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma can take a long time to develop and is known as a "silent killer." This is because many of the symptoms associated with mesothelioma do not become evident until cancer has already progressed to a later stage.Symptoms of mesothelioma frequently do not develop until it is too late. Early symptoms of the disease are sometimes mistaken for common illnesses and ailments or the normal aging process. In those instances, doctors and other healthcare providers often dismiss, ignore, or misdiagnose the symptoms, believing them to be harmless.
Mesothelioma symptoms can also vary among workers, depending upon which type or stage of mesothelioma the worker has – as well as the physical location of the mesothelioma tumors in the worker's body. Some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with late-stage mesothelioma include:
- Fatigue
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Low oxygen levels
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Nausea
- Fever
- Unexplained weight loss
Some of the most common types of mesothelioma that develop from prolonged asbestos exposure include:
Pleural Mesothelioma – This type of mesothelioma develops in the linings of a worker's lungs. It can affect the worker's breathing abilities, as well as the chest cavity. This can also lead to other major health problems, including pneumonia, the flu, or lung cancer.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma – This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of a person's abdomen, known as the peritoneum. This type of mesothelioma is especially associated with loss of appetite, as well as abdominal pain and swelling.
Pericardial Mesothelioma – This type of mesothelioma can directly target the lining of a person's heart (i.e., the pericardium). In some cases, the worker cannot even be diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma until after he or she is deceased. This type of mesothelioma is most commonly associated with chest pains, fevers, night sweats, and irregular heartbeats.
Workers Exposed to Asbestos
High-Risk Mesothelioma Jobs
Asbestos exposure is especially prevalent in the construction industry and other blue-collar trades. This is because asbestos was formerly used in almost all construction materials and relied upon heavily. Until the dangers associated with asbestos became well known, asbestos was a kind of “wonder material” because of its insulating and fire-resistant qualities, as well as its affordability. Asbestos was commonly used in various construction materials, ranging from ceiling tiles to electrical wires.
Although asbestos use has declined throughout the United States in recent years, it has not stopped completely and has not been banned. Consequently, exposure to asbestos through your employment is still a very real risk. Occupations with the highest risk of asbestos exposure include plumbers, automotive mechanics, power plant employees, insulation workers, electricians, emergency responders, shipbuilders, factory workers, and railroad workers.
If you are employed in one of these professions and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should speak to a Clearwater workers' compensation lawyer today. A lawyer may be able to file a workers' compensation claim on your behalf and pursue monetary compensation.
Filing a Workers' Compensation Mesothelioma Claim
If your mesothelioma diagnosis can be traced to workplace asbestos exposure, you may be eligible to file a workers' compensation claim and obtain monetary compensation. Treatment for mesothelioma can be very expensive, and workers' compensation benefits can go a long way toward making you whole.
If you are awarded workers' compensation benefits, you may be able to recover compensation for all of your medical costs, a percentage of your lost wages, and temporary or permanent disability benefits. You may also be able to reopen your case for future care and treatment if your condition ultimately worsens.
In order to recover workers' compensation benefits, no person or company needs to be at fault. Rather, these benefits are available to workers who are injured while on the job, and without regard to fault. Generally, to be eligible for workers' compensation benefits, you must have sustained an accidental injury or illness, while you were on the job, and while you were acting in the scope of and course of your employment. If you sustained the injury or illness outside of those parameters, you might not be eligible to recover benefits.
Steps You Should Take After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
If you believe you were exposed to asbestos at work and are experiencing mesothelioma symptoms, the first thing you should do is consult with a health care provider – preferably, your primary care doctor. You should also report your condition to your employer so that the insurance carrier is on notice. You should also continue seeking follow-up medical care and treatment for your condition on a regular basis. Finally, it is important that you keep all of your medical records and bills, as well as any and all lost wage documentation.
Seek an Experienced Florida Mesothelioma Attorney
Call a Clearwater, Florida asbestos lawyer today for a free legal consultation and case evaluation. Asbestos exposure in the workplace can lead to mesothelioma and a host of other health problems and illnesses. If you or a loved one works in a high-risk environment or has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can review your symptoms with you and help you decide whether you should take legal action.The Clearwater asbestos lawyers at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA may be able to file a workers' compensation or personal injury claim on your behalf and pursue the monetary compensation you may recover under the law. To schedule a free consultation and case evaluation with a Clearwater asbestos lawyer, please call us today at (833) 700-MESO [6376], or contact us online.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 (833) 700-MESO [6376] https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/mesothelioma-practice-attorneys/