## What is Mesothelioma and How is it Related to Asbestos?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue lining the lungs and other internal organs in the chest and abdominal cavities. Asbestos, a fibrous mineral widely exploited for its fire-resistant properties, has long been known to cause mesothelioma, and its use has been banned or strictly regulated by the government since 1973. Despite fifty years of bans and regulations, however, asbestos continues to exist in many buildings and manufactured products, and new cases of mesothelioma continue to be diagnosed every day. Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed, it most often leads to death in a short time.
Due in part to popular industries in Pennsylvania such as mining, shipbuilding, and construction, and the widespread use of asbestos in the past, Pennsylvania has long been a leading site of death among workers and residents from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis and lung cancer. Pennsylvania is also a leading state when it comes to asbestos litigation for personal injury or wrongful death. Manufacturing companies, employers, property owners and other responsible parties can be held liable for exposing mesothelioma victims to asbestos and allowing them to contract this deadly disease.
Unfortunately for victims and their families, mesothelioma cases are notoriously complicated to prove, and it can be an arduous task to hold responsible parties accountable to the people they have harmed. Thankfully, the Philadelphia mesothelioma/asbestos lawyers at Green & Schafle are skilled and experienced in taking on the most difficult personal injury and wrongful death cases and winning large verdicts and settlements. A mesothelioma diagnosis can be devastating to victims and their families. Green & Schafle can help. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Pennsylvania, call Green & Schafle in Philadelphia for a free consultation to discuss any potential claims you may have.
## Prolonged Asbestos Exposure Can Cause Mesothelioma
Because asbestos is very strong, heat-resistant, and fibrous, it can easily be woven into fabrics and sprayed on or applied to just about any surface where fire retardation is desired, from work gloves to brake pads to boilers and pipes. Asbestos was used for decades just about everywhere, from factories to office buildings to public schools. Tragically, those asbestos fibers can all too easily be inhaled and settle in the lungs and tissues lining the body’s organ; years or decades later, asbestos in the body causes deadly diseases like mesothelioma.
People most at risk for mesothelioma include those who worked for years in industries such as auto manufacturing or repair, construction or demolition, and shipyards. Spouses of these workers are also at risk as the employees carry the fibers home on their clothing where they get into the air or are released when the spouse washes the worker’s clothes. Office workers and others who spent years in buildings contaminated with asbestos are also at risk of developing mesothelioma.
## Who is Responsible for Mesothelioma?
Asbestos manufacturers have been held liable for mesothelioma cases because they knew their product was dangerous yet hid that information while continuing to produce it. Other companies that were using asbestos have also been held liable for failing to discontinue its use when told to or failing to remove or remediate the asbestos safely.
Proving mesothelioma cases against the right party can be extremely difficult. The company that manufactured the product at issue might no longer exist, or it might have been bought and sold several times or changed its name to avoid liability. Also, a mesothelioma victim might have worked for more than one employer over the years where asbestos was present, making it difficult to say which employer or which manufacturer is responsible for the disease. Finally, many courts require the victim to prove the link between asbestos and mesothelioma with medical evidence, proving how much asbestos the person was exposed to and the level required to cause the disease from a medical perspective. To make matters worse, victims are often racing against the clock to prove and resolve their cases before the rapidly advancing disease takes its toll. Insurance companies seize on all these complications to try and avoid the significant payouts they can be exposed to for the harmful, deadly effects of asbestos.
## Get Effective Legal Help From Dedicated Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers
At Green & Schafle, we understand how difficult mesothelioma cases are to win, but we also know how emotionally devastating and financially harmful a diagnosis can be to a family. We don’t shy away from the hard cases; we embrace them and commit all our resources toward winning significant victories for our clients. We’ll use our skills and experience to advocate for you and your family and hold every responsible party accountable for the harm they have caused.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Pennsylvania, call Green & Schafle in Philadelphia at 215-462-3330 for a free consultation and immediate assistance in getting the medical care and financial compensation you need and deserve.
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