Mesothelioma is a terminal form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, a material that was widely used in construction throughout the United States for decades due to its insulating and fireproofing capabilities. Unfortunately, the health risks of the substance were initially unknown, resulting in thousands of people developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. A Fort Mill, SC, mesothelioma lawyer is an essential resource if you have the disease.
The attorneys at Wallace & Graham, P.A., provide compassionate legal counsel for all types of mesothelioma claims in South Carolina. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with this condition, it is understandable to have many questions about potential liability for your damages, what recovery options may be available to you, and what forms of compensation you could potentially recover.
Our firm has an extensive professional record of successful mesothelioma claims for our clients in Fort Mill and surrounding communities, and our goal in every case we accept is maximum client recovery in the shortest possible timeframe. Mesothelioma claims are inherently challenging due to the long latency period of the disease and the difficulty many claimants have in proving how, when, and where they were exposed to asbestos.
Depending on the root cause of your condition, you could have grounds to file a workers’ compensation claim through your employer, a personal injury suit against an asbestos product manufacturer or a property owner, or a combination of options that would be very difficult to navigate on your own. It is vital that you reach out to a Fort Mill, SC, mesothelioma lawyer you trust as quickly as you can after your diagnosis so you can thoroughly review your options.
The first step in your mesothelioma claim is proving the cause of your condition. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are very small, light, and sharp, and they can remain suspended in the air inside a building for days at a time. When someone breathes in these fibers, they embed in the lungs and can cause mesothelioma to form in the pleura around the lungs, around the heart, and within the abdominal cavity.
Your mesothelioma lawyer in Fort Mill, SC, can help you review employment and residency records, building maintenance records, and various other forms of documentation to help you determine the root cause of your condition. Once you have accurately determined the source of your exposure, your attorney can then determine what recovery options could be available to you. You may have grounds for a civil suit, a workers’ compensation claim, or multiple options.
Many companies have been compelled to create mesothelioma injury trusts to compensate those who have been adversely affected by their products. You may have grounds to file a claim against such a trust, but meeting eligibility requirements could be challenging without an attorney’s help. If you have grounds for a personal injury suit, you may recover compensation for your and your family’s economic damages as well as your pain and suffering.
A: You could potentially claim compensation for mesothelioma by proving that you were exposed to asbestos due to the negligence or intentional misconduct of another party, which can form grounds for a personal injury claim. You may also prove that you were exposed through work, which can form the basis of a workers’ compensation claim. A Fort Mill, SC, mesothelioma lawyer can help you determine your most viable recovery options for this type of case.
A: The latency period for mesothelioma is the time it takes for the disease to become noticeable following exposure to asbestos. It is possible for the disease to take as few as 10 years to become noticeable, but the latency period may extend to 50 years or even longer. This is one of the most difficult aspects of a mesothelioma claim, as the claimant will need to prove how and when they were exposed to determine what legal options are available to them.
A: Unfortunately, mesothelioma is incurable. This terminal form of cancer cannot be cured, but there are treatments available that can help manage symptoms and help the victim remain as comfortable as possible in the time they have left. If the disease is detected early enough, proper medical treatment can extend the victim’s life substantially. However, the disease is ultimately fatal in all cases.
A: You should hire a Fort Mill, SC, mesothelioma lawyer because you have the greatest chance of reaching a positive outcome to the recovery efforts you attempt with their assistance. The right attorney can not only help you succeed with proving how you were exposed to asbestos but also determine who may be liable for your damages and whether you can file a workers’ compensation claim and/or disability claim to recover compensation.
A: The cost to hire a Fort Mill, SC, mesothelioma lawyer will depend on the lawyer’s billing policy. The attorneys at Wallace & Graham, P.A., accept mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our fee will be a percentage of whatever compensation we succeed in obtaining for our client. We only collect this fee if we win the case, so there is no risk of our client paying more for legal counsel than they win in compensation.
The right attorney can make a tremendous positive difference in the outcome of the recovery efforts you pursue in response to your mesothelioma diagnosis. You have a limited time in which to file a claim after you have been diagnosed, so it is vital to connect with a Fort Mill, SC, mesothelioma lawyer as quickly as possible. Contact Wallace & Graham, P.A., today to schedule your free consultation with a Fort Mill, SC, mesothelioma lawyer about your case.