Mesothelioma & Asbestos:

During the twentieth century, up until the late 1970s, a mineral was used for a vast range of purposes, and it soon became known as a wonderful, cost effective material that could be used by many professions. This mineral was asbestos, and it was used in a wide range of goods, from insulation in building, to piping, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, auto brakes, and even household goods such as toasters. The cost effectiveness and fire retardant properties of asbestos made it into a hugely popular material used by a number of difference professions.
However, by the 1980s the bubble burst, as many people realized that this wasn’t a wonderful, perfect material at all, but a hazardous substance that could cause a range of dangerous health effects and could even lead to death. One of the most dangerous and notable diseases that can result from long term or frequent exposure to asbestos fibers is mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that is on the rise in many countries around the world.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that can affect the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). The unique thing about this form of cancer is the latency period – it can take several decades or more for symptoms of the cancer to manifest from the exposure to asbestos, which means that people that have contracted this cancer do not find out that they actually have the disease for 20, 30, even 50 years. Once the symptoms have developed, the patient’s life span can be shortened to a matter of months. The long latency period and non-specific symptoms associated with mesothelioma can make it very difficult to diagnose, thus causing additional delays. To date there is no long-term treatment or cure for this cancer.

Many people that are now discovering that they have mesothelioma are just starting to enjoy their retirement, many of them having worked with asbestos in their younger years. This cancer tends to affect a high number of men in their 60's and 70's, because these are the people that worked with asbestos on a daily basis 30 or 40 years ago.

The concerning thing about asbestos – apart from the obvious ill health effects – is that it is thought that many manufacturers and companies that produced and used asbestos were well aware of the deadly effects since the 1920s. However, they continued to use asbestos widely in all sorts of industries, and moreover did not warn nor protect employees that were working with this substance. By making employees work obliviously with asbestos on a daily basis, these companies had effectively signed the death warrant of many of them.

It was not just those working with asbestos without protection that were at risk. Their families could also find themselves exposed to asbestos through the clothes, hair and skin of their loved ones. In some cases, the wives of asbestos workers contracted mesothelioma simply by breathing in asbestos fibers from washing the clothes of their husbands.

These days, asbestos litigation has become a big business, and many people have sued manufacturers and irresponsible companies for millions of dollars. Of course, the money does not make up for the shortened life span or the pain and suffering, but this compensation is to cover medical expenses incurred as a result of contracting mesothelioma, as well as to provide a secure financial future for the family of the sufferer after he or she has passed on.

There are now many lawyers in operation that specialize in mesothelioma cases, and these mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers offer expertise and skills that will help you to get the compensation you deserve from those responsible for your illness. An experienced lawyer will be able to take the necessary action to determine which manufacturers or companies should be help responsible for your illness, and can put together a solid lawsuit to increase your chances of a successful claim. If you are the relative of someone that has already passed away from mesothelioma, you should still contact a specialist lawyer in order to get compensation for pain and suffering of your loved one.

Most mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency fee, which means that you won’t have to pay a cent up front. You will only pay if and when you receive a settlement, at which point the mesothelioma lawyer will take a percentage of the settlement as a fee for his services. It is important to seek legal assistance as soon as possible, as most states have statutes of limitation, which means that you have to file your claim within a certain time period. You should find out what the statutes of limitation are within your state, and contact a mesothelioma lawyer as early on as possible in the event that you are diagnosed with this disease.

Investigation Into Screening And Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma And Asbestos Injuries

Investigation Into Screening And Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma And Asbestos Injuries According to recent reports, a New York federal court has opened an investigation into possible criminal activity in relation to the diagnoses of many asbestos and silicosis related lawsuits. It has been reported that subpoenas have been handed down and documentation sought from at least one company involved in the screening process.

Although no mention of the company in question was made, it has been noted that Dr.’s Allen Oaks and George Martindale, who read chest X-rays for N&M Inc., received subpoenas. The attorney of one of the doctors stated that his client had only been asked to produce documents and not to testify.

One of the doctors had already stated that he did not intend for his reports to indicate that he had made any diagnoses of silicosis, but that his testing had been based on the assumption that this disease had already been diagnosed by another doctor.
Lawsuits for asbestos related injuries and other toxic exposure injuries have risen sharply over recent years, and the government has been looking into a variety of ways in which to stop frivolous claims

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that has become far more well known over recent years among medics and the general public, although there is still a long way to go with regards to educating people about this type of cancer. This form of cancer affects cells known as the mesothelial cells, which can be found located around major organs such as the heart, lungs, and abdominal organs. There are three main types of mesothelioma, and all of these can prove deadly. This is a cancer that is malignant more often than not, and has a number of characteristics that set it apart from other types of cancer.

The three main types of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial mesothelioma. These are so called depending upon the part of the body in which the cancer forms. With mesothelioma the cancerous cells can spread quickly, and all too often it is too late for the disease to be effectively treated by the time it is diagnosed. Why? Because one of the distinctive characteristics of this form of cancer is that it has a very long latency period, which means that it can take a long time for the cancer to manifest.

It can, in fact, take several decades for the onset of symptoms of mesothelioma, which means that the cancer could have been festering and spreading within the body for many years before the patient realizes that there is anything wrong. This means diagnosing mesothelioma is made all the more difficult and treating the condition effectively is also difficult. This is because the disease is often in its later stages by the time it is diagnosed because of its long latency period.

The cause of mesothelioma is exposure to a once-commonly used material known as asbestos. Asbestos was once a widely used form of thermal insulation, and although the dangers of working with the material came to light in the 1920s its use was widely continued until the 1970s. Even today, asbestos is still used in many places around the world although there is far more protection and more regulations in place to protect employees that work with it. Many companies that used asbestos years ago were well aware of its dangers but continued to let employees risk their lives through exposure to it. Now that these effects are becoming common knowledge, even to the lay person, many of these irresponsible companies are being sued for millions of dollars by ex-employees who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and have been effectively sentenced to death because of its effects.

In terms of legal recourse, asbestos litigation has become a multi-billion dollar industry, with many people successfully suing asbestos and related companies after contracting mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. The highest risk group when it comes to mesothelioma is those that have worked with asbestos, as these are the people that are most likely to be exposed for longer periods of time and at higher levels. In the past, even the families of these workers were put at risk, as they could be exposed to asbestos dust and fibers from the skin, hair, and work clothes of the worker.

Today many strict regulations have come into force when it comes to asbestos in order to minimize on exposure to asbestos and on the chances of contracting mesothelioma. This type of cancer has cost many lives and bankrupt many businesses, both issues about which governments are most concerned. There are now many specialist law firms that deal with compensation claims for mesothelioma sufferers, working to get them compensation to cover medical bills, pain and suffering and to provide their families with financial security once this fatal disease results in death. The situation is set to get worse, with many hundreds of thousands more cases expected over the next 25 years. But with clinical trials into treatment being carried out continually, it is hoped that by that time an effective treatment will be available to treat the disease, whatever stage it is at.

Car Accident: Insurance Claims - Do's and Don'ts

If you have been involved in any kind of traffic accident, whether a car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident, you will inevitably have to deal with your insurance company as well as the insurance agents of others involved in the accident. Filing an insurance claim and handling insurance adjusters can be quite a task. Here are some essential dos and don’ts to remember, regarding insurance claims.

Do's

Do contact your insurance company as soon after the accident or injury as possible. Unless you have some very serious injuries to take care off, your insurance agent is the first person to call in case of an accident or injury.
Do take time to read your insurance policy and understand it. This will help you in determining what coverage your policy allows so as to make the necessary claims.
Do your best to get as many details of the accident as possible. This will include taking pictures of the damaged vehicles and any injuries sustained. Also do try to take down the names and numbers of any witnesses to the accident who may later be able to help prove your insurance claim.
Do make a note of the insurance details of any other person or vehicle involved in the accident.
Do keep a written account of any conversations and dealings with the insurance officers, agents, and any other people involved in the claims process.
Do save receipts and bills for any and all expenses relating to your insurance claim, bills for any repair work on the damaged vehicle, and also any medical costs incurred on the treatment of any injuries that are covered by your insurance policy.
Do be frank and honest with the insurance investigators so that your claim is not denied for fraudulent reasons.
Do check if you have more than one insurance policy that provides coverage for the particular accident or injury. Many people have multiple insurance policies under which they may be able to file valid insurance claims. So, do take the time to review all your insurance policies.

Don’ts

Don’t admit to any kind of liability on your part but just stick to the facts without expressing any opinion. The ascertaining of liability is affected by different circumstances. It is not your job to admit fault but is the job of the insurance investigators to gather all the necessary facts and evidence and then determine liability.
Don’t give anything in writing to any insurance officers, whether your own or the other party’s, if you do not understand any part of your policy or claim.
Don’t let any time limits to file your insurance claim run out. All insurance companies require you to file an insurance claim within specified periods of time after the accident or injury. So make sure you don’t disregard this time limit or else your claim may not be considered valid.
Don’t take everything that your insurance agent tells you as the last word, especially regarding the value of your claim or a settlement. Insurance companies always try to give you estimates of losses that are lower than your actual losses. Don’t just accept their estimates without doing some estimation of your own.
Don’t sign any document that is a release or a waiver of any kind. If you are not sure about what you are being asked to sign, consult an attorney for help.
Don’t take any check as a full and final payment unless you are certain that it is a fair compensation for your losses.

Car And Automobile Accidents Lawyers

Thousands of people are injured or killed every year in car accidents, and car accident figures have reached such numbers that they are thought to become the main cause of preventable death over the next fifteen years. Road accidents are the most popular cause of personal injury claims, and whether you were the driver or passenger in a car accident, or even if you are a pedestrian involved in a car accident, you could be entitled to compensation for pain, suffering and injury caused by a road traffic accident that was not your fault.
Some of the claims that you may be able to make include:

Claims against an uninsured driver
Claims for serious injuries
Claims for medical expenses caused by a car accident
Claims for loss of income
Claims for defective vehicles
Claims for pedestrians involved in car accidents

Over recent years, many specialist firms have come into operation offering legal assistance for those involved in a car accident that was not their fault. The potential for claiming compensation for a car accident that was not your fault and caused injury or harm is high. Traditionally, these costs were covered by just the insurance companies. However, specialist law firms can get you compensation for all losses such as medical expenses, loss of earnings, and harm caused by the accident. In addition to this, these car accident law firms can help in situations where the person at fault was not insured and therefore cannot pay through the insurance.
When you seek legal assistance in order to claim compensation following a car accident that was not your fault, you may have to provide medical evidence. In some states you can make a claim if you fall under one of the following:

A loved one is killed
You suffer a fractured bone or multiple fractures
You suffer a permanent disfigurement
You suffer the loss of a sense/senses
You suffer the loss of a limb
You suffer debilitating injuries such as spinal or brain injury

It is important to seek assistance and advice from a qualified and experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible following the incident. You may be limited for time when it comes to claiming compensation depending on which state you are in, so it is important to seek advice as soon as possible.

An experienced car accident lawyer can help you to get the compensation you deserve to cover any costs incurred due to the accident, such as medical expenses. He or she will also be able to get you compensation for pain, suffering and injury by putting together a solid and watertight case. If you are able to provide medical evidence of injury caused by the accidents, then this can really help your case. Even if you are unsure as to whether you have grounds to make a claim, it is worth going to see a lawyer, as he or she will be able to determine the viability of your case based on the facts and evidence.

Many law firms now offer a free initial consultation, so you can find out whether you have grounds to make a claim for free. Other law firms work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you don’t pay a cent until you receive compensation, at which point you are charged a percentage of the settlement. If you do not win your case, then you are not charged at all.

Whatever type of injury you have sustained from a car accident that was not your fault, and however small or insignificant it appears to be, you should always seek both medical and legal assistance immediately following the accident. Delaying the process could mean a delay in diagnosis or treatment, and could also make the difference between a successful claim and ineligibility to file for compensation against the person responsible for your injuries and loss.