If you live in Nevada and are experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases you may be entitled to financial compensation for:
- Medical bills,
- Long-term care,
- Lost wages,
- Lost earning capacity, and
- Pain and suffering.
It can take up to 50 years for asbestos-related illnesses to manifest themselves. Once you discover that you have an asbestos-related illness or disability, however, it is important you contact an experienced attorney at once about bringing an asbestos case to keep from losing your right to compensation.
If you suspect that asbestos exposure caused your health problems, we invite you to contact our caring Nevada personal injury lawyers to determine whether you are eligible for a mesothelioma lawsuit.
To help you better understand asbestos litigation and the legal process in Nevada, our Las Vegas mesothelioma attorneys discuss the following, below:
- 1. What is asbestos?
- 2. How does asbestos cause mesothelioma?
- 3. What are other asbestos-related diseases?
- 4. How long do I have to sue for asbestos exposure?
- 5. What compensation can I get for asbestos exposure?
1. What is asbestos?
Asbestos refers to a set of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are extremely durable and resistant to fire and chemical reactions. Because of these qualities, asbestos has been used for thousands of years to insulate and fireproof buildings.
In recent decades, it has been discovered that asbestos is a known human carcinogen. While most people who are exposed to asbestos-containing products never become ill, it is important to note that there is no safe type of asbestos and no safe level of exposure. Nearly all those with a long-term exposure history to loose asbestos fibers are at risk of developing serious respiratory health complications or asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma.
Those most at risk from asbestos exposure are people with work histories as construction workers, miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers and installers, railroad and automotive workers, shipbuilders/shipyard workers, gas mask manufacturers, plumbers and others who work with asbestos particles.
Note that it is rare to develop an illness due to exposure to asbestos contained within solid building materials (unless they are damaged or improperly removed).1
Fibrous tremolite asbestos on muscovite
2. How does asbestos cause mesothelioma?
Asbestos fibers are microscopic and are easily inhaled or swallowed. Unfortunately, though tiny, they are also quite rigid and not easily expelled or broken down by the body. Rather, they act like hook-and-loop fasteners that cling to the tissues of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that can result from the carcinogens in asbestos. Its most frequent form is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs.
Other forms of the disease are peritoneal mesothelioma (affecting the lining of the abdominal cavity) and pericardial mesothelioma (affecting the lining of the heart).
The prognosis for mesothelioma victims is poor; however, there are treatment options following a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Just as importantly, it can take up to 50 years between when the asbestos exposure occurred and when the person developed mesothelioma. This can make it difficult to track down the responsible party in mesothelioma cases. And the witnesses we would want to interrogate in depositions may be long deceased.
Our compassionate Nevada mesothelioma lawyers work with top investigators and forensic experts to establish a causal connection between your exposure and your illness so that you can get the compensation you need and deserve on your mesothelioma claims.2
3. What are other asbestos-related diseases?
3.1. Asbestos warts
For some Las Vegas residents, asbestos poisoning may manifest as asbestos warts. These benign growths occur when microscopic fibers of asbestos become lodged in the skin, generating callus-like, fibrous masses.
Asbestos warts are unsightly, and Nevadans who develop an asbestos wart after exposure to the mineral may be entitled to compensation. A competent Clark County lawyer can make sure that you get the money damages you deserve for this condition.3
3.2. Pleural plaques and respiratory illness
The most dramatic effects of asbestos poisoning can be seen in the lungs. Pleural plaques are like asbestos warts on the lungs—small, thickened areas.
For some Nevada residents, these plaques present no additional difficulties and are only visible via x-ray. In more serious cases, pleural plaques on the lungs can develop into a condition called “diffuse pleural thickening.” In this condition, the lung tissue swells and can cause difficulty breathing.
Other conditions associated with the dangers of asbestos include asbestosis (scar tissue in the lung) and/or lung cancer.
No matter how minimal or severe your symptoms, if you have pleural plaques, asbestosis, or another lung condition related to asbestos exposure, our Las Vegas asbestos attorneys may be able to help you get compensation.4
CT chest scan of mesothelioma cancer
4. How long do I have to sue for asbestos exposure?
In general, victims of asbestos exposure have a statute of limitations (time limit) of just two years to file an asbestos lawsuit from the date on which:
- You were first diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, or
- You could have discovered the illness had you exercised reasonable diligence.
However, it is not always clear when a claimant’s illness can be definitively traced to asbestos exposure.
As a result, it is best to consult with an experienced Las Vegas asbestos lawyer before concluding that your legal action is time-barred.5
5. What compensation can I get for asbestos exposure?
In addition to mesothelioma compensation for medical expenses, long-term care, lost wages, and lost earning capacity, your injury case may entitle you to recover for:
- Pain, suffering and other “non-economic” losses,
- Punitive damages (up to $300,000 or three times your economic losses), or
- Damages from the wrongful death lawsuit of a family member.6
An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will fight to ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation possible in your personal injury lawsuit. When you are battling a life-threatening illness, the last thing you should be worried about is financial security.
Exposed to asbestos in Nevada? Call us for help…
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos fibers and is a mesothelioma patient, time may be running out for our legal team to file claims on your behalf against the asbestos companies, manufacturers of asbestos, and other at-fault parties.
Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers can advise you whether you are still able to sue for your asbestos exposure and what kind of damages you may be able to recover. Our goal is to win the largest mesothelioma settlement possible under tort law.
To speak to one of our experienced lawyers for a case review and to discuss your legal options, call or fill out the convenient form on this page. Depending on the case, we may be able to bring an individual lawsuit or join a mesothelioma class action lawsuit.
Our mesothelioma law firm is available 24/7. And since we operate by contingency fee, we do not get paid on your asbestos claims unless you get paid.
Legal References
- Asbestos, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Mesothelioma, WebMD.
- Health Impact of Asbestos, Wikipedia.
- Pleural Plaques, Asthma & Lung UK.
- NRS 11.190.
- See: Asbestos Trust Funds, Mesothelioma Hope. Veterans Asbestos Exposure, Veterans Affairs. Holcomb v. Georgia Pacific, LLC (2012) 128 Nev. 614. State Industrial Insurance System v. Jesch (1985) 709 P.2d 172.