A mesothelioma cancer diagnosis changes the lives of victims and their loved ones, and sadly, this disease is often caused by a wrongful exposure to asbestos. As such, it is important to speak with a Santa Barbara mesothelioma lawyer if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with the disease.

The Ledger Law Firm’s national team of acclaimed personal injury attorneys have recovered millions in compensation for victims whose mesothelioma was caused by a party bearing legal responsibility. Modern medical research has shown that a single exposure to asbestos is capable of causing mesothelioma, even if the exposure occurred decades ago. The long timeline that can occur between a wrongful exposure and a cancer diagnosis underscores the need for an attorney that will conduct a thorough investigation to determine who the responsible parties are.

Our team — which is led by a nationally recognized mesothelioma attorney, Emery Ledger — conducts a full investigation to pursue the legal rights of victims who are in need of financial compensation.

The Harms of Asbestos Have Claimed Thousands of California Lives

The state of California has lost more lives to the dangers of asbestos than any other, and Santa Barbara County has also suffered a great deal of loss to asbestos-related illnesses. The CDC indicates that more than 300 lives have been lost to asbestos-related disease between 1999 and 2013 in Santa Barbara County.

Dire findings such as these are caused when asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled by individuals who are exposed to asbestos. Exposure of this nature has been common largely because asbestos itself was so common. Prior to the ban of asbestos that was issued after overwhelming evidence that it causes disease, the naturally occurring mineral could be found in most homes and commercial job sites, including military vehicles and bases.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or aged, the mineral’s microscopic fibers release into the air, which is when exposed individuals can ingest them into the body. Once asbestos enters the human body and line the lungs or other vulnerable parts within the body, research has suggested the fibers will never leave.

This durability, in turn, explains why a mesothelioma diagnosis can be received decades after the initial exposure to asbestos. As such, mesothelioma is often a surprise diagnosis, making it difficult to be treated in a timely manner by physicians who catch the disease in early stages. Mesothelioma’s diagnosis difficulty largely explains why fewer than 10 percent of pleural mesothelioma patients survive longer than five years post-diagnosis.

In short, mesothelioma is a dangerous disease that has afflicted thousands of California victims and families. When these harms are caused by a legally responsible party, victims deserve justice.

Talk to a Santa Barbara County Mesothelioma Lawyer

The time to act is now if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Talk to a Ledger Law Santa Barbara mesothelioma attorney and discover whether the mesothelioma diagnosis deserves compensation because the disease was caused by a wrongful asbestos exposure.

Contact us online to discuss your legal claim with a free case evaluation today.