Shipyard Workers Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a terminal form of cancer, and the only known cause is exposure to asbestos. Over many years across the US, shipyard workers have faced significant asbestos exposure risks while performing their job duties. If you or a family member worked in a shipyard and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you need to consult an experienced shipyard workers mesothelioma lawyer at your first opportunity.

Representing Shipyard Workers in Mesothelioma Cases Nationwide

The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have almost 30 years of experience representing clients in mesothelioma cases nationwide. We have successfully resolved thousands of these cases and have recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients. We have represented many shipyard workers and know the various asbestos risks they face on the job, so you can trust our team to help you prove the source of the exposure that led to your diagnosis.

In every case we accept, our team thoroughly reviews our client’s story to help them determine the most likely source of their exposure. If you previously worked in any shipyard, this demands careful investigation. There are various risks of asbestos exposure in these workplaces:

• Asbestos is commonly found in boilers, turbines, and as covering on steam pipes in many shipyards.
• Structural materials used to build ships can include asbestos, such as gaskets, adhesives, cement, insulation, brake lining, and many electrical components.
• Buildings built before 1990 often contain asbestos. For many years across the US, asbestos was used in construction for its insulating and fireproofing properties.

The incidence rate for pleural mesothelioma is much higher for shipyard workers than for the general population. Each year, about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the US. While this is not a very common form of cancer, and the health risks of asbestos exposure are better understood today, new cases continue appearing each year due to mesothelioma’s very long latency period. It can sometimes take decades for symptoms to appear.

Ultimately, mesothelioma cases are inherently challenging in several ways. If you believe you were exposed to asbestos while working in a shipyard, it’s important that you consult an experienced shipyard workers’ mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible. The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC is ready to provide comprehensive legal support for every phase of your case.

Understanding Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma for Shipyard Workers

Asbestos-containing materials can shed particles as they deteriorate. Many buildings in the US built before 1990 contain asbestos, and shipbuilding has historically used various asbestos-containing materials. When any asbestos-containing material sheds particles in the air, these particles are very thin, sharp, and light enough to remain suspended for long periods, where they can be inhaled or find their way into someone’s body another way.

Shipyard workers are exposed to asbestos in various ways. They may not only work in facilities constructed with asbestos-containing materials, but also handle various materials that contain asbestos while performing their job duties. Asbestos is not only found in the materials used to build many types of ships, but also in the protective gear many workers rely on to keep them safe while working.

Shipyard workers may not only be directly exposed to asbestos on the job, but they could also bring asbestos fibers home on their clothing, potentially putting their families at risk. These secondary effects can further complicate mesothelioma cases, and it’s possible for multiple family members to be adversely affected over time.

When asbestos fibers enter the lungs, they can embed in the pleura and gradually develop into mesothelioma. If asbestos particles are ingested, this can cause peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms appear later in life, usually decades after exposure to asbestos. Any exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, but repeated exposure greatly increases the risk. Genetic predisposition can also accelerate disease progression.

The earliest signs of mesothelioma are often mistaken for other, less serious conditions like pneumonia. However, these symptoms will not improve without appropriate medical intervention. Additionally, by the time mesothelioma symptoms become noticeable, the disease has already progressed to an advanced stage. Early detection is crucial for the most favorable treatment outcomes, but this is ultimately a terminal and incurable form of cancer.

The average five-year survival rate for localized mesothelioma that has not spread is only about 23%. Once the mesothelioma has spread to distant parts of the body, the rate drops to just 11%. Once someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, their treatment will focus on symptom management, slowing the disease’s spread, and maintaining quality of life as much as possible.

Building a Shipyard Workers’ Mesothelioma Case

Determining the most likely source of your asbestos exposure is a crucial first step in your mesothelioma case. If you spent years working in any shipyard, you should hire a mesothelioma lawyer who can review your employment records to cross-reference them with known asbestos exposure sites. A shipyard workers’ mesothelioma attorney is an invaluable asset for this inherently difficult process.

After determining the cause of your condition, you may learn that you have multiple options for claiming compensation. If you were exposed to asbestos at your current shipyard job, you may qualify to file a workers’ compensation claim through your employer. Success with this claim could provide medical expense coverage and limited compensation for lost income, but it will not cover all of your damages.

Many US companies were required to establish mesothelioma injury trusts once the health risks of their asbestos products became undeniable. Each year across the country, many of these trusts disburse funds to those diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you were exposed due to a company that has established one of these trusts, your attorney can help you file a claim.

If you discover that a specific party is directly responsible for your mesothelioma diagnosis, your shipyard workers’ mesothelioma attorney at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can help you build a personal injury claim for toxic exposure. If you can prove the defendant is directly responsible for the asbestos exposure that caused your diagnosis, your attorney can help you claim compensation for all related economic and non-economic damages.

Recovering Compensation in a Mesothelioma Case

In a personal injury case, the plaintiff’s economic damages include any direct financial losses they suffered because of the defendant’s actions. In a mesothelioma personal injury case, these are likely to include medical expenses and lost income. The plaintiff can claim compensation for all medical treatment costs, and for any income they are no longer able to earn, if their diagnosis forced them to stop working earlier than expected.

In addition to these economic damages, the plaintiff also has the right to claim compensation for pain and suffering. Mesothelioma causes painful symptoms, requires difficult and uncomfortable treatment, and comes with a significant psychological shock. Receiving a terminal diagnosis is a devastating experience, and your attorney can help you pursue as much compensation as possible to reflect the physical and emotional toll your diagnosis has taken.

Some defendants in these personal injury cases are also required to pay punitive damages. If the court decides that their behavior was particularly egregious or illegal, they may compel them to pay punitive damages to reflect this. Your attorney can advise you as to whether this is likely to come into play in your case.

How Your Shipyard Workers’ Mesothelioma Attorney Can Help

An experienced shipyard workers’ mesothelioma attorney at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can provide compassionate, responsive legal counsel through every step of your legal proceedings after a mesothelioma diagnosis. We accept many cases that other attorneys do not and have an extensive record of successful representation in mesothelioma cases filed on behalf of shipyard workers and their families.

When you hire our team, we will immediately begin investigating your situation. You can trust us to review employment records, building maintenance documentation, and other evidence to help you prove the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that has led to your diagnosis. Once we determine the cause, we will know the most viable steps for you to take to claim compensation for all related damages.

We are a team of trial attorneys with a long history of success in mesothelioma litigation nationwide. While many personal injury cases for toxic exposure are resolved in settlement negotiations, this is not always possible. We will prepare your case for trial to have a stronger negotiating position and to verify that we are fully prepared to represent you in litigation if necessary.

You may have concerns about legal expenses when you need to hire a mesothelioma lawyer, but our team accepts most of these cases on a contingency fee basis. Under a contingency fee agreement, you pay nothing unless we recover compensation. When we succeed in a case, we only charge our client a percentage of the amount recovered. Our firm can also provide compassionate wrongful death counsel if a family member has died from mesothelioma.

Ultimately, the first steps after your family has received a mesothelioma diagnosis are crucial. The right attorney is an invaluable asset to have on your side, and the team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC is ready to assist you. Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with a shipyard workers’ mesothelioma attorney. We are confident we can help you achieve a favorable outcome in your case.