Youngstown Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a terminal form of cancer with only one known cause: exposure to asbestos. In Youngstown and throughout Ohio, many older buildings contain asbestos, and asbestos was present in various work environments. For example, steelworkers at the Youngstown Steel and Tube Company and US Steel have been exposed. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you need to speak with a Youngstown mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible.

Representing Mesothelioma Cases in Youngstown, OH

The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have nearly 30 years of experience representing clients in mesothelioma cases nationwide. In every case we accept, we get to know our client, listen to their story, and help them determine their most viable legal options after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. We understand that news is devastating for any family, and you can expect compassionate, responsive representation from our team through every step of your case.

We are trial attorneys who have recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for clients nationwide. We accept cases that many other attorneys do not because of the volume of work they require. However, years of dedication to handling complex mesothelioma cases means we have a wealth of experience from which to draw upon on behalf of our clients in Youngstown. We are confident we can deliver unmatched representation for your mesothelioma case.

You have a short time to prepare your mesothelioma case. Mesothelioma is a terminal diagnosis, and it can take time to accurately determine the most likely cause of your condition. Our team will work diligently to review employment records and other evidence, cross-referencing them with known asbestos risks in the Youngstown area to accurately pinpoint the source of your asbestos exposure. The sooner you contact our team, the sooner we can get started.

Understanding Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

Asbestos was widely used in the US for decades in many applications. It has superior fireproofing properties and was often used in pipefitting, utility work, construction, and various other industries. It was also used as insulation in many residential and commercial properties in Youngstown and the surrounding Mahoning County communities. Over time, these materials can be damaged or deteriorate, releasing asbestos fibers into the surrounding area.

Asbestos fibers are very thin, sharp, and light enough to stay suspended in the air for long periods. When inhaled, these particles embed in lung tissues where they can cause pleural mesothelioma to form over time. When asbestos is ingested, it can cause peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen. Mesothelioma has a very long latency period, sometimes taking decades to show noticeable symptoms, but repeated exposure can accelerate its progression.

About 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the US each year. This is not a very common form of cancer, and the health risks of asbestos are now widely known. However, new cases continue to appear due to exposure that happened many years ago. Once symptoms appear, they can be mistaken for other, less serious illnesses, and this could delay treatment. However, these symptoms will intensify rapidly without immediate medical intervention.

Mesothelioma is a terminal diagnosis. Once it is identified, the average five-year survival rate varies based on how far the disease has spread. Localized mesothelioma has a 23% five-year survival rate, but mesothelioma that has spread to distant parts of the body has only an 11% five-year survival rate. Treatment will focus on slowing the spread of the disease, mitigating symptoms, and maintaining quality of life as much as possible.

Building Your Mesothelioma Case in Youngstown

You could have multiple legal options in response to your mesothelioma diagnosis in Youngstown. An experienced attorney at Kelley Ferraro, LLC will review the details of your situation and explain these options, developing an individualized strategy to secure as much compensation as possible.

If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure that happened at your current job, you may qualify to file a workers’ compensation claim through your employer. This insurance could cover medical expenses for a work-related illness as well as disability benefits when you are unable to work.  You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer to help you negotiate a fair determination of benefits.

Many US companies that previously manufactured asbestos-containing products have been required to establish mesothelioma injury trusts to compensate those harmed by their products. Your Youngstown mesothelioma attorney can determine whether you are eligible to file one of these claims and, if so, guide you through the process.

When a specific party is directly responsible for your mesothelioma diagnosis, this can form grounds for a personal injury case. Success with any personal injury case requires proving that the defendant is directly responsible for the plaintiff’s damages. Your Youngstown mesothelioma lawyer at Kelley Ferraro, LLC, will help you establish liability and accurately calculate all of the damages you are eligible to claim in your case.

Our team can also provide compassionate wrongful death counsel if a family member has died from mesothelioma in Youngstown. Asbestos Nation recorded 12,697 asbestos-related deaths in Ohio between 1999 and 2017, of which 409 occurred in Mahoning County. A successful wrongful death case could yield substantial compensation for your family that could provide valuable economic relief during a very challenging time.

Recovering Compensation for Your Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing in several ways, and you may be eligible to claim substantial compensation. However, you will need an experienced attorney’s help to reach a favorable outcome in these legal proceedings, and you have limited time to build this case. A Youngstown mesothelioma lawyer at Kelley Ferraro, LLC can assist with a claim to a mesothelioma injury trust, workers’ compensation claim, or a personal injury suit.

Mesothelioma trust claims are relatively straightforward but may only provide limited compensation. This is still a worthwhile avenue of compensation to investigate, and your attorney can make the claim-filing process much easier. The same applies to workers’ compensation; this may not fully cover all of your damages, but it is still worth having an attorney help you claim these benefits if they are available to you.

When filing a mesothelioma personal injury case, the plaintiff has the right to claim compensation for any economic and non-economic damages related to their diagnosis. Economic damages in these cases generally include all medical expenses related to their mesothelioma, lost income, and lost earning potential if they were forced to quit working much earlier than they expected.

In addition to economic damages, a plaintiff may also claim compensation for their pain and suffering. Receiving a terminal diagnosis comes with a significant psychological shock for most people, and mesothelioma treatment can be painful and challenging. Your Youngstown mesothelioma attorney can help you determine a fair amount of compensation to claim from the defendant that reflects the severity of your experience.

In some cases, defendants are forced to pay punitive damages to plaintiffs. The court may decide that a defendant must pay punitive damages for egregious or criminal negligence, intentional misconduct, or failure to comply with industry safety regulations. Your attorney can explain whether any such details are likely to influence the final outcome of your case.

What to Expect From Your Youngstown Mesothelioma Lawyer

When you hire a mesothelioma lawyer at Kelley Ferraro, LLC, you have an experienced legal advocate ready to help with every step of your case, from pinpointing the most likely cause of your condition to uncovering the full extent of the damages you suffered. Our firm excels at resolving complex mesothelioma cases, and we have helped thousands of clients nationwide secure compensation for these life-changing diagnoses.

After hiring our team, we will immediately begin investigating your diagnosis. We can review decades’ worth of employment records and other documentation to identify the most likely sources of the asbestos exposure that caused your mesothelioma, cross-referencing them with known asbestos hazards in Youngstown and throughout Mahoning County. Once we determine the source, we will then explain your legal options.

We have helped many clients file claims with mesothelioma injury trusts nationwide and can help you secure a fair payment from one of these trusts. We can also help you pursue workers’ compensation benefits through your employer if applicable to your situation. When you have grounds to file a personal injury case, you can rely on our team for unwavering support as the case unfolds.

If you are concerned about attorneys’ fees, our firm accepts most mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis. Under this policy, you pay nothing if we are unable to obtain compensation for you. If we succeed with your case, the contingency fee is only a percentage of the total recovered. This policy makes representation more accessible and more affordable to those who need it most.

Ultimately, receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing in many ways. You’re likely to have many difficult questions that only an experienced Youngstown mesothelioma lawyer can answer. The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC is ready to provide the guidance and support you need in this difficult situation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Youngstown mesothelioma lawyer and learn how we can assist with your mesothelioma case.