For the last 2,000 years, asbestos has been used in “building, textiles, and construction” materials for its affordability and “highly versatile, strong, [and] nonflammable” properties.1 Before researchers discovered its correlation to mesothelioma and other diseases, asbestos was often found in home appliances, insulation, and other fireproofing materials.
During the twentieth century, asbestos was also mined out of natural deposits in Washington state, exposing thousands of workers to its dangerous loose fibers.2
What Is The Statute Of Limitations For A Mesothelioma Case In Washington State?
In the state of Washington, you have three years to pursue a case after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.6 This statute of limitations allows victims and their families to pursue compensation for wrongful asbestos exposure after discovering they have mesothelioma.
If You Have Been Exposed to Asbestos, You Are at Risk for Developing Mesothelioma
The only way to know if you have been exposed to asbestos is to identify any possible points of exposure. From 1973 to 1978, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned several uses of asbestos in different industries.3 Before these bans, several products and materials were made using asbestos. If you used or manufactured any of these items, you were most likely exposed to asbestos fibers:
- Spray-applied surfacing asbestos-containing materials3
- Corrugated paper3
- Rollboard3
- Commercial paper3
- Specialty paper3
- Flooring felt3
- Asbestos pipe and block insulation3
- Asbestos-containing artificial fireplace embers3
- Some household products made before 1980
- Talc-containing beauty products made before 1980 (e.g., baby powder)
How Mesothelioma Develops after Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly type of cancer that develops in the “mesothelium,” the lining surrounding most of your internal organs.4 When asbestos fibers are inhaled, “they can get into the lungs.”5
Some fibers “that stay in the lungs can travel to the ends of these small airways and enter the pleural lining of the lung and chest wall. These fibers can then injure the cells of the pleura, and eventually cause mesothelioma.”5 A similar process occurs if you swallow asbestos fibers, which results in peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen.
From the instance of asbestos exposure, it can take between “20 and 50 years” for mesothelioma to develop.5
Diagnosed with Mesothelioma? We Can Help
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our experienced attorneys at Shannon Law Group, P.C., can help you get the compensation you deserve. Please fill out our online contact form. Call us at (312) 578-9501 or toll-free at (886) 881-9980, too. We will take your call 24/7. A free, no-obligation consultation is available as well.
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