Mesothelioma Compensation: How Much is Enough?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), asbestos is a name given to a fibrous material that has been used as a fire retardant and insulator. Asbestos is known to be a leading cause of several life-threatening diseases. These diseases include asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. The number of deaths where asbestos exposure was the leading cause of death was nearly 30,000 for the 12-year period of 1999 to 2010, an average of 2,500 deaths a year. Another 1,500 Americans died from malignant mesothelioma where asbestos exposure was a contributing, not the leading cause.
Individuals who worked in certain industries, such as construction-related fields, pipefitters and steel mill workers have a higher rate of exposure and potential for the ill effects of mesothelioma than others. If you suffer from mesothelioma or know someone who does, it is important to understand what mesothelioma compensation may be available to you when contacting mesothelioma attorneys for an asbestos lawsuit.
The History of Asbestos and Regulatory Control
Asbestos has been a material that was in use since the 1800s in the United States. As a fire-retardant, asbestos was widely used for insulation and electrical work, and its unique properties (high tensile strength that can easily be woven in to fabric), made asbestos a valuable resource during that time period. The Consumer Product Safety Commission began efforts in the 1970s to eliminate the use of asbestos in wallboards and gas fireboards as it was found that the fibers were becoming airborne and posed a cancer risk. As awareness of the dangers of asbestos continued to grow, the use of asbestos was gradually reduced from approximately 800,000 metric tons in 1973 to 2,400 metric tons in 2005.
The Trend in Mesothelioma Litigation Awards
It is projected that the number of asbestos-related cases resulting in a diagnosis of the disease mesothelioma will be from 2,500 to 9,300 cases per year over the next 20 years. This is one of the trends being watched by mesothelioma attorneys in determining the potential for mesothelioma compensation. The Mealey’s Litigation Report places the average mesothelioma trial award at $2.4 million and the average settlement paid at $1 to $1.4 million. These numbers suggest that litigation awards are high and well in line with what you may expect based on your exposure to asbestos and a resulting ailment.
Why You Should Consider a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
If you or someone you know and love is suffering the effects of mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos (or have died as a result of such exposure) you should seek the advice from one of the experienced mesothelioma lawyers at Goldberg, Persky & White. Our team has been there since the very beginning, paving the way toward modern mesothelioma lawsuits while getting rightful compensation for their clients every step of the way. With over 30 years of experience navigating through all sorts of asbestos litigation on our side, you can be sure our team will not rest until you and your family are made whole again. Call us today and let us start going after everything you and your family deserves.
