For decades, asbestos was widely used in all types of construction across the United States. Many older buildings in the Austin area, particularly those built prior to 1980, continue to pose a health risk due to asbestos exposure. Industrial centers, power plants, manufacturing facilities, and even older homes in the area could contain asbestos. If you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, you need to speak with an Austin, TX mesothelioma lawyer.
The attorneys at Wallace & Graham provide compassionate and results-driven legal representation for mesothelioma and asbestos exposure claims in Austin and throughout Texas. Our firm has years of experience helping clients understand their legal options after their mesothelioma diagnoses, and we are confident that we can guide you to a positive result in your case.
Each year in the United States, nearly 3,500 cases of mesothelioma are newly diagnosed across the country. While mesothelioma is not a very common form of cancer, it is terminal and incurable, and once it has reached the point of causing noticeable symptoms, it has already reached a critical stage. If you received this diagnosis, it is natural to worry about how much time you have left and what legal options could be available to you.
During your first meeting with our team, we can listen to your story and help you determine the most likely sources of asbestos exposure. We can explain the various options available to you, the level of compensation you may be able to recover, and how we can assist you with all stages of your case. You have limited time to pursue legal recourse, so it’s essential that you connect with a skilled attorney right away.
The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos particles are very thin and light, capable of remaining suspended in still air for long periods of time. When they are inhaled, they can be embedded in the lining of the lungs, where they will begin forming mesothelioma. It is also possible for ingested asbestos fibers to cause peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen, and in rare cases, pericardial mesothelioma can affect the tissues of the heart.
Mesothelioma has a very long latency period, sometimes taking years or even multiple decades to develop noticeable symptoms. It is possible for someone to be diagnosed with mesothelioma today because of asbestos exposure that occurred several decades previously. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure; just once is enough to cause mesothelioma to develop, and genetic predisposition to cancer and repeated exposures can increase the speed at which it develops.
The early symptoms of mesothelioma are commonly mistaken for other, less serious conditions. These symptoms will worsen rapidly once the disease is at the critical stage, and at this point, the patient’s optimal treatment plan will consist of managing their symptoms as much as possible and doing whatever can be done to preserve their remaining life expectancy.
This long latency period makes mesothelioma cases inherently difficult. To determine whether you have grounds to file any type of case, you must first determine when and where you were exposed to asbestos. It’s possible for a current or former employer to be liable for your condition, and it is also possible for a building owner or other company to be liable. Once you have determined the source of your condition, your attorney can help you build your case.
Many of the companies throughout the United States that previously manufactured asbestos-containing materials and similar businesses have shut down or changed their operations, and asbestos is only used today in very limited and highly regulated applications.
Many of the companies that formerly produced asbestos products were required to create trusts to compensate victims of their operations and products, and you may be eligible to file a claim with one of these trusts.
Your Austin, TX, mesothelioma lawyer can help you determine your eligibility and compile the materials you will need to submit to the trust to obtain compensation. If you were exposed to asbestos at work, you may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, but this insurance can only provide limited compensation for medical expenses and lost wages. If there are grounds for a personal injury suit, it typically offers the greatest compensation.
A successful personal injury case for toxic exposure could yield compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, and the physical pain and emotional suffering you have experienced. Mesothelioma can not only cause painful symptoms but also lead to a difficult recovery, and the psychological impact of receiving a terminal diagnosis can be severe. Your attorney can help you maximize your physical pain and emotional suffering compensation.
To succeed with any personal injury case, the plaintiff must identify the defendant responsible for causing their claimed damages, prove the full extent of those damages, and then prove that they are solely the result of the defendant’s actions. The attorneys at Wallace & Graham excel at crafting comprehensive toxic exposure cases aimed at securing maximum compensation for our clients.
Ultimately, every mesothelioma case in Austin, TX, is unique, and these cases are inherently demanding, time-sensitive, and complicated. You need an experienced attorney on your side to have the greatest chance of success with any legal efforts you attempt in response to your mesothelioma diagnosis.
The attorneys at Wallace & Graham have years of experience building these cases for clients in Austin and throughout Texas, as well as multiple other states. We understand the work that goes into these cases when ascertaining the source of asbestos exposure. We can help you gather and analyze records, determine liability for your condition, and explain the various legal options available to you once you have identified the cause of your mesothelioma.
Time is a crucial concern for anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Austin. Having the right attorney on your side significantly improves your chances of success with the legal efforts you attempt, and you are also more likely to maximize any compensation you are able to obtain. The team at Wallace & Graham is confident we can guide you to a positive result, so reach out to us today to learn more about the legal services we offer.
A: Proving liability for mesothelioma in Austin, TX, requires carefully determining when, where, and how you were exposed to asbestos. This can be extremely difficult without an attorney’s help. A seasoned Austin, TX, mesothelioma lawyer will know what records you will need to determine the source of your exposure and explain your legal options once you have pinpointed the cause.
A: No, mesothelioma cannot be cured. Once it is diagnosed, the optimal treatment is to manage symptoms and preserve the patient’s remaining lifespan as much as possible. The American Cancer Society reports a 24% five-year survival rate for localized mesothelioma and a 7% five-year survival rate for mesothelioma that has spread to distant parts of the body. The average five-year survival rate for all stages of mesothelioma is 12%.
A: You should hire an Austin, TX, mesothelioma lawyer to have a greater chance of success with the recovery efforts you attempt after your diagnosis. Trust a seasoned attorney to help file a claim to a mesothelioma injury trust, file for workers’ compensation benefits, or build a cohesive personal injury suit for toxic exposure. You have the greatest chance of reaching a positive outcome for your legal efforts with an attorney’s help.
A: The amount of compensation you can claim in a mesothelioma case depends on the type of case you are filing and many other variables. If you are filing a claim to a mesothelioma injury trust, the amount of compensation you could potentially recover will depend on the trust, and workers’ compensation benefits may offer limited compensation for your medical bills and for your lost wages. A personal injury suit for toxic exposure can yield substantial compensation.
A: Attorneys’ fees for an Austin, TX, mesothelioma lawyer will be a percentage of your total case award if you choose Wallace & Graham to represent you. Our firm accepts these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only charge our client a percentage of the total compensation we recover for them if and when we win their case. If we are unable to obtain compensation for any reason, there is no fee.
The team at Wallace & Graham can provide compassionate legal counsel when you need it most, after you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Austin. Our firm has successfully resolved many mesothelioma and asbestos exposure cases for clients in multiple states, and we are ready to leverage this experience for you. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with an Austin, TX, mesothelioma lawyer.