Mesothelioma Attorney in Grand Rapids, Michigan
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you may have grounds for legal action. Determining when, where and how you were exposed to asbestos – the mineral that causes this devastating disease – can be very difficult and having an experienced lawyer to help you can be an important step as you consider pursuing compensation for ongoing medical treatment and other damages that often result from this diagnosis.
For more than three decades, the attorneys at Jay Trucks and Associates have been helping injury victims throughout Michigan. We have recovered more than $500 million in compensation on their behalf.
There is no risk in contacting us because your initial consultation is free and there is no obligation to take legal action. We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means no attorney’s fees unless you receive compensation.
Jay Trucks & Associates helped us when we thought we were alone. Todd Trucks was very upfront, very professional…
Contact our Grand Rapids mesothelioma attorneys today to schedule your free consultation.
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(989) 601-2554
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How Do I Know if I May Have a Case?
There is a very good chance you may have a valid case, as mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and many people were exposed to this mineral when there was plenty of evidence of a link to mesothelioma.
These cases are still complicated, particularly because the disease often develops decades after asbestos exposure, making it very difficult to determine how your exposure happened.
That is why it is important to talk with a licensed attorney about the details of your claim. That way he or she could determine if you do, in fact, have a legitimate case. We may need to discuss your work history, whether former co-workers have been diagnosed with the disease and whether others have already filed claims against one of your former employers.
Our experienced attorneys know how to investigate these issues, including finding information about old employers that have filed for bankruptcy or gone out of business since you worked for them. We have a team of investigators and support staff committed to building a strong case on your behalf.
Liability for a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Former employers are often the ones who are held liable for a mesothelioma diagnosis. It is important to note that others may have liability, depending on how and why you were exposed to asbestos. These other entities might include:
- Product manufacturers, if you were exposed because you worked with an asbestos-containing product
- Companies that built ships
- Mining companies, which may have exposed workers and those living near mining activities
- U.S. Armed Forces
- Property owners, commercial or private
- Government entities that owned buildings with asbestos-containing materials
How Did Asbestos Exposure Occur?
One of the issues we may need to consider when determining who may be liable is how you were exposed to asbestos. There are three main types of asbestos exposure: job-related, environmental and secondhand.
Job-related exposure is by far the most common way people were exposed. They may have handled materials made from asbestos or worked close to those who did.
Secondhand exposure is often how family members of an at-risk worker are exposed. The worker comes home with asbestos fibers on his or her clothes or hair and these fibers may get into the air, where they are breathed in by spouses or children of these workers.
Environmental exposure often refers to people who live near an asbestos mine being exposed because mining activities release asbestos fibers into the air.
Our Grand Rapids mesothelioma lawyers are prepared to launch a thorough investigation if we find you have a case. We have the resources and legal knowledge needed to build a robust case.
Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims
There are many types of compensation that we may be able to pursue on your behalf. Mesothelioma victims are often eligible to obtain compensation for things like:
- Stays at the hospital
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Surgery to remove cancerous tumors
- Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or crutches to aid in your mobility
- Testing (blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, etc.)
- Palliative care to help manage pain and make victims more comfortable in the late stages of the disease
- Prescription medications
- Appointments with doctors and specialists
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Loss of companionship
The value of your claim depends on many things, such as your diagnosis, how effective treatment is and how much financial support you provide to your family.
If you have questions, we have answers. The consultation is free of charge.
What is the Deadline for Filing a Case?
Generally, you have three years from the date of your diagnosis to file a lawsuit for damages. The deadline is set by Michigan’s personal injury statute of limitations. Under this law, if you do not file a case within those three years, you lose the right to do so. If you take the case to court, it is likely to be thrown out.
However, cases against government entities may have a deadline that is much sooner, which is why it is so important to talk to a licensed attorney, like those at Jay Trucks and Associates. We need time to determine if you have a valid case, and if you do, we also need time to investigate to gather strong evidence.
Three years can go by much faster than you think, and compensation is very important as victims and their families deal with the various damages caused by this devastating diagnosis.
About Mesothelioma
It depends. Certain circumstances must be considered that will determine whether or not you have to pay taxes on a medical malpractice settlement. Generally, special damages are not taxable income, but general damages such as emotional distress are taxable unless they are directly connected to a physical injury.
Forms of Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdomen. About 15 to 20 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are diagnosed with this form. Research has found that those who undergo surgery and heated chemotherapy may live five years or more after being diagnosed with this form of the disease.
Pericardial and testicular mesothelioma are much more rare forms of mesothelioma. Pericardial affects the lining of the heart while testicular mesothelioma affects the lining of the testes.
Common Symptoms to Watch for
• Pain the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Weight loss that seems unusual
• Pain and/or swelling in your abdomen
• Bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Irregular heartbeat
• Coughing, particularly a wet cough
• Trouble breathing
• Buildup of fluid around your lungs
• Night sweats
• Trouble with balance
• Respiratory complications
• Body aches
• Coughing up blood
As with other cancers, the sooner you are diagnosed, the better the prognosis is likely to be.
Jobs With a High Risk for Asbestos Exposure
While asbestos was used in a wide variety of products in many industries, there are still some jobs that put workers at greater risk for exposure to asbestos, either because they worked with asbestos-containing materials or fibers became airborne.
Some of these high-risk jobs and industries include:
- Factory workers
- Boilermakers
- Power plant workers
- Shipyard workers
- Asbestos processing plant workers
- Firefighters
- Construction workers (residential or commercial)
- Metalworking
- Steel mills
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Cement plant workers
- Carpenters
- Engineers
- HVAC mechanics
- Linotype technicians
- Oil refineries
- Asbestos miners
- Textile mills
- Railroad workers
- Those who worked with insultation, which was often made of asbestos
- Rolling and finishing mills
- Farm workers, particularly those who worked near industrial equipment
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Car mechanics
- Chemical plant employees
- Demolition workers
- Paper mill employees
- Printing factory workers
- Roofers
- Military personnel
Michigan is one of several states where many residents are diagnosed with mesothelioma. The state has a large auto manufacturing industry and many auto parts to this day contain asbestos. This dangerous mineral was discovered at the following automakers’ facilities:
- Buick
- Pontiac
- Chevrolet
- Cadillac
- Chrysler
- Oldsmobile
- Plymouth
- Ford
Michigan also has other high-risk industries, like manufacturing. Some industrial facilities where workers may have been exposed include:
- Ralston Purina
- Marathon Oil
- Kellogg’s
- Upjohn
- Post Cereal Company
- General Mills
- Dow Chemical Company
There are dozens of companies in Grand Rapids where workers may have been exposed:
- AT&T
- Aladdin Welding
- Airport Siding
- American Seating Plant
- Architectural Systems Inc.
- Berkley & Gray Furniture Company
- Bissell Plan
- Board of Public Works
- C&O Railway Systems
- Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company
- Comstock School
- Diesel Equipment
- Eastern Michigan Power Company
- Ferris State College
- General Electric
- Georgia Pacific Corporation
- Grand Rapids Brewing Company
- Grand Rapids Builders Supply
- Godwin School
- Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power Company
- Grand Rapids Gas Light company
- Grand Rapids Pulp and Paper Company
- Grand Rapids Smelting
- Keeler Brass Company
- Kent Castings Company
- National Biscuit Company
- Vander Woods Tracke
- White & White Drug Store
- Wolverine Brass
Did you work at one of these companies or in a high-risk industry? Our Grand Rapids mesothelioma attorneys are available to discuss possible legal options.
Filing a Claim With an Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust
Some companies faced so many lawsuits over employee exposure to asbestos that they were forced into bankruptcy. They then set up bankruptcy trusts to manage claims from employees who were diagnosed with asbestos-linked diseases.
Our experienced attorneys are prepared to handle the filing of this type of claim on your behalf. We are prepared to gather evidence to link your diagnosis to asbestos exposure, including medical records and evidence of your work history.
These claims are reviewed by trustees to determine if money should be paid to the claimant. If they agree to award compensation they will make an offer, and then your attorney may try to negotiate if he or she believes he or she could obtain more compensation.
Do They Have a Cure for Mesothelioma?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for mesothelioma. Treatment may help extend victims’ lives, particularly if the disease is caught early, or if the patient has another type besides pleural mesothelioma. Advances in chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been found to improve survival rates, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).
Call to Set Up a Free Consultation With a Grand Rapids Mesothelioma Attorney
We understand how devastating it can be for a victim and his or her family to find out about a mesothelioma diagnosis. We understand the toll it can take, emotionally, financially and physically.
If you have a case and hire our firm to represent you, we are prepared to pursue maximum compensation to help you pay for medical treatment, including treatment to help manage the side effects from radiation and chemotherapy. We are also committed to pursuing compensation for lost income to help your loved ones if the disease is going to be fatal.
Learn more about how our Grand Rapids mesothelioma attorneys may be able to assist you by calling to schedule a free consultation. We do not get paid unless our clients receive compensation first. Read testimonials from some of our satisfied clients.
(989) 601-2554
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