Mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure, can affect many of the organs of the body including the lungs, heart, and stomach. Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma should contact a Montana mesothelioma lawyer immediately. The statute of limitations in this state is three years from the date of discovery of your disease or cancer, or when it should have been discovered. For those who have lost a family member to an asbestos related disease, they also have three years from the date of the death to file a wrongful death suit. This is strictly adhered to, meaning you must begin the process of filing your claim within a short period of time. You should be able to find a lawyer in your area easily, as many more lawyers are focusing on asbestos cases in recent years. The mesothelioma lawyer will give you a free evaluation of your case, explain your legal rights to you, and describe the types of compensation you may be awarded.
The most notorious job site for asbestos exposure in all of the history of the U.S. is probably the W.R. Grace vermiculite min, which is located in Libby, Montana. Since the opening of the mine in the 1920s until it ceased operation in 1993, asbestos contaminated vermiculite was mined there, even though there were many warnings throughout the years that the operations posed health risks to the workers and residents in the area. This is a very tragic case, as over 1,000 people have become ill due to the asbestos. In fact, since the federal government began monitoring malignant mesothelioma deaths, the mortality in Libby, Montana is said to have 40-60 times the national average between 1978-1998, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
People also have been exposed to asbestos while working in the Anaconda copper mines and smelters in the state. Fortunately, the federal government has set cleanup operations in motion at the Anaconda sites throughout the past several years. In Montana, they go by a modified joint and several liability format, in which a defendant who is considered to be over 50 percent liable for the plaintiff’s disease must pay all of the compensation. In regards to their modified comparative negligence rule, the plaintiff will only get compensation if they are determined to less than 50 percent at fault for their disease.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos and then became diagnosed with mesothelioma, would be grateful for relief from financial stress and burdens. Since most people who have become ill from asbestos exposure can no longer work and have medical bills stacking up, life is complicated and stressful, with many obstacles. By taking the first step and speaking to a mesothelioma lawyer Montana, you can plan to most likely receive a settlement or compensation in court. Your lawyer can help you every step of the way, and ensure that your asbestos case is entirely successful.
