Charleston mesothelioma lawyers help local residents seek justice for asbestos illnesses. Charleston, the state capital of West Virginia, has a long history of asbestos exposure. Mines and other major employers in the area used asbestos in the past and put workers at risk.
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Charleston, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Charleston Asbestos Facts
- There were more than 3,000 deaths related to asbestos in West Virginia between 1999 and 2017.
- The largest number of deaths, 566, occurred in Kanawha County and Charleston.
- The mining and power industries in the region played a big role in the asbestos exposure of workers and residents.
Every year, approximately 3,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma. This rare and aggressive cancer is typically linked to asbestos exposure, affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. With its limited cases, awareness and understanding of mesothelioma are crucial for early detection and treatment options.
Mesothelioma: Key Statistics and Insights
When exploring the landscape of mesothelioma, a few vital statistics provide a comprehensive understanding of diagnosis and life expectancy.
- Incidence Rate: Annually, around 3,000 individuals are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States. This cancer is relatively rare but significant in its impact.
- Affected Areas: The disease predominantly targets the lungs, although it can also affect other parts of the body.
- Demographics: Men face a higher risk of developing mesothelioma compared to women. This disparity is often linked to historical occupational exposure to asbestos, which has traditionally been more common in male-dominated industries.
- Age at Diagnosis: Most individuals receive a mesothelioma diagnosis at an average age of 69 years. This late age is often attributed to the long latency period of the disease.
- Life Expectancy: Following diagnosis, the typical life expectancy ranges from 12 to 21 months. This statistic underscores the critical need for early detection and advanced treatment options.
By understanding these statistics, one can gain deeper insights into the challenges and realities faced by those living with mesothelioma.
How Did I Get Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be a big shock. Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer with one known cause: asbestos exposure. If you have mesothelioma, you were likely exposed to asbestos at work.
Many industries used asbestos heavily through the middle of the 20th century. Workers at greatest risk worked in construction, industrial manufacturing, automotive repair, mining, power generation, oil refineries, and steel mills.
Asbestos exposure causes pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma affects the tissue around the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pains.
Peritoneal mesothelioma causes cancer in the abdomen. Symptoms include gastrointestinal issues, abdominal pain, and abdominal swelling. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer and a non-malignant disease called asbestosis.
What Are the Stages of Mesothelioma Progression?
Understanding the progression of mesothelioma is crucial for managing treatment and expectations. The disease advances through four distinct stages, each characterized by how far the cancer has spread within the body.
Stage 1: Localized Mesothelioma
In the initial stage, mesothelioma is confined to a small area and hasn’t yet invaded surrounding tissues. At this point, the cancer is typically localized to the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
Stage 2: Regional Spread
As the condition progresses, cancer begins to invade nearby lymph nodes. This marks the second stage, where the tumor may also become larger and affect more of the body’s lining in the same area.
Stage 3: Advanced Regional Spread
By the third stage, mesothelioma has extended to distant lymph nodes and potentially some nearby tissues. The cancer may spread further within the chest or abdomen, making it more challenging to treat.
Stage 4: Distant Metastasis
In the final stage, the cancer has metastasized to distant regions or other organs. This widespread distribution can significantly impact treatment options and outcomes, as the disease is usually more resistant to conventional treatments at this point.
This progression highlights the importance of early detection and diagnosis to optimize treatment efficacy and improve quality of life for individuals affected by mesothelioma.
Diagnosing mesothelioma is a critical process that requires careful attention, as the disease is often mistaken for other illnesses. This cancer, linked to asbestos exposure, can take decades to manifest, making early detection a challenge.
Steps in Diagnosing Mesothelioma
- Initial Assessment and Misdiagnosis Risks Mesothelioma presents symptoms akin to other diseases, leading to potential misdiagnosis. Patients may not immediately recall their asbestos exposure, complicating early detection.
- The Essential Biopsy A biopsy is the definitive method for diagnosing mesothelioma. During this procedure, doctors remove a small tissue sample from the affected area. This sample is then examined under a microscope for cancerous cells.
- Identifying the Type and Stage The most prevalent form, accounting for 75% of cases, is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung lining. Once identified, staging follows, determining how far the cancer has spread:
- Stage 1: Cancer is localized and hasn’t spread to nearby tissues.
- Stage 2: It extends to nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage 3: Involves distant lymph nodes and other cells.
- Stage 4: Has reached other organs.
- Treatment Considerations While there is no cure, treatment typically involves surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—tailored to the cancer’s stage.
Despite the lack of a cure, early and accurate diagnosis is vital for managing the disease and improving the quality of life. Understanding these steps can lead to more informed conversations with healthcare providers.
Why You Need an Experienced Charleston Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have a right to take action to seek compensation. Asbestos exposure on the job was negligent, which means asbestos companies can be held accountable.
Asbestos cases can be complicated, though. You need a top-rated, experienced Charleston asbestos or mesothelioma attorney to take your case. They have the experience, knowledge, and resources to handle a complicated claim and give you the best chance of receiving compensation sooner.
What to Look for in a Charleston Asbestos Attorney
Working with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer is essential for the best outcome for your asbestos case. Here’s what to look for in a winning mesothelioma lawyer or firm:
- Proven years of experience handling and winning asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits
- Experience negotiating large settlements for clients
- Experience litigating cases in court
- A free initial consultation and contingency payment, so you pay no fees and risk nothing unless they win
- A compassionate team that understands your illness and will come to you
- A large law firm with jurisdiction in multiple states
Asbestos cases are complicated. Many cases involve multiple defendants and different states. You need a law firm with the resources to investigate, prove, and win your asbestos lawsuit.
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Charleston, WV?
Several industries and workplaces in and around Charleston contributed to asbestos exposure in residents. These are a few examples.
Power Generation
Although Charleston has a diverse economy that includes government, education, and medicine, utilities and power generation are still vital industries in the city.
Several energy-producing companies, including Appalachian Power and the Mountaineer Gas Company, have headquarters in Charleston.
Any factory or power plant built during the early to mid-20th Century used large amounts of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs}.
Pipes, furnaces, coal storage bins, work benches, and even fire-protective clothing contained asbestos. So did vinyl floor tiles, roofing materials, and insulation installed behind walls.
Even though these materials helped reduce the risk of catastrophic fire or electrical discharges, the amount of asbestos in the environment and the subsequent health problems proved disastrous.
Mining and Asbestos
Although not mined in West Virginia, workers often extracted asbestos along with coal from naturally-occurring deposits.
West Virginia has over 100 coal seams. Asbestos is not found in all of them, but many miners have been exposed to asbestos dust in mines.
Every step of the mining process, starting with extraction and ending with crushing or grinding large chunks of coal into small ones, puts miners at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers and developing deadly diseases.
Workers were also at risk of asbestos exposure through mining equipment and machinery.
Many of the components contained asbestos to reduce friction and prevent overheating. Repair and maintenance workers were at particular risk of exposure.
Charleston-Area Job Sites with Known Asbestos
Many of these job sites have undergone modernization and asbestos abatement work in recent years. Workers and maintenance personnel from previous decades may have been exposed to ACMs.
- Appalachian Power Company – London Power Plant in Kanawha
- Appalachian Power Company – Kanawha River Power Plant in Kanawha
- Appalachian Power Company – Marmet Power Plant in Kanawha
- Appalachian Power Company – Winfield Power Plant in Kanawha
- E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co. Belle West Virginia Power Plant in Kanawha
- Union Carbide (Dow Chemical) Plant in South Charleston
- Daniel Boone Hotel in Charleston
- Ohio Power Company Facility in Charleston
- Atlas Warehouse Building in Charleston
- Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Building in Charleston
- Kanawha Water and Light Company Facility in Kanawha
- Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston
Mesothelioma Treatment in Charleston
Two major cancer care facilities in West Virginia provide medical care to mesothelioma patients: Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center (MBRCC) at the West Virginia University Medical Center in Morgantown and the Schiffler Cancer Center of Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling.
MBRCC offers expert care and world-class staff. It is also involved in cancer research. Its research staff includes over 80 members from 33 different departments in the WVU Medical Center.
The Schiffler Cancer Center in Wheeling provides medical services for West Virginia and areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Schiffler Cancer Center is led by a team of five radiation oncologists, including Dr. Jondavid Pollock.
Due to its collaborative relationship with the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, the Schiffler Cancer Center is the only West Virginia hospital with membership in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG).
The mesothelioma Lawyer Center supported my father during his challenging time. Their expertise, compassion, and dedication were truly remarkable. Not only did they handle the legal complexities with proficiency, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance to our family throughout the entire process. Thanks to their relentless efforts, my father received the compensation he deserved, allowing him to focus on his health and well-being. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking justice and assistance in similar situations.
– Jingjing Z.
Legal Options for Mesothelioma Victims When the Responsible Company Is Defunct
If you or someone you know has developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, the journey to seek justice might seem daunting, especially if the company responsible is no longer operational. However, there are still viable legal avenues to pursue compensation.
Special Trust Funds
Many companies that once dealt with asbestos have gone out of business. To address this, asbestos bankruptcy trust funds were established. These trusts are designed specifically to provide financial compensation to victims of asbestos exposure. Each trust has its own process and criteria for claims, but they collectively hold billions of dollars set aside for valid claims.
Filing a Lawsuit
Even if the initial company is defunct, victims and their families may still initiate a lawsuit against successor companies. These could be businesses that acquired the original company or its liabilities. Legal experts can help determine if there is a viable legal target or if other related entities can be held accountable.
Working with a Specialized Attorney
Navigating the complexities of asbestos-related legal claims, especially involving trust fund claims or lawsuits against successor companies, typically requires specialized legal assistance. An attorney with experience in this area can evaluate your situation, help you understand your rights, and guide you through the claim process to ensure the best possible outcome.
By exploring these options, victims and their families can pursue the compensation they deserve, even when the responsible party is no longer operating.
Getting Legal Help in Charleston
Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. Keep in mind that if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for considerable compensation. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
