Mesothelioma Lawyers in Michigan
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Mesothelioma Lawyers in Michigan

In decades past, thousands of Americans were exposed to asbestos at construction sites and other facilities. Although not all people exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma or cancer, the risk is higher than in other populations.

Sadly, Michigan has many known asbestos exposure sites due to its high number of shipbuilding facilities. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos, you could be owed financial compensation.

To get the compensation you are due, hire the most dedicated Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Lawyers in Michigan. You need a mesothelioma lawyer who knows the differences between these types of cancers and has plenty of experience with mesothelioma cases.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos refers to a group of six different silicate minerals made of long fibers. These fibers are released into the atmosphere due to abrasion or some other process. Asbestos has been used for heating insulation, pipe insulation, brake linings, shingles, roofing, and more, and it is hazardous to a person’s respiratory system.

When a product containing asbestos cracks open or is abraded, it releases asbestos into the atmosphere. If you breathe in the asbestos fibers, your lungs, the lining of your lungs, or another part of your respiratory system can become inflamed and infected.

Much of the time, effects from asbestos exposure don’t show up for 5, 10, or 20 years. Many people who were exposed to asbestos and contracted an ailment because of this exposure are construction workers who handled the fibrous material on the job.

If you handled asbestos at a current or previous job and you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, there’s a good chance you can get financial compensation for any medical bills or other expenses. A mesothelioma attorney at our law firm can get you the compensation you are due for your medical expenses and more.

History of Asbestos Exposure in the Workplace

Medical researchers in 1935 first suggested a detrimental causal relationship between asbestos and lung ailments. At that time, the use of this carcinogenic material was becoming increasingly popular. Seven years later, the National Cancer Institute in the United States recognized the factual claim that asbestos causes cancer.

Unfortunately, it took a lot longer for the industrial world to catch up. Many companies ignored the dire warnings about asbestos to continue profiting, putting their workers in danger and causing many wrongful deaths.

The effects of inhaling asbestos may not appear for up to 35 years. If you have contracted one of these dire respiratory afflictions because of asbestos, you need a law firm in the state of Michigan that understands the legal issues surrounding lung cancer and mesothelioma lawsuits.

What is Lung Cancer?

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs grow at an excessive rate, creating a tumor. The tumors and the cancer cells within them destroy the healthy lung tissue and prevent the lungs from functioning normally.

The amount of time and the level of asbestos a worker is exposed to increase the risk of contracting lung cancer. In addition, asbestos can cause more than one lung ailment: it can also cause mesothelioma.

What is Mesothelioma?

This cancer also affects the lungs but can also affect other areas of the body as it is an ailment of linings, including the linings of the stomach, uterus, or other organs. In contrast, lung cancer only occurs in the lungs.

The mesothelium is the protective lining of many organs, and mesothelioma directly affects this lining. In a mesothelioma case involving asbestos exposure, cancer attacks the pleura or the lungs’ protective lining. This is known as pleural mesothelioma.

The Difference Between Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

There are critical differences between mesothelioma and lung cancer. One of the significant differences is visibility. There are a lot more lung cancer cases in the United States than mesothelioma cases.

According to the CDC, lung cancer kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. Out of the 600,000 cancer deaths in the United States in 2012, around 57,000 were attributed to lung cancer, and only 2,700 were due to mesothelioma.

Smoking and air pollution can cause lung cancer, whereas only exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma. Despite its rarity, mesothelioma is much deadlier than lung cancer. The 5-year survival rate for mesothelioma is less than 10%, and lung cancer’s 5-year survival rate is around 18%.

No matter what your exact diagnosis, you need to afford treatment as soon as possible. Filing a claim with an asbestos trust fund may be the only way to protect your health and your family’s financial security.

Dangers of Misdiagnosis

Victims of asbestos exposure can often be misdiagnosed as the symptoms for many ailments caused by asbestos present similarly – shortness of breath, trouble breathing, and chest pain. Misdiagnosis may become a significant problem when a worker who was once exposed to asbestos in the workplace seeks compensation later.

A definite diagnosis is necessary to take advantage of the trust funds created to compensate asbestos victims. If misdiagnosis occurs, the victim may get the wrong medical treatment. The asbestos trust fund could also refuse compensation on the grounds of that misdiagnosis.

The amount of funds a victim is entitled to often depends on their diagnosis. Often, what was initially diagnosed as lung cancer turns out to be mesothelioma and vice-versa. Because of how long it takes for mesothelioma to develop, some victims may not remember they worked at a known asbestos exposure site.

Our legal team at our Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., strongly advise anyone who believes their ailment is due to asbestos getting a second or even a third medical opinion. It is helpful to find a medical professional who has dealt with asbestos ailments in the past.

mesothelioma and lung cancer lawyers

Starting the Process

To start building a solid case, our mesothelioma and lung cancer lawyers in Michigan will ask you for your medical records, records of the asbestos exposure, a list of witnesses, and the party responsible. After this evidence is collected, your attorney notifies the required authorities, including the trust fund you will be collecting money from.

The trust fund may try to dispute your case, and you may need to seek additional medical exams or expert witnesses to establish your claim. However, your legal team helps you through the entire process. We work with you to track down old records verifying your place of employment and other hard-to-locate documents that your case may hinge upon.

In Michigan, asbestos-related claims are subject to the discovery rule, which means the statute of limitations on cases does not start until the medical condition is diagnosed or should have been recognized. The clock starts ticking as soon as your doctor makes the diagnosis and the asbestos connection, so you need to take legal action as soon as possible.

Contact Us

Our professional team of mesothelioma and lung cancer lawyers in Michigan at Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., can help you get the compensation and justice you deserve. We have extensive experience in personal injury cases, including mesothelioma verdicts and settlements.

If you or a loved one once worked with asbestos and now has contracted lung cancer or mesothelioma, you may be due financial compensation. Michigan mesothelioma law makes it clear that no one who has an ailment due to asbestos exposure should have to suffer needlessly and without recompense.

Call our law office toll-free at 866-MICH-LAW to schedule your no-obligation consultation so our expert asbestos attorneys can review your case.

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