California Asbestos Attorney
Mesothelioma cancer is deadliest of the asbestos caused diseases, but there are many others. asbestosis, lung cancer, COPD and chronic bronchitis are additional diseases that can be traced back to asbestos exposure. California residents who have developed an asbestos related disease have a number of legal options available to them. Our attorneys are familiar with California’s state rulings on mesothelioma cases as well as the applicable federal statutes and rulings.
Individuals who have suffered as the result of asbestos exposure can file a liability claim against one or more of the asbestos companies that have set up trust funds to compensate those that have been injured. Another option is filing a lawsuit against a former employer who manufactured products containing asbestos or who allowed asbestos exposure in the workplace. The third option is filing several legal actions, which is what thousands of Californians have done.
The term “asbestos cancer” generally refers to mesothelioma, a lethal malignancy for which the only known cause is asbestos. The initial symptoms are usually shortness of breath, a persistent cough and tightness in the chest, followed by pleural effusion. Over seventy percent of all mesothelioma cases develop in the outer lining of the lung; the other possibilities are in the abdominal cavity and in the lining around the heart.
• Mesothelioma has a latency period of twenty to fifty years. You may have recently developed asbestos cancer from a job you left decades ago.
• About 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed annually in the U.S. despite the fact that asbestos products were taken off the market in the 1970s and 1980s.
• Because of the long latency period mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until the disease has developed to a late stage. The average survival term after diagnosis is twelve to eighteen months.
• The courts in most states understand the urgency of a mesothelioma lawsuit and often will help expedite it. California’s courts are generally reasonable about an attorney’s request for rapid proceedings on behalf of a gravely ill client.
Asbestos Claims in California
California has more asbestos related deaths every year than any other state. Part of the reason is the state’s sheer size, and part of the reason is the proliferation of industrial sites that were built with products containing asbestos. There are oil refineries in the Benicia and Vallejo to the north; San Pedro, Carson and Los Angeles to the south. (See more about Asbestos exposure in California)
Shipyards and naval bases are probably the job locations with the highest risk of hazardous asbestos exposure. Tens of thousands of Californians worked or are still working at the facilities in Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, Vallejo, Long Beach, Los Angeles and San Diego. There are hundreds of other likely locations for job site asbestos exposure in the state.
Asbestos claimsare often filed against more than one company in more than one state. The regulations can vary – however our attorneys are familiar with the claim requirements for every firm that has acknowledged their liability for asbestos exposure and set aside funds to pay claims. We can provide a quick analysis of your case and get the necessary legal work in motion quickly – and at no charge.
If you need a California asbestos attorney call 1-800-490-6014 or fill out the brief form at the top of the page. We’ll be in touch immediately.
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