If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. Swift action is critical to protecting your future and securing the financial relief you need during this difficult time.
At Holland Injury Law, we understand how challenging living with this serious condition can be. We want to help by filing your claim and demanding accountability on your behalf, so you can focus on your treatment and spending time with those you love. Don’t wait. Contact us today for a free initial consultation with our St. Louis mesothelioma law firm and let us help you take the first steps toward justice.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive type of cancer. It primarily affects the mesothelium, a layer of tissue lining many of our internal organs, including the lungs, abdomen, and heart. The most common cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, a toxic mineral once commonly used in industries like construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing until its dangers became well-known.
When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they can lodge in the mesothelium and, over time, lead to inflammation and scarring that cause cancerous growth. The latency period for mesothelioma is long, often 20 to 50 years, which means many people only discover the disease long after their exposure.
Common symptoms include persistent chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing, and unexplained weight loss. Unfortunately, because these symptoms are slow to develop, mesothelioma often goes undiagnosed until it has reached its later stages, when treatment options are limited.
Because mesothelioma symptoms overlap with those of other conditions, reaching an accurate diagnosis typically requires several steps. Doctors begin by reviewing the patient’s medical and occupational history, then conduct a physical examination of the affected area. From there, the diagnostic process generally involves:
Treatment depends on the type and stage of mesothelioma, as well as the patient’s overall health. Options may include:
In some cases, doctors use multimodal therapy, combining two or more of these approaches to improve outcomes. Patients diagnosed in St. Louis and across Missouri may need to travel to specialized cancer centers, and those costs can be significant. Compensation recovered through a mesothelioma claim can help cover those expenses.
Mesothelioma can develop in different parts of the body, depending on where asbestos fibers get trapped. The most common type is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. It often causes chest pain, shortness of breath, and a persistent cough. Because it limits lung function, many people mistake it for other respiratory conditions before diagnosis. Pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 75 percent of all mesothelioma cases.
Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdomen. It can cause swelling, pain, nausea, or unexplained weight loss. Doctors often find it through imaging scans or during surgery for other issues.
Pericardial mesothelioma forms in the tissue around the heart. It is rare but serious and causes symptoms like chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and fatigue.
The least common type is testicular mesothelioma, which forms in the lining around the testes. It can appear as a lump or swelling and is often discovered during surgery for other conditions.
Mesothelioma and lung cancer both affect the lungs, but they are distinct diseases with key differences. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium and is closely linked to asbestos exposure. In contrast, lung cancer originates in the lung tissue itself and can result from a variety of factors, including smoking, exposure to radon gas, air pollution, and other environmental toxins.
These two diseases also behave differently in the body. Mesothelioma tends to spread across the surface of the lungs rather than forming a single tumor, which can make it harder to treat surgically. On the other hand, lung cancer often presents as a mass or nodule that can be more surgically accessible, depending on the stage. Survival rates for the diseases vary, but generally, lung cancer has a better prognosis, especially when diagnosed early.
Not every asbestos-related illness is cancer. Asbestosis is a chronic, non-cancerous lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers over time. The fibers cause progressive scarring of the lung tissue, leading to respiratory difficulties that worsen with continued exposure. While asbestosis is serious and can be permanently disabling, it does not involve malignant tumor growth.
Mesothelioma, by contrast, is a malignant cancer. It develops in the mesothelium and is aggressive in its progression. The distinction matters legally as well as medically, because the type of illness affects which claims may be available, which defendants may be liable, and what compensation a victim may be entitled to pursue. An experienced St. Louis mesothelioma attorney can help you understand how your specific diagnosis affects your legal options.
Individuals exposed to asbestos should remain vigilant for signs of lung cancer. These may include:
If you experience these symptoms, consult your healthcare provider promptly for a thorough evaluation.
While smoking often dominates discussions about lung cancer causes, asbestos exposure poses a significant, often overlooked risk. Asbestos alone increases lung cancer risk fivefold in non-smokers. For those with a history of both smoking and asbestos exposure, the risk skyrockets to 50 times that of the general population.
Certain professions face elevated asbestos exposure risks, including:
If you’ve worked in these fields, consider discussing your asbestos exposure history with your doctor.
St. Louis has a long industrial history that exposed many local workers and residents to asbestos. Power plants, steel mills, and manufacturing facilities once drove the local economy, and many of these sites used asbestos to insulate machinery and control heat. Shipyards, railroads, and military installations around the region also relied on asbestos materials for their strength and resistance to fire. These industries left a lasting mark on St. Louis and, for many locals, long-term health risks that only became evident years or even decades later.
Some older buildings and infrastructure across St. Louis still contain asbestos in insulation, roofing, flooring, and pipes. When these materials age, break, or undergo renovation, they can release dangerous fibers into the air. Workers in construction, maintenance, or demolition often face the highest risk of exposure during projects in these properties.
Most asbestos exposure in St. Louis happened decades ago, but its effects continue today. Some people who worked in certain industries or lived near industrial areas now face illnesses that trace back to those earlier years. And because the timeline between exposure and diagnosis can span decades, identifying where and how contact occurred is both difficult and critical to any legal claim.
In addition to exposure at job sites or industrial facilities, many mesothelioma cases stem from contact with everyday products and building materials that contained asbestos. Some of the most common include:
While mesothelioma affects people from a wide range of backgrounds, working in specific industries or spending time in certain areas makes people more prone to asbestos exposure. Those who face a heightened risk include:
Lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure typically develops 30 to 40 years after initial contact. This extended latency often catches individuals off guard, as they may have long since changed careers or retired.
Mesothelioma often develops decades after initial asbestos exposure, which means it’s difficult to trace where or how contact occurred. Many people worked around asbestos for years without realizing it, and employers or manufacturers rarely explained the risks at the time. Because of the long delays inherent to these cases, memories can fade, companies may close, and job sites can change or disappear long before the problem is even apparent.
Many patients struggle to remember every place they worked or the materials they handled at the time. Some also faced secondary exposure from family members who brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing. Our firm helps patients and families facing these challenges to uncover sources of exposure by reviewing work records, company histories, and other evidence. We can investigate past job sites, identify products that contained asbestos, and connect those details to diagnoses. Our goal is to build strong cases for compensation, even when the exposure happened many years ago.
Many lung cancer patients hesitate to seek legal advice, especially if they have a smoking history. However, asbestos exposure can significantly contribute to lung cancer development, regardless of smoking status. An experienced St. Louis mesothelioma attorney can evaluate your case, considering all factors that may have contributed to your diagnosis.
If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have several options for seeking compensation. One way is a personal injury claim filed against the company responsible for exposing you to asbestos. If successful, you can recover compensation for healthcare costs, income losses, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life.
Those whose loved ones pass away as a result of mesothelioma may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties. Doing so can recover compensation for funeral costs, loss of income, and loss of companionship.
Additionally, there are asbestos trust fund claims. Many companies that used asbestos in their products have created trust funds for victims of asbestos-related diseases. Even if the company responsible for your asbestos exposure has gone bankrupt, you could still file a claim against one of these trust funds.
Depending on your work history or military service, workers’ compensation benefits or veterans’ benefits may also apply as an additional avenue of recovery.
Each type of claim has its own requirements, so it’s best to explore your options with an attorney.
Each type of mesothelioma claim requires those filing to meet specific eligibility criteria. For instance, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you could file a personal injury claim or asbestos trust fund claim. If a loved one has died from mesothelioma, you could pursue a wrongful death claim as a surviving spouse, child, or other close family member. For your claim to be successful, you must show that asbestos exposure directly caused the illness, which often involves proving where and when the exposure occurred. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can evaluate your situation and determine your eligibility.
If your mesothelioma claim is successful, you could recover compensation for your:
Family members of those who pass away because of mesothelioma may be entitled to compensation for:
Winning a mesothelioma claim can provide much-needed financial support for those affected by asbestos exposure, but the process can be a challenging one.
Here are some common difficulties:
Pursuing a mesothelioma claim can be an overwhelming process, especially while you’re dealing with the physical and emotional toll of this aggressive disease. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can provide valuable support throughout the claims process to help you pursue the full compensation you deserve. Here are some key ways your attorney can help:
At Holland Injury Law, we have decades of experience helping people affected by asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. Our team has a deep understanding of how these cases work and knows how to identify exposure sources to prove responsibility. We know what evidence matters and how to present it effectively to protect your rights.
Our law firm treats every client as an individual, not a case number. Our lawyers take the time to explain each step of the claims process, answer questions, and keep families informed throughout the process. We understand that a mesothelioma diagnosis can affect every part of your life, which is why we’re committed to handling all the legal details while you focus on what matters most.
As a St. Louis firm, we know Missouri’s courts and legal procedures inside and out. We also believe everyone deserves access to quality representation, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing upfront, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you.
When you contact Holland Injury Law for your initial consultation, we’ll start with a simple conversation. Our team will listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain how mesothelioma claims work. You can share as much or as little as you want with our law office, with no obligation to move forward.
If you decide to take the next step with us, we’ll gather information that will help us better understand your case. This includes your work history, medical records, and a timeline of possible asbestos exposure incidents. We’ll also review any documents or details you already have. Every conversation you have with us is entirely confidential, and you can trust our team to handle your information with care and respect.
After the initial review, we’ll explain your legal options and outline what comes next. Our law firm’s goal is to make the process clear and manageable from the start, so you know exactly what to expect.
You don’t have to face a mesothelioma diagnosis and resulting personal injury claim alone. Holland Injury Law has recovered over $300 Million for our 7,000+ clients, and we’re ready to help you, too. What’s more, we’ll work on your case at no upfront cost to you, instead charging a fee only if and when we secure the compensation you deserve.
Don’t delay. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. Let’s work together to pursue the compensation you deserve so you can focus on what matters most: your health and your loved ones.
Mesothelioma claims can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re already managing medical treatment and family responsibilities. Many clients come to us unsure of where to start or what the legal process involves. The good news is that you don’t need to have all the answers to begin taking action.
You can contact our team now for more information about where to start. We’ll take the time to explain your options, gather the facts, and help you understand how compensation claims work. To get you started, here are answers to some common questions we hear from people in situations like yours.
You’re not alone. Many people with mesothelioma don’t know exactly where or when they came into contact with asbestos. Our firm can help by investigating work records, company documents, and historical data to trace potential exposure sources. Then, we can use that information to identify responsible parties and build a clear link between your diagnosis and the asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma often develops long after exposure, sometimes as much as 20 to 50 years later. Even if your exposure happened many years ago, you still have the right to take legal action. The key is to act quickly after diagnosis because state laws limit how long you have to file a claim after you are diagnosed. Our lawyers can help you gather the necessary records and file your claim within the applicable time frame.
Most mesothelioma cases are resolved through settlements, which means many clients never have to set foot in court. If your case does require a hearing or trial, our lawyers will handle all the preparation and representation for you. We’ll also explain what to expect and make sure you feel comfortable and informed every step of the way.
Every mesothelioma case is different. Some get resolved within months, while others can take longer if they are particularly complex or involve lots of defendants. Our law firm aims to handle these cases efficiently while prioritizing accuracy and fair results. Our goal is to secure full compensation as quickly as possible while minimizing stress for you and your family.
Yes. Surviving spouses, children, and other close family members may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim if a loved one has died as a result of mesothelioma. This type of claim can recover compensation for medical bills, funeral expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship. Our team can help you understand whether you qualify and walk you through the process.
Many companies that manufactured or used asbestos-containing products established trust funds specifically to compensate victims, even after going bankrupt or ceasing operations. Our attorneys are experienced in identifying and filing claims with these trusts, and we can determine whether one or more funds may apply to your situation.
Depending on your circumstances, you may have options beyond a standard personal injury or wrongful death claim. These can include asbestos trust fund claims, workers’ compensation benefits, and claims related to industrial accidents or construction accidents. An attorney can evaluate your full history and identify every avenue of recovery available to you under Missouri law.
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