Understanding Mesothelioma Claims & Negligence in North Dakota

The state of North Dakota offers a vast expanse of picturesque views, Native American culture, and employment opportunities in the oil and gas industry. Unfortunately, many oil and gas workers in the state may have been exposed to a potentially lethal material known as asbestos, which has been linked to a rare and deadly cancer called mesothelioma. If you or someone close to you has recently received a mesothelioma diagnosis, the North Dakota injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help you pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses you may have suffered.

Between 1999 and 2017, 738 people died of asbestos-related diseases in North Dakota. Mesothelioma claimed the lives of 138 of them. Those numbers won’t mean much to you when you are sitting in a doctor’s office hearing a mesothelioma diagnosis for the first time. What will matter is finding support and help to pay for the medical treatment you need and protect your loved ones if the unthinkable occurs. Our firm is available to you 24/7 at 800-862-1260 and we have both English- and Spanish-speaking professionals ready to help you. Contact us today for a free case review.

Asbestos is made up of six naturally-occurring minerals that form strong fibers. It has been used in the oil drilling process, but it is also present in older homes and buildings in North Dakota. The fibers are heat resistant and durable, which made it a popular manufacturing material for centuries. However, when those fibers get inhaled into the body, they can embed into the lining (mesothelium) of the lungs or other organs.

Because the body cannot eliminate the fibers, they remain in the tissue, creating small incisions that the body tries to heal by forming scar tissue. The scar tissue builds up and can develop into tumors that become malignant over time. This process may take 10-50 years from the time of the asbestos exposure to the cancer diagnosis.

Mesothelioma can occur in different areas of the body, but the most common type forms in the tissue of the lungs and is called pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Lumps under the skin
• Unexplained weight loss

The prognosis for mesothelioma tends to be poor, but treatments are available. Compensation can help to pay for your medical care and support your family when you are unable to do so. An attorney who has experience with mesothelioma and asbestosis lawsuits in North Dakota can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Reputable organizations like the American Cancer Society have named asbestos exposure as the main cause of mesothelioma. However, to pursue compensation, victims must show negligence and liability on the entities that allowed the exposure to occur. You need an experienced lawyer in your court who can fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve.

There are a variety of sources mesothelioma victims have for pursuing compensation, including:

• Workers’ compensation when health issues can be traced to workplace exposure
• Asbestos bankruptcy trusts established specifically for victims of asbestos exposure
• Personal injury lawsuits against the company or person that exposed the victim to asbestos

You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, which can add up quickly as you pursue treatment for your illness. You can also receive compensation for lost wages during the time you are unable to work and for pain and suffering as a result of your diagnosis. If you lose someone you love to mesothelioma, you may also be eligible for compensation to pay your loved one’s medical bills and funeral expenses, and for your own pain and suffering.

If you have recently received a mesothelioma diagnosis, our team can help. We offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, which means we don’t get paid unless you do. Check our reviews to see what previous clients are saying about us. Then give us a call at 800-862-1260 to schedule your free case review.

For more information:

• Asbestos Nation
• CDC
• American Cancer Society
• Cornell Law