Insurance Companies See Spike in Mesothelioma-Related Claims
Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma have been falling over the last 10 years. But Reuters reports that insurance companies are experiencing an increase in new meothelioma-related claims. Insurers say they are still getting sued “more frequently and aggressively” by people with claims against parties such as contractors that worked on projects where asbestos was used.
According to the American Cancer Society, mesothelioma, which is a lung cancer caused solely by asbestos exposure, declined at an annual rate of 1.8 percent from 1999 to 2008. Mesothelioma is a disease that has a long “latency period,” which means 30 years or more can pass between the individual’s exposure to asbestos and the onset of the cancer. That is precisely why insurance companies are continuing to see mesothelioma-related claims although the disease is on the decline.
Insurance companies’ plight is but a fraction of what mesothelioma patients and their families go through. This is a deadly cancer and treatments and new therapies to treat this disease can be extremely costly. It can add up to millions over a person’s life time. Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working in the construction industry or other manufacturing industries would be well-advised to seek legal guidance from a mesothelioma attorney in Pennsylvania right away.
Affected victims can seek compensation for damages including all medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering and emotional distress. Compensation for the family that has lost a loved one to mesothelioma includes payments for expenses such as funeral and burial costs, medical, expenses and lost future income. Money cannot replace a loved one or offer comfort to a grieving family. However, it can certainly help a family get back on its feet and make sure they have the resources needed to care for one another in the aftermath of a devastating loss.
Miriam Barish concentrates her practice on motor vehicle and motorcycle issues, premises liability, toxic torts including those involving asbestos, lead pain, mold, and Benzene, chemical exposure and other dangerous products; including flammability... Miriam Barish→