If you have recently lost your spouse, parent or other loved one as a result of mesothelioma cancer, you are not alone. What was once considered a very rare form of cancer has seen a sharp rise in prevalence in the last few decades. Experts point to the thousands of products that were produced with heavy amounts of asbestos in them during the last century as the main reason for the increase in mesothelioma cancer.
The link between asbestos and illness or even death has been known since the turn of the century. Sadly, no one did anything to limit workers’ exposure to the deadly asbestos dust particles until the 1980’s. In the meantime, millions of American workers in the auto industry, textile industry and construction industries were exposed to asbestos dust on a daily basis. For many workers, the exposure went on for decades. Millions of unsuspecting workers went to work every day for years not knowing that the very air they were breathing might cause them to die of mesothelioma cancer years, even decades, later. The risk associated with asbestos dust was sometimes even transferred to family members that lived in the same house when the dust was brought home on the worker’s skin or clothing.
Now, decades later, we are seeing a sharp increase in the number of people diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. Doctor’s agree that the single biggest risk factor for mesothelioma cancer is previous exposure to asbestos – generally in the workplace. So where does that leave you if you have lost your spouse or another family member to this horrible cancer? Under the laws of the State of California, you may be entitled to file as a claimant in a wrongful death lawsuit, says attorney Emery Ledger of the mesothelioma law firm Ledger & Associates. As a claimant in a wrongful death lawsuit, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of your loved one. Under the California wrongful death statutes, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of financial and/or household support as a result of the death of your loved one. Whether your loved one worked outside of the house or inside the house, if you were dependant on their support to make your household run, then you may be entitled to compensation for that loss. You may also be entitled to compensation for the loss of love, comfort, companionship, affection, moral support, solace and consortium (if applicable). The exact value of your California wrongful death claim will depend on a number of factors including the age and health of the decedent aside from the cancer, your age and life expectancy, the length and type of relationship you had with the decedent and many other factors. Only an experienced California mesothelioma lawyer can evaluate your specific case and advise you what it may be worth.
If your loved one lost his life as a result of someone else putting him in harms way, then they should be held accountable. Remember that there is a limited amount of time within which to file a claim under California law so time is of the essence. Contact a mesothelioma law firm today.
