When medical professionals talk about recovering from cancer, the discussion is usually centered around five year survival rates. While people do survive mesothelioma at the five year mark, the numbers are unfortunately low – about 10{d37eae5b8410ed8fb22098597e6ecfa689963c7e8a6548fdf24949bed3e82123} of people diagnosed with mesothelioma are still alive five years later. There are a number of reasons for this. First, mesothelioma is very rare, with about 3,000 cases diagnosed each year. That means that many doctors have never seen a case and don’t recognize the early symptoms of mesothelioma cancer. Second, those symptoms are easily mistaken for much more common issues like infections, allergies, or medications interacting badly. Third, because mesothelioma tends to occur in older Americans, there are often a number of other health problems in play, making treatment more difficult. And finally, because mesothelioma is often diagnosed very late in its progress, it’s often too late for surgical options that can remove infiltrated…Read More
Yes, she can. Many family members inhale asbestos fibers through contact with persons who have worked with asbestos, such as this situation where the husband brought the asbestos fibers home. In this case, the Mother is absolutely entitled to seek benefits and compensation. We would advise contacting an attorney as soon as possible. If you reside in Louisiana and need assistance, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 581-6411 for a free consultation.Read More
When a spouse is sickened by mesothelioma, the costs associated with mesothelioma treatment in Louisiana can overwhelm a family’s finances, even when they’re well insured. When the fight ends, funeral costs are another blow to a family already dealing with grief. Family members should know that mesothelioma is caused by just one source – exposure to asbestos, usually in the workplace, and usually over a period of years. Mesothelioma has a latency period that can span many decades, meaning that your loved one may have worked in a job where he or she inhaled asbestos fibers day in and day out even decades before they got sick, but however many years have gone by, that workplace exposure is what caused their mesothelioma cancer. Because of the extreme danger to human health posed by asbestos, it has been highly regulated in the United States since the 1970s and 1980s. Some applications continue to be…Read More
In most cases in Louisiana, you cannot. The spouse and children are usually the only ones who have the right to bring forth a lawsuit for mesothelioma. However, there are some instances where a grandchild can pursue a mesothelioma lawsuit but they are strict and detailed. If you reside in New Orleans or elsewhere in the state of Louisiana and have questions about Mesothelioma and a lawsuit, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 581-6411 for a free consultation.Read More
The Medicare Secondary Payer Act went into effect in 1980. So any claim for health services paid for by Medicare after December 1980 would need to have Medicare’s interests determined. If you have questions about Mesothelioma or need help after a diagnosis, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.Read More
Mesothelioma is a notoriously difficult disease to diagnose for several reasons. The problem usually isn’t that your doctor isn’t trying hard enough or isn’t interested in what’s going on with you, but the symptoms of mesothelioma, especially early in its development, often look very much like a number of other common complaints. These can be everything from the normal aches and pains of aging, to seasonal allergies, to reactions your body may be having to prescription medications you’re taking. Another reason that mesothelioma can be difficult for doctors to diagnose is that it is an extremely rare form of cancer with a single cause, exposure to asbestos. If your history of workplace exposure to asbestos, or your second hand exposure to asbestos through a loved one’s occupation, didn’t come up, it may never occur to your doctor to keep an eye out for asbestos-related diseases. You have every reason to make sure your…Read More
This diagnosis is usually always related to asbestos exposure, and a lawsuit can result in large awards. And in Louisiana, you have one year from the date of diagnosis to file a lawsuit, so the sooner you meet with an experienced mesothelioma law firm, the sooner you can begin this process. If you would like to ask us questions about Mesothelioma and how a lawsuit works, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.Read More
New Orleans has seen an extensive presence of asbestos both in the construction of its buildings and in local industries, shipbuilding. Exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma – a cancer that begins in the lining of the lungs and spreads to adjacent organs. While lawsuits involving mesothelioma follow most of the same rules as other personal injury lawsuits, there are complexities to mesothelioma cases that require an attorney experienced in mesothelioma litigation. These complexities arise from the long latency period of mesothelioma. The symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until decades after exposure to asbestos, making it difficult to establish the source. Obviously, the manufacturer of the product that caused the mesothelioma or an employer where you worked decades ago is unlikely to agree that they are responsible for a disease that developed years after exposure. A personal injury attorney experienced in mesothelioma litigation can help you…Read More
No, unless you were adopted by the step-dad or step-mom. Only heirs to the estate can file a lawsuit for the mesothelioma diagnosis. However, in some instances you can pursue asbestos related litigation. And in other cases, if the mesothelioma was related to service in the military, there may be VA benefits available. If you have questions about Mesothelioma, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.Read More
Unfortunately, no. If the settlement proceeds are in fact paid to the estate, the estate would still have to pay any liens. That’s why it is so important to have a Succession plan set up for the Estate for anyone that is diagnosed with Mesothelioma as soon as possible. If you have questions about Mesothelioma, call the Gertler Law Firm at (504) 527-8767 for a free consultation.Read More
