Maine Mesothelioma Lawyer
In a 2017 report, the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) found that from 1999 to 2015, the annual death rate from mesothelioma in Maine was 22.06 individuals per one million residents, higher than any other U.S. state. In fact, only Maine and Washington had death rates that exceeded 20 individuals per one million residents on an annual basis.
Most mesothelioma related deaths in Maine occur in persons over the age of 85 which likely means these individuals were exposed to asbestos years ago through their occupations or were exposed to asbestos as bystanders who lived with someone who worked in an industry where asbestos products were used frequently.
The CDC study cited some traditional Maine industries as high risk, including shipbuilding, boat building, and construction.
Maine’s housing is also the oldest in the U.S, with roughly 31% of homes being built before 1950. Most, if not all homes constructed pre-1950, were made with various asbestos-containing materials including boilers, pipe covering, insulation, flooring, and shingles. As a result, Mainers continue to face asbestos exposure risks today as old homes are demolished, renovated and repaired causing asbestos fibers to become airborne.
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer that occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest and abdomen. The one and only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma has a long latency period, meaning that the symptoms of the disease typically do not appear until 20 to 60 years after exposure has occurred.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer due to asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries.
To speak with an experienced Maine mesothelioma attorney, contact Fitzgerald Law Group at (844) FITZ-LAW or (844) 348-9529, or complete the Case Evaluation Form on this website for a free, confidential, case assessment.
