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Mesothelioma Help Center - Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer

Florida is home to many historic buildings and trades. These locations have upheld traditions and stood the tests of time. Throughout the early half of the century, asbestos was one of the most common materials used to manufacture goods and create jobs. This practice continued well into the late 80’s despite the dangers presented by the mineral asbestos. The dangers of exposure to asbestos was not widely known among the general Florida workforce or their families. By the time the risks were disclosed, many people had already spent decades working with asbestos without any protective equipment. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been proven to be dangerous when inhaled or ingested, and any amount of exposure could cause a health risk. It has been linked to many forms of cancer including Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and other asbestos related diseases.

Florida Workers and Asbestos Exposure

Currently, Florida ranks 2nd in the U.S. for Malignant Mesothelioma deaths. From 1920 through the late 1980‘s, asbestos was a one of the most popular materials used in construction. Nearly every building constructed during this time incorporated some use of asbestos. Because of the versatility and popularity of asbestos, a high number of people in Florida worked with asbestos. This led to the exposure of many people without their knowledge or consent. For over 60 years, Florida received a total of 109,000 tons of asbestos shipments.

These shipments were delivered to Florida construction sites, manufacturing sites, oil refineries, steel mills, shipyards, industrial centers and many other commercial locations where they were used extensively. The highest frequency of reported Mesothelioma cases are among insulators, shipyard workers, plumbers, electricians, pipe-fitters and auto mechanics because of the many asbestos related products used by each profession. Florida workers were exposed to asbestos while using heat resistant gloves and other protective gear. When these workers returned home at the end of the day, they had many fibers in their clothes and hair. This caused secondhand exposure to their friends, families and loved ones

Florida has had many locations that have reported asbestos exposures. Florida Power and Light has owned and operated various power plants across the state. Many of these buildings have had large amounts of asbestos insulation. Florida has also had reports of asbestos exposure at nuclear power plant sites near St. Lucie, Crystal River and Titusville. Florida paper mills relied heavily on equipment containing asbestos and there have also been chemical plants owned by W.R. Grace that were responsible for the exposure of thousands of workers. Many Florida Mesothelioma lawsuits also come from the oil industry and shipping companies.

Other commercial places in Florida where asbestos has been found include: iron foundries, military installations, schools, warehouses, hospitals, chemical plants, steel mills, manufacturing plants and residential buildings. Asbestos insulation and packing was also frequently used in both hydroelectric and fossil fueled power plants. Many state public water systems have also held trace amounts of asbestos because asbestos was used extensively in pipe insulation. Asbestos was part of cement composition between 1920 and 1970 and was used to manufacture water pipes. Florida has also had many day laborers, contractors and other types of workers that were exposed to asbestos during their daily routines.

Asbestos-containing products were also used in Florida building and construction trades. Asbestos-containing products included: ventilation systems, floor tiles, air ducts, furnace ducts, door gaskets, cement sheets, millboards, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paints, boilers, drywall, insulation, heating equipment, air conditioning equipment, roofing materials, electrical wiring, soundproofing materials, fireproof gloves, welding equipment, ovens, artificial embers and ashes, stovetop pads, fireplaces, automobile brake pads, turbines, generators, gaskets, roofing shingles valves and pumps. With asbestos in so much industrial equipment, it is no wonder that so many Florida workers would have been unknowingly exposed to harmful levels of asbestos. Residents who live close to these areas and workers who have used equipment containing asbestos should consider seeking medical attention and receiving a screening for Mesothelioma.

Florida Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Claims

Throughout the past when asbestos was widely used, and up until to present day, there have been over 4,481 asbestos related deaths in Florida. In Broward County alone, there have been more than 448 reported asbestos related deaths and over 335 fatal cases of Mesothelioma. Many veterans serving in Pensacola and Jacksonville, Florida have also been exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma and asbestos related cancers are diagnosed 10-50 years after initial exposure. Symptoms include: chronic cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, anemia, weight loss, bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and swelling of the neck or face. Mesothelioma can also spread to the tissues covering the lungs, heart, abdomen and genitals in men.

People diagnosed with Mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases are entitled to compensation in the form of: medical expenses, loss of wages, funeral cost, expenses for traveling to receive medical treatments and any other expenses not covered by a patient’s insurance. Currently there are two types of Mesothelioma claims.

1) Mesothelioma Personal Injury Claims: are claims filed by a person diagnosed with Mesothelioma
2) Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Claims: where a claim is filed by the surviving family members on behalf of a patient who died of Mesothelioma.

Florida Mesothelioma Statute of Limitations

The Statute of limitations to file a claim in Florida is 4 years from the initial date of a Mesothelioma Diagnosis and 2 years for wrongful death. Florida courts have ruled that certain types of claims must be submitted with ‘Prima Facie Evidence’ of physical impairment before a trial begins in order to proceed with a lawsuit. It is important to note that defendants also have the opportunity to challenge that evidence. Substantial evidence is required to submit a claim and must reflect any physical impairment suffered by the plaintiff. Florida however, does not require a patient diagnosed with Mesothelioma to submit ‘Prima Facie Evidence’ of physical impairment to submit a claim. Florida law also prohibits the award of punitive damages in an asbestos lawsuit.

The state of Florida has had multi-million dollar lawsuits that have ruled in favor of victims of asbestos exposure, even exposures that date as far back as the 1920’s. Individuals, who are living near areas that have been known to have levels of asbestos or those who have worked with any of the equipment or in the locations described, should consider frequent screenings to check for any signs of Malignant Mesothelioma or asbestos related diseases. Victims should contact the appropriate legal aid as soon as possible to find out if their case falls under the acceptable statute of limitations for Florida.

Florida victims who have been exposed to asbestos and are diagnosed with Mesothelioma or an asbestos related disease are entitles to damages including:

  • Pain and Suffering
  • Physical Impairment
  • Disfigurement
  • Medical Expenses
  • Economic Damages
  • End-of-Life Expenses
  • Future Medical Bills
  • Loss of Income
  • Loss of Parental Care
  • Loss of Spouse
  • Product Liability
  • Punitive Damages
  • Monetary Compensation

In order to make a claim against an asbestos manufacturer, a plaintiff must be able to:

  • Prove that damages have taken place
  • Identify the asbestos-containing product which caused damages
  • Prove that the defendant’s asbestos-related product was a factor in causing such damages

Those who have been exposed to asbestos and developed asbestos related diseases should contact a Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer to get compensation for their pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one to asbestos related cancer, you may also be entitled to compensation.

Florida Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements:

There have been many successful claims made in Florida courtrooms that have ruled in favor of the plaintiffs:

  • $11,499,250 Million dollar settlement for a 46 year old Florida man who was diagnosed with Mesothelioma after asbestos exposure.
  • $31 Million dollars was awarded to a Mesothelioma victim who filed a lawsuit against his former Florida employer that was responsible for his exposure to asbestos.
  • $2.4 Million dollars was awarded to a 78 year old construction worker who worked at the John Manville Plant in Florida. He was diagnosed with Mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos during his employment.
  • $5,271,988 million dollar settlement was awarded to a 52 year old man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in Florida.

Florida Mesothelioma Legal Help

We help Mesothelioma patients and their families make educated decisions about how to start with filing asbestos and Mesothelioma claims. We will also recommend an experienced Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer or Florida Mesothelioma Doctor to help you get your claim started.

We have a Mesothelioma Hotline - Toll Free: 800.291.0963 that is available 24/7 to talk with a live Mesothelioma Help Center counselor. We understand that those dealing with asbestos cancers face a number of challenges, including the tremendous costs of Mesothelioma treatment.

We have helped many families get experienced legal and medical help for their Mesothelioma cancer and asbestos cancer cases. We will actually walk you through the process of contacting an experienced Florida Mesothelioma lawyer that we have worked with to get you the best possible settlement for your Florida Mesothelioma claim.

Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer - Experience

Deciding which Florida Mesothelioma law firm to represent you and your case is very important.

Choosing the right lawyer will also be important to your Florida Mesothelioma settlement.

Many Mesothelioma and asbestos cancer cases in Florida have settled with multi-million dollar verdicts.

Mesothelioma cases are not restricted to just one state. Filings are usually in multiple states.

Mesothelioma cases are contingency based cases. This means that no money should be paid by you. Mesothelioma lawyers earn their money only if they win you case. You are entitled to an experienced Florida Mesothelioma lawyer that has a track record of success in Florida asbestos lawsuits.

Experience - The Mesothelioma Help Center has been helping Florida Mesothelioma victims and their families for more than 12 years.

Mesothelioma Statistics

  • It has been well documented for many years that asbestos exposure can result in the development of deadly cancers, particularly Mesothelioma.
  • Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos. It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.
  • There are currently about 3000 new cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40.
  • About 4,000 People die each year from Mesothelioma. During the 20th century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the U. S.
  • More than 700,000 people have filed claims against more than 6,000 Asbestos companies.
  • The number of Mesothelioma and asbestos related victims is projected to increase steadily over the next 10 years.
  • According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) more than 10,000 Americans will die each year as a result of asbestos exposure.
  • One out of every 125 American men who die over the age of 50 will die from an asbestos related cancer.
  • Asbestos companies knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure in Florida for many years before ever warning the public of those risks. It is thought that around eight million people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos over the past half a century, and many more asbestos related cancer cases are expected to be reported in the next 25 years.

We help with you file Mesothelioma and Asbestos-related claims in each state

Call us toll free at 800.291.0963 or use quick contact form located at the right of this page and we will contact you within 24 hours.

 
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Mesothelioma Symptoms

The most common Mesothelioma symptoms are the following:

Recent onset of shortness of breath (31%)
Recent increase in shortness of breath (30%)
Chest pain (43%)
 
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