Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was widely used in the US for many years in many applications, and thousands of people in Florida have been exposed to this substance in various places. When you or a family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will need the help of a Florida mesothelioma lawyer to determine your legal options and claim compensation for this disease.

Representing Mesothelioma Claims in Florida

The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have nearly 30 years of experience representing clients in mesothelioma cases nationwide, and we have successfully represented clients in more than 55,000 cases and have recovered more than $1 billion in compensation. We take mesothelioma cases that many other firms will not because of the volume of work they require and their inherent complexity. We’re confident we can provide unmatched representation for your case.

When you hire a mesothelioma lawyer at Kelley Ferraro, LLC to represent you, you have an experienced legal advocate ready to help with every step of your case. You can trust us to help you pinpoint the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that caused your mesothelioma, and we will then determine the legal options available to you, pursuing as much compensation as Florida law allows for you and your family.

We understand that a mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing in several ways. This cancer is incurable and terminal, and everyone diagnosed with mesothelioma faces different challenges and concerns when it comes to proving liability and recovering compensation. You have limited time to build your case, so it’s important that you hire a mesothelioma lawyer you can trust at your first opportunity.

Understanding Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma in Florida

Mesothelioma is not a very common form of cancer; only about 3,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US each year. Additionally, the only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, and the health risks of this substance are widely understood today. However, new cases continue to appear each year because of asbestos exposure that happened decades ago. Mesothelioma has an extremely long latency period, sometimes taking decades to cause noticeable symptoms.

Asbestos fibers are very small, sharp, and light enough to remain suspended in the air for very long periods. When any asbestos-containing material is damaged or disturbed, it can release asbestos fibers into the surrounding area, where they could be inhaled or attach to skin and clothing. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure; just once is enough to eventually cause mesothelioma to develop, but repeated exposure can increase the disease’s progression rate.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this disease and affects the lungs after asbestos particles are inhaled. Peritoneal mesothelioma can form in the abdomen if asbestos is ingested. All forms of mesothelioma are incurable and terminal. Several treatments are available, but ultimately, the disease is fatal, and it’s important to know what legal steps you can take following this diagnosis.

The average five-year survival rate varies by the disease’s stage at diagnosis. Localized mesothelioma has a 23% five-year survival rate, and this drops to 11% when it has spread to distant parts of the body. Unfortunately, symptoms typically do not appear noticeably until the disease has already reached an advanced stage, and early symptoms may be mistaken for less serious illnesses, delaying treatment further.

Mesothelioma treatment typically focuses on maintaining the patient’s quality of life by managing symptoms, and some may undergo chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatments to slow the disease’s progression. Ultimately, every mesothelioma case is terminal, and a patient will eventually need to transition to palliative care. This is extremely distressful for them and their family, and this entire process imposes multiple financial challenges.

Building Your Mesothelioma Case in Florida

After you or a family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma, your Florida mesothelioma attorney can help you determine your legal options. If a specific party is directly responsible for this diagnosis, you have the right to claim compensation for all economic and non-economic damages related to the diagnosis. Depending on how you were exposed to asbestos, you could have multiple options for claiming compensation.

Many US companies, including some in Florida, have been compelled to establish mesothelioma injury trusts to compensate those adversely affected by their asbestos products and past operations. If your Florida mesothelioma lawyer traces your asbestos exposure to any such company, you may be eligible to file a claim with their trust. Your attorney can guide you through this process, and while this claim may not fully compensate you, it is still worth exploring this option.

If you were exposed to asbestos at your current job, you may be eligible to claim compensation from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy. This insurance covers all work-related illnesses and injuries, but its coverage may be somewhat limited. You may be able to secure compensation for medical expenses and some of your lost income. A skilled Florida mesothelioma lawyer can help you negotiate a fair benefits determination.

When a specific party is directly responsible for your asbestos exposure, this can be the basis for a personal injury case for toxic exposure. Once you prove that the defendant is directly responsible for the asbestos exposure that caused your condition, your Florida mesothelioma lawyer can help you claim compensation for all related economic and non-economic damages.

Claiming Compensation for Mesothelioma in Florida

In a personal injury case, the plaintiff has the right to seek full repayment of all economic losses they have suffered because of the defendant’s actions. In mesothelioma cases, these economic damages are likely to primarily include medical expenses and lost income. The plaintiff has the right to seek compensation for all immediate treatment costs following diagnosis, as well as for the cost of future palliative care.

Non-economic damages include pain and suffering. Not only does mesothelioma cause painful and debilitating symptoms, but cancer treatment also comes with challenging side effects. Additionally, receiving a terminal diagnosis can be psychologically damaging to anyone. Your Florida mesothelioma lawyer can help you secure as much compensation as possible for your pain and suffering with a personal injury case.

In some mesothelioma cases, defendants are required to pay punitive damages in addition to other compensation owed to the plaintiff. This is typically in response to some form of illegal misconduct, willful failure to comply with asbestos regulations, or illegal misconduct. If this is a factor in your case, your attorney can explain how it might influence your total recovery.

What to Expect From Your Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer

Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing for you and your family, and the first steps you take after receiving this news are crucial. You may have multiple legal options available to you, but you have limited time to pursue them. Additionally, it can take a long time to accurately determine the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that caused your illness, so you must hire a mesothelioma lawyer you can trust as soon as possible after your diagnosis.

When you choose Kelley Ferraro, LLC to represent you, you will have a skilled team of experienced legal advocates ready to address every aspect of your case. You can trust our team to gather the evidence you need to prove who is responsible for your asbestos exposure, which will inform us of your legal options.

You can rely on our team to guide you through a mesothelioma injury trust claim, help you secure workers’ compensation benefits if applicable to your situation, and build a comprehensive personal injury case for toxic exposure, if necessary, to secure as much compensation as possible for this terminal diagnosis.

If you recently lost a family member in Florida because of mesothelioma, you may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim against whoever is responsible for their asbestos exposure. We have successfully represented many Florida families in these cases and will explain what you can expect as the case unfolds. Our goal will be to assist your family in securing as much compensation as state law allows from the defendant responsible for the victim’s death.

We are a team of trial attorneys, and we are fully prepared to represent our client in litigation if their case requires it. Even if we believe we can settle your case, we will still prepare for trial to strengthen your negotiating position. If litigation is unavoidable, we will be prepared to represent you in your courtroom proceedings.

If you are concerned about the cost of hiring legal counsel, we accept most mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis. Under a contingency fee agreement, the client pays nothing upfront, and we will charge a fee only if we secure compensation for the client. The contingency fee is a percentage of the total recovery, so there is no risk of paying more for legal counsel than you receive in compensation.

Ultimately, your situation is difficult and confusing, so it’s important to hire a mesothelioma lawyer you can trust as soon as possible. The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC has the skills and resources necessary to handle the most challenging mesothelioma cases in Florida, and we are ready to leverage our experience on your behalf. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Florida mesothelioma lawyer.