A Statute of Limitations is the the length of time in which people may file a lawsuit. This period usually begins when the plantiff becomes aware of the problem, rather than at the time of the original event. However the statute of limitations varies by and and the type of legal issue, so it is best to contact an attorney to determine the statute of limitations regarding your potential lawsuit.

For example, the statute of limitations for mesothelioma lawsuits begins from the moment a patient is diagnosed and can vary between 1 – 6 years depending on where you live.

Because statute of limitations can be confusing, many women believe that they are not able to file a vaginal mesh lawsuit. Unfortunately, there’s not one set answer when it comes to vaginal mesh. Several factors may influence vaginal mesh statute of limitations, including the date of your initial surgery, the mesh removal date if you had it surgicall removed, the state the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning, when you may have had conversations with your doctor or when you started noticing symptoms.

Because of this, it is best to contact an attorney early to discuss your personal case in detail. LegalView offers free case consultations for personal injury cases, unsafe drugs and mesothelioma litigation.

You may be asking yourself this very question. Not only will contacting LegalView allow you to connect you to an experienced lawyer for free, LegalView is made up of four of the top law firms in the United States, each with established and successful track records with personal injury cases like vaginal mesh, mesothelioma and unsafe drugs.

LegalView is made up of four firms: Anapol Schwartz; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; and Lopez McHugh. Each of these four firms have won several personal injury law cases and can help you with yours. Please contact LegalView for your free case evaluation. With more than 60 years of experience, LegalView attorneys have established reputations and knowledge to help represent you. Visit LegalView.com for more information.

Guest blog about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos exposure in the military.

from Jim A. McKowen, Esq.
James F. Humphreys & Associates, L.C.

Many servicemen and women have faced an invisible enemy they were not even aware of, an enemy which can cause injury and death many years after their military service has ended.  This enemy is asbestos.  Asbestos-containing products and materials were widely used by all branches of the military between the 1930s and the 1970s.  Unfortunately, exposure to airborne asbestos fibers can cause a variety of diseases, including pleural plaques (a scarring of the membranes lining the lungs), asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs themselves), lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, other types of cancers of the respiratory and digestive tracts, and mesothelioma (a painful and usually fatal cancer which can arise in the membranes lining the heart, lungs and abdominal cavity).  These asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods, which means that service personnel who are exposed to asbestos in the course of duty may not become sick for 40 years or more.

Navy and Coast Guard

Asbestos insulation, gaskets, packing and wiring were widely used on ships built between the 1930s and 1970s.  Airborne asbestos was a particular problem on ships because sailors frequently worked in cramped quarters with poor ventilation.  Although asbestos usage was especially heavy in the engine rooms and boiler rooms, steam pipes covered with asbestos-containing insulation could be found throughout the ship including bunk areas and mess halls.  Asbestos was also used in protective clothing for firefighting.  Crews who lived and worked on their ships when they were in drydock may have been exposed to significant amounts of asbestos from repairs and overhauls. Sailors who worked on aircraft carriers could also be exposed to asbestos if they maintained or repaired engines or braking systems aircraft.  Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, who spent many years on aircraft carriers and other ships, unfortunately died from mesothelioma within six months after visiting a doctor for shortness of breath.

Army

Army personnel may have been exposed to asbestos containing materials from buildings and ground vehicles.  Asbestos-containing brakes and clutches were widely used on jeeps, trucks, and tank transporters.  Certain floor tiles, ceiling tiles, corrugated siding, joint compounds and roofing materials were common asbestos-containing materials used in buildings.  In addition, soldiers who traveled by sea may have been exposed to asbestos containing insulation on transport ships.

Air Force

Air Force personnel were exposed to asbestos in buildings, aircrafts and ground vehicles.  Jet engines used many asbestos containing components because of the high temperatures involved, and asbestos materials were also used in the braking systems on aircraft.

Marines

Marines may have been exposed to asbestos contained in barracks, ground vehicles, aircrafts and ships.  Actor Steve McQueen, who died from mesothelioma when he was only 50 years old, may have been exposed to asbestos when he served in the Marines.

Get Help

Veterans who develop an asbestos-related disease cannot sue the federal government, but they may be able to obtain an award from the Veterans Administration if they can prove that their disability was service connected.  In addition, it is frequently possible to obtain compensation from companies which manufactured or sold asbestos-containing products used by the military.  Many veterans were also exposed to asbestos on civilian jobs after they were discharged from the military, creating other opportunities for compensation.  If you or a loved one has developed cancer because of your military exposure to asbestos, you should contact a dedicated firm with experience handling asbestos cases.

Guest blog about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos exposure.

from Jim A. McKowen, Esq.
James F. Humphreys & Associates, L.C.

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be thinking about contacting an attorney to see if you may be entitled to compensation from companies which manufactured, distributed or used asbestos-containing materials.  If so, you can help your attorney when he or she evaluates or prepares your case by being ready to discuss your medical, military and work histories, and by gathering relevant documents you may have around the house.  For example, if you have union logs, work diaries, photos of your work place or any work place documents, having those documents readily accessible for you lawyer would be a tremendous help.

If a loved one has recently died from mesothelioma, you may want to make sure that useful records are not lost or destroyed when you are sorting through old papers.  In evaluating potential cases, mesothelioma lawyers find it very helpful to have:

1. Pathology reports which diagnose mesothelioma.
2. Death certificates.
3. Appointment papers putting you or another family member in charge of your loved one’s estate.
4. Autopsy reports in cases where an autopsy was performed.
5. Any work records or union records.
6. Military records.
   In naval cases, these can be an excellent source of information about what ships you or your loved one served on. If we know the ships, it can be much easier to figure out what products were used on them.
7. Medicare and insurance cards
8. Photographs and videos.
   Many clients have pictures of themselves working or enjoying activities they can no longer engage in, such as fishing, hunting, traveling or gardening.
9. Medical history.
   Be prepared to discuss how and when you or your loved one first learned that you had mesothelioma, your physical symptoms, what treatments you have received and any side effects, what health care providers have examined or treated you for mesothelioma, and how your condition has changed over time.
10. Work history.
    Your attorney will want to know all the jobs you have had and where you might have been exposed to asbestos, including any military service.  The more you can recall about where and when you worked, who your employers were, what you did, what safety training and equipment you received, the better.  Your attorney will also want to know of any people you worked with who are still alive, because they may remember some things you do not.
11. Other records.
    In cases where a loved one is now deceased, it is often helpful to have copies of the obituaries and guest books from the funeral home (a good way to locate possible co-workers).  If you have medical records or bills, funeral bills, or Explanations Of Benefits from your insurance company about mesothelioma treatment, those may also be helpful.  Your attorney will need other records and information as he or she works on your case, but these are some of the basic types of documents they will need.