Speak to a Maine mesothelioma lawyer if you have faced asbestos exposure and have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. It should be fairly easy to find a mesothelioma lawyer in your area, considering that they are more widely in practice these days. The first time you contact a lawyer, he or she will give a free case evaluation. You will learn about your legal rights and any compensation that you are entitled to. You must act quickly, because the Maine statute of limitations is six years from the time of discovery of the disease. This statute of limitations is quite a bit longer than many other states that are two or three years from the time of discovery.
Wrongful death cases have a two year statute of limitations in Maine. This is adhered to strictly in almost all cases, so be sure to start call one of many mesothelioma lawyers today.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, and is caused by exposure to asbestos. The most common type is called pleural mesothelioma. The other types affect other organs, such as the heart, stomach, and the intestines. Exposure to asbestos may occur while a person is working on a site in which there is asbestos around, or asbestos is in the materials that they are handling or wearing. It also may occur in the home, while in the military, or even in the air in areas where homes are being torn down, for example. It is a serious matter, because often times a diagnosis is not made until a long time after the exposure began, because symptoms do not usually present themselves for awhile. Also, there is no known cure for mesothelioma at this time. This makes it a heartbreaking and difficult time for afflicted persons and their families to go through.
In the western region of Maine is the border of Quebec. In this province, there exists a thriving, legal asbestos industry. Therefore, there are many naturally-occurring deposits of asbestos in that area of Maine. Luckily, this is also an area which is rather lightly inhabited. Three other deposits have been identified by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, with one close to the eastern border in the vicinity of Fort Fairfield, and the others along the coast on the peninsula that separates Blue Bay and Penobscot Bay. The historic buildings also pose a threat in regards to asbestos, and in 2007 there was an instance in which a company in charge of renovations for Worster House did not notify the state Department of Environmental Quality, and also used uncertified workers to do the asbestos abatement. The company ended up having to pay a steep fine, as Maine is particularly strict when it comes to environmental laws. Different types of worksites are more likely to have employees be exposed to asbestos. These include paper mills, shipyards, military installations, power generation plants, iron foundries, and even some school buildings and hospitals were found to have asbestos problems.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, it is important to contact a lawyer shortly after your diagnosis. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer Maine can provide you with much needed assistance in preparing a case that will help you win a settlement in court. You and your family can have your financial burden lifted, hopefully in a short period of time.
