Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer - Mesothelioma Attorney in Pennsylvania � CT Mesothelioma Asbestos Claims Lawyer, Attorney, Law Firm

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) more than 10,000 Americans will die each year as a result of asbestos exposure.

Pennsylvania is home to many historic buildings and trades. These locations have upheld traditions and stood the tests 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 asbestos exposure was not widely known among the general Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania Workers and Asbestos Exposure

Currently, Pennsylvania ranks 4th 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 Pennsylvania worked with asbestos. This led to the exposure of many people without their knowledge or consent. For over 60 years, Pennsylvania received a total of 436,000 tons of asbestos shipments.

These shipments were delivered to Pennsylvania construction sites, manufacturing sites, oil refineries, steel mills, iron 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. Many Pennsylvania Mesothelioma lawsuits also come from the oil industry and shipping companies.

Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania has had many locations that have reported asbestos exposures. There have been naturally occurring deposits of asbestos in the south-eastern region of the state. Pennsylvania counties that have reported the highest frequency of asbestos exposures include: Philadelphia County, Delaware County, Allegheny County, Montgomery County and Bucks County.

Other commercial places in Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania building and construction trades. Asbestos-containing products included: ventilation systems, floor tiles, air ducts, furnace ducts, door gaskets, cement sheets, millboards, ceiling 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 Pennsylvania 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 receive a screening for Mesothelioma.

Pennsylvania Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Claims

Throughout the past when asbestos was widely used, and up until to present day, there have been over 3,913 asbestos-related deaths in Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia County alone, there have been more than 659 reported asbestos-related deaths and over 315 fatal cases of Mesothelioma. Many veterans serving on Army, Navy and Coast Guard bases in Pennsylvania may have also been exposed to asbestos in building materials such as drywall, roofing shingles, floor tiles, and ceiling tiles. Military personnel may have also come into contact with asbestos while serving as Electricians, Shipyard workers, Insulators, and while Servicing Boilers, Naval Ships and Aircraft. 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.

The Statute of limitations to file a claim in Pennsylvania is 2 years from the initial date or ‘Discovery” of a Mesothelioma Diagnosis and 2 years from the event of a wrongful death. Substantial evidence is required to submit a claim and must reflect any physical impairment suffered by the plaintiff. Pennsylvania has established that certain cases fall under specific areas of evidence, and must be filed according to specific guidelines. Pennsylvania Asbestos cases fall under five categories:

Evidence of Physical Impairment
Case management Orders (CMO)
Deferring Punitive Damages
Several Liability
Successor Liability

Plaintiffs with non-malignant asbestos-related diseases are able to file lawsuits for damages, but may be placed in an inactive docket. They may file a second lawsuit to recover damages if their condition develops into an asbestos-related cancer at a later date. Under Pennsylvania Law, a plaintiff must have evidence of Physical Impairment in order to file a lawsuit.

Case Management Orders (CMO’s) are subject to court approval. A (CMO) can simplify court proceedings by placing a case in an inactive docket, reactivating an inactive case, scheduling trials, or group cases together to form class action lawsuits.

Punitive damages are rare in Pennsylvania Courts.

Several Liability is the portion of liability covered by the defendant. Liability can be shared among multiple defendants in one case.

Successor Liability comes into effect when a company responsible for damages merges with another company that held no prior liability. The company which held no prior liability becomes liable after a merge and becomes responsible for compensation.

The state of Pennsylvania has had multi-million dollar lawsuits that have ruled in favor of victims who have suffered asbestos exposure. Some cases of exposure 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 Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania victims who have been exposed to asbestos and are diagnosed with Mesothelioma or an asbestos related disease are entitled 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 Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements:

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

$1.5 Million dollar verdict for a 56 year-old Pennsylvania Mechanic who was diagnosed with Mesothelioma after asbestos exposure.
$1.4 Million dollars was awarded to a 59 year-old Pennsylvania man who developed mesothelioma after working as a Foundry Worker and as a Power Plant Worker.
$5 Million dollar verdict for a US Navy Veteran who developed Mesothelioma as a result of his service to the United States. He served as a Boilerman in Pennsylvania and was consequently exposed to asbestos fibers while performing tasks associated with his rate.
$1.3 Million dollars was awarded to a 55 year-old US Air Force Veteran that served in Pennsylvania and developed Mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer or Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Mesothelioma lawyer that we have worked with to get you the best possible settlement for your Pennsylvania Mesothelioma claim.

Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer - Experience

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

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

Many Mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer cases in Pennsylvania have settled or received 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 Pennsylvania Mesothelioma lawyer that has a track record of success in Pennsylvania asbestos lawsuits.

Experience - The Mesothelioma Help Center has been helping Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.