Los Angeles Asbestos Attorney

Top Los Angeles Mesothelioma

Los Angeles, with the largest trial court in the nation, is where Attorney Emery Brett Ledger started his practice in 1998.  Founding The Ledger Law Firm on the principle that he would represent individuals not corporations, Attorney Ledger has built one of the leading Injury Law Firm’s in the United States.  California is know to have no less than 140 asbestos related contamination sites & at least 49 of them are in Los Angeles.  Thus, the Firm’s focus on Mesothelioma and other Asbestos related lung disease has its roots at one of the epicenters of Asbestos contamination.

Asbestos is a dangerous substance that causes serious and fatal diseases after a 10 to 40-year latency period. Many thousands of individuals were exposed to asbestos and the threat of health conditions such as pleural mesothelioma in Los Angeles before steps were taken to reduce asbestos exposure. Regulations have helped, but the hazardous mineral has not been banned in the U.S. In addition, natural outcroppings of asbestos are still being discovered and there are dangers associated with demolition of properties that contain asbestos. Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused by the fibrous material, and at least 75% of the people who are diagnosed annually suffer from pleural mesothelioma.

Asbestos: An Occupational Hazard

Most of the LA residents who suffer from pleural mesothelioma can trace asbestos exposure to their occupation. Factories in downtown L.A., railroads & shipyards in Long Beach and oil refineries throughout the region.  The list goes on and on:

Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) Refinery
Bethlehem Steel
Bunker Hill Plant
Crocker Tower
Dept of Water and Power
Firestone Tire
Fluor Corporation
Ford Motor Car Assembly Plant
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Los Angeles Dry Dock and Shipbuilding
Procon Incorporated
Rocket Dyne Corporation
Southern California Edison
Superior Oil
United States Rubber Tire & Rubber Plant
Union Pacific Switchyard
VAMC
Western Pipe & Steel Company
Western Pipe & Steel Plant

So, what is asbestos? There are six kinds of asbestos minerals, all of which are made up of durable, fine fibers. Qualities inherent to asbestos make the mineral useful for a wide range of purposes. For instance, asbestos fibers are heat-resistant, fire-resistant, and chemical-resistant. Using the mineral is extremely cost-effective as an insulating and fireproofing agent and much more. As early as the 1800s, manufacturing and construction industries used asbestos in products such as:

• Plastics
• Fume hoods
• Asbestos sheets
• Insulation
• Asbestos felt for flooring and roofing
• Ductwork connectors

Even today, there are many asbestos-containing products in the U.S. that can legally be manufactured and sold.

At least 60 countries in the world have outlawed the use of asbestos, since it causes many different illnesses and diseases. Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer and one that is common among people who have been exposed to the fibrous mineral.

What is Pleural Mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers become lodged in the pleura or protective lining of the lungs. The body has difficulty dispelling asbestos fibers. As a result, genetic mutations begin to develop in the cells surrounding the affected areas, causing pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include: Coughing; shortness of breath; pain in the lower back or side of the chest; fever; excessive sweating; unexplained weight loss; fatigue; trouble swallowing; swelling of the arms and face; and hoarseness.

Prognosis & Life Expectancy
Research shows that approximately 40% of the people diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma live a year or longer after being diagnosed. Only about 1 in 10 people live for more than 3 years after being diagnosed. Factors that determine an individual’s prognosis include overall health, treatment options, and lifestyle changes that can be made.

Treatment
Surgery is, in general, the best chance for long-term survival of pleural mesothelioma. The only candidates who typically qualify, however, are those with early-stage malignant pleural mesothelioma. Other treatment options include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Financial Assistance

Trust funds have been set up among companies whose past employees may have developed diseases such as pleural mesothelioma in Los Angeles and elsewhere, due to asbestos exposure. Costs associated with the disease include diagnostic testing costs, treatment costs, and follow-up and recovery expenses.

People who have developed mesothelioma as well as their families can be awarded compensation from asbestos trust funds. Today, more than $30 billion in asbestos trust funds are available for victims of asbestos exposure. Be sure you access the compensation you may be entitled to for diseases such as pleural mesothelioma in Los Angeles. Contact us today.