Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyers
Mesothelioma is an extremely deadly cancer of the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and internal organs. There is no cure, and the only known cause is exposure to asbestos. The cancer occurs most often in the pleura (membrane between the lungs and the ribs), but it can also spread or occur locally in the lining of abdominal organs or heart.
It has a long latency or “incubation” period, sometimes as much as 20 to 40 years. Workers exposed to airborne asbestos fibers before the dangers were well-publicized and better regulated (before the late 1970s) are still being diagnosed with this disease. Between 2,500 and 4,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.
How Is Mesothelioma Acquired?
When asbestos is mined, or when certain asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are processed, asbestos is sometimes released into the air in dust-sized fibers. Asbestos fibers can be airborne in a processing plant, in the environment nearby, or even in workers’ homes once they accidentally carry them there on their clothes. When the fibers are inhaled, they lodge in the lungs and nearby membranes, and the body cannot get rid of them.
How Are People Exposed to Mesothelioma in Louisiana?
Compared to some states, Louisiana has an elevated incidence rate of mesothelioma diagnoses. Like other states with high diagnosis rates, Louisiana is home to many industries and businesses that utilize asbestos, including:
- Shipyards
- Shipbuilding facilities
- Oil refineries
- Power stations
In addition, Louisiana residents may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos during the past several decades due to the damaging effects of powerful hurricanes and their impact on asbestos-filled buildings.
What Are the Warning Signs of Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can develop for years without showing any signs. Sometimes it is discovered earlier when a chest X-ray is taken for unrelated reasons. If it progresses far enough for symptoms before it is discovered, those symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain or “fullness”
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fluid in the lining of the lungs
- Lower back pain
- Loss of appetite
- Persistent coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
Hasn’t Asbestos Been Banned?
No, but some of its applications have been banned. Spray-on insulation, preformed pipe insulation, and hot water heater insulation containing asbestos have been banned. Other uses, such as asbestos-cement corrugated and flat sheet, roofing felt, and auto brake components are not currently under ban in the U.S.
Asbestos has many important heat-resistant features, but its processing has been poorly regulated in the past. Even though federal regulation of asbestos processing is now stricter than ever, there are still slip-ups. The bottom line is that even if asbestos were completely banned today, the long incubation period means mesothelioma would still be with us for years to come.
Do You Need to Work With Asbestos to Be At Risk?
No. Perhaps the most frightening aspect is that workers might unknowingly carry asbestos fibers into the home on their clothes. Family members have contracted the disease simply from this low-level exposure. Also, you don’t have to work with asbestos or in an asbestos processing plant in order to inhale airborne fibers. Many workplaces are large complexes with one small section in which asbestos-containing materials or products are handled. A lack of proper workplace controls, such as proper ventilation, can sometimes mean airborne fibers drift elsewhere in a complex. Worse, the fibers can be airborne in the surrounding vicinity of a business in which ACMs are processed.
Do You Need to Be Exposed to Asbestos for Years to Be At Risk?
No. Short-term exposure has been proven to cause mesothelioma in many people. The fibers can be inhaled deeply enough on just one or two occasions for them to lodge permanently, deep within the lungs. The body cannot dispose of asbestos fibers. The frequency of exposure, and the amount to which someone is exposed, is not a sure way to predict the onset of the disease. Any cancer can have a faster onset due to various factors, known and unknown (smoking, genetic predisposition, etc.). For this rare form of cancer, any person who inhaled asbestos fibers can contract mesothelioma. Contact the asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys at Dudley DeBosier today for an immediate and confidential evaluation of your case.
After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Get Dudley DeBosier.
Because so many mesothelioma diagnoses are occupation related, it’s important to have a lawyer on your side who understands your line of work, the area where you and your family live, and the history of your city, region, and state.
At Dudley DeBosier, we know how asbestos has affected Louisiana and its people. We’ve watched the number of mesothelioma deaths increase year after year, and it’s our goal to help victims and their loved ones throughout the state get the compensation they deserve for what they’ve been through.
When you hire the asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys at Dudley DeBosier, you don’t just get experienced legal help — you get a team that treats you like family. We know you already have enough to deal with, and that’s why you pay us nothing — no fees, costs, or expenses — unless we get you money. That’s our No Fee Guarantee®.
Our Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Shreveport lawyers are ready to put their experience to work for you. Call us today at (866) 897-8495 for a free case review.
Cases may be referred to another attorney or law firm.
