New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a rare, but aggressive and dangerous form of cancer that is generally understood to be caused by exposure to asbestos. In New Jersey, there are hundreds of known asbestos sites that have exposed thousands of people to the potentially deadly substance.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or have lost a loved one due to this illness, you need to seek legal representation from The Williams Law Firm immediately. You may be entitled to significant compensation, and the Williams Law Firm is going to help you through this process. Attorney Joseph P. Williams has extensive experience handling mesothelioma cases. We will investigate your illness and work to secure the compensation you deserve when you contact our New Jersey mesothelioma attorneys.

Why Turn To The Williams Law Firm for New Jersey Mesothelioma Cases

When you are facing a mesothelioma diagnosis or have lost a loved one due to this disease, you need a compassionate and skilled New Jersey mesothelioma attorney by your side. At The Williams Law Firm, you are gaining more than two decades of experience in handling mesothelioma cases to the table.

• Joseph P. Williams has secured millions of dollars in damages for mesothelioma victims and their families and has served as lead attorney on cases throughout New Jersey and the US.
• We take the time to get to know each of our clients’ needs and priorities in order to determine the best path forward.
• Our clients never face any out-of-pocket costs or legal fees. We take mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will not pay until we are successful in recovering the compensation you deserve.

How Will A Lawyer Help A Mesothelioma Case in New Jersey?

There are various routes that can be taken in order to secure compensation for a mesothelioma diagnosis or for a wrongful death due to this illness. These cases can become incredibly complex, and a knowledgeable and experienced attorney New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer will understand all aspects of this process.

• Bankruptcy trust funds, also called mesothelioma trusts, have been established by companies that no longer exist that mined asbestos or manufactured asbestos products. These trusts were set aside for future cases of mesothelioma diagnosis in order to compensate victims and their families.
• Veterans benefits may be available for mesothelioma patients who were exposed to asbestos while they served in the US armed forces. Mesothelioma was heavily used in ships and shipyards, on aircraft carriers, and on military bases.
• Personal injury lawsuits may need to be filed against a liable party in order to recover compensation for victims. These cases may result in a pre-trial settlement or a jury verdict if the case goes to trial.
• Workers’ compensation claims may be an option, but most mesothelioma cases are not diagnosed for years, often well beyond the time frames allotted for workers’ compensation claims.

Regardless of which route is best for your case, your attorney will be responsible for handling all investigations, paperwork, and litigation in the case.

Client Review: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Joseph Williams Law Office has been very kind, professional, and knowledgeable. They have helped our family through a very difficult time and I would recommend their services to anyone that needs help.

– Lindsta Ann

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos was once known as the “magic mineral.” Thanks to the low cost of mining asbestos, its heat resistance, and its versatility, this mineral was heavily used until the late 1970s. However, asbestos saw continued use in the 1980s and 1990s. Asbestos was most commonly used in construction and consumer products, particularly in the following:

• Insulation
• Pipe covering
• Gaskets
• Asbestos packing
• Refractory
• Asbestos bricks
• Transite boards
• Joint compound
• Floor tiles
• Ceiling tiles
• Roofing products

Learn more about products containing asbestos here.

Understanding Mesothelioma

We now know that asbestos is a cancer-causing carcinogen. Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. There are around 3,000 new mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year in this country, many of them right here in New Jersey.

In many cases, mesothelioma is not diagnosed until 20 to 30 years after a person has been exposed to asbestos. Due to the long latency period, many victims do not find out they have cancer until it is already in the late stages. Complicating matters is the fact that many of the symptoms of this illness mimic those of other diseases.

Asbestos fibers, when inhaled or ingested, can embed themselves in a person’s body. Over time, these asbestos fibers can disrupt normal cell growth, leading to the development of malignant cells. There are four basic types of mesothelioma.

• Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. This mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs, and a person is likely to experience shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue, weight loss, and chest pain.
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a type of mesothelioma that can affect several organs in the abdominal cavity, including the liver, spleen, and bowel. The most common symptoms of this form of mesothelioma include severe abdominal pain, difficulty with bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, and fatigue.
• Pericardial Mesothelioma is a type of mesothelioma that forms around the heart. This can restrict the delivery of oxygen to the rest of the body. The most common symptoms of this mesothelioma include chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever or night sweats, and fatigue.
• Testicular Mesothelioma. is the least common form of mesothelioma and is not usually diagnosed until lumps form on the testes.

How Have New Jersey Residents Been Affected By Mesothelioma?

New Jersey residents have been adversely affected by mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure for decades. From 1999 to 2013, there were an estimated 9,395 asbestos exposure deaths. While there have been victims in every county in the state, those most affected include Somerset, Middlesex, Bergen, Gloucester, and Monmouth. There have been hundreds of asbestos exposure sites around the state. Places most likely to contain asbestos include hospitals, schools, government buildings, office complexes, older homes, nursing homes, and more. Below is a brief sampling of the hundreds of known asbestos exposure sites in New Jersey:

• MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE
• TEXACO REFINERY
• CHUBB INSURANCE COMPANY
• ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL
• HESS OIL CHEMICAL DIVISION
• FACULTY HOUSING (PRINCETON UNIVERSITY)
• SOCONY MOBIL OIL CO.
• NEWARK AIRPORT
• ESSEX COUNTY TECHNOLOGY CENTER
• TOMKINS TIDEWATER TERMINAL
• CHRIST HOSPITAL
• BETHLEHEM STEEL SHIPYARD

This is only a partial list of the asbestos exposure sites in New Jersey. There are many other buildings and homes that residents of New Jersey have been exposed, and continue to be exposed, to asbestos. More sites are continually being identified. For your particular case, your New Jersey mesothelioma attorneys will want to perform a thorough investigation to determine where you were exposed to asbestos and who is liable for your mesothelioma expenses.

Mesothelioma In The Home

While industrial and construction locations are the most common places where victims are exposed to asbestos, many victims were exposed in their own homes. Asbestos is toxic when it becomes friable and become dust floating in the air. This can happen in a person’s home during a renovation or when asbestos products begin to wear down over time. Some of the most common places asbestos is found in homes can include:

• Roofing materials
• Asbestos siding
• Insulation in the walls
• Boilers and heating equipment containing asbestos insulation
• Joint compound and plaster walls
• Textured paint and patching compounds
• Protective paper, millboard, and cement sheets around wood fireplaces
• Vinyl floor tiles or vinyl sheets for flooring
• Hot water pipes in old houses with an asbestos coating
• Ceiling tiles

Treatment For Mesothelioma

If you of your loved one were exposed to asbestos, regardless of when the exposure happened, please talk to your doctor about getting a complete and thorough examination. There is no cure for this disease, but early detection of mesothelioma can increase a victim’s quality of life and life expectancy in the years following a diagnosis.

The most successful way to diagnose mesothelioma is to perform a biopsy of the suspected malignant area. Your doctor will then use physical exams and various image tests (MRI, CT scans, etc.) to further diagnose the scope of the mesothelioma.

Treatment for mesothelioma can include one or more of the following:

• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery

For those in the late stages of mesothelioma, your doctor may recommend palliative and hospice care to increase the quality of life for a person’s remaining time.

What Kind Of Compensation Is Available For These Cases?

Regardless of the route you and your mesothelioma lawyer choose to pursue compensation through, there are various types of compensation available for mesothelioma victims and their families in New Jersey. This can include:

Medical Expenses

This can include past and future medical expenses due to your diagnosis. These expenses can be calculated using your medical bills as well as consultation with a medical professional about the cost of expected care in the future.

Lost Wages

This can be calculated by gathering proof of any lost income you incur due to your mesothelioma. It can include wages lost because you cannot work at all as well as your diminished earning capacity due to disability due to the illness.

Pain and Suffering

These expenses are not as easy to calculate as medical expenses or lost income. Pain and suffering refers to a range of damages, including:

• Long-term physical pain
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Wrongful Death

Family members who have lost someone due to mesothelioma are usually entitled to damages through a wrongful death claim. This can include a range of expenses, including:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Cost of pre-death medical care
• Loss of future income and benefits of the deceased
• Mental anguish damages
• Loss of consortium or companionship damages

Free Consultation With a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or have lost a family member to the illness, seek legal assistance today. At the Williams Law Firm, we are going to get to work on your behalf immediately. We will learn every aspect of your case, determine the best route forward, and vigorously defend your right to compensation. When you need a New Jersey mesothelioma attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling (855) 575-6376.