Asbestos Exposure Years Ago? You Do Not Have to Face the Claim Alone

Mesothelioma Lawyer Coral Springs: Claims for Families

If you are looking for a mesothelioma lawyer in Coral Springs, start here. A mesothelioma claim looks at where, when, and how a person was exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer. It is linked to asbestos.

The ATSDR asbestos health effects page describes it as a cancer of the membranes around the lungs, chest, or abdominal cavity.

• Membranes are thin linings.
• The abdominal cavity is the belly area.

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida-based personal injury firm. We represent people across Florida. That includes families in Coral Springs and throughout Broward County.

Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our firm’s lawyers are admitted to The Florida Bar.

This page is written for patients and for the people who love them. That includes spouses, adult children, former workers, and families who care for or grieve someone with this disease.

Asbestos and mesothelioma cases may be referred to, or handled together with, another law firm. When that applies to your matter, we will tell you.

How Mesothelioma Develops and Why Exposure History Matters

Mesothelioma usually appears decades after asbestos exposure. Because of this gap, many patients cannot list every exposure without help.

The ATSDR health effects page notes that signs of mesothelioma can have a latency period of 30 to 40 years after exposure. A latency period is the time between exposure and when signs of illness appear.

The time gap is not always the same. A peer-reviewed short-latency article explains that the time between exposure and diagnosis varies from case to case.

The OSHA asbestos hazards guidance says that occupational asbestos exposure increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. It also says these diseases have a delayed onset. “Occupational exposure” means exposure at work.

Common exposure settings include:

• Shipyards and construction sites
• Insulation and pipe work
• Auto brake work and other industrial trades
• Military service

Take-home exposure is another route. Asbestos fibers can cling to a worker’s clothes, hair, and tools. A spouse or child who lived with that worker may have breathed them in at home.

The ATSDR asbestos overview states that exposure to amphibole asbestos is linked to an increased risk of mesothelioma. Amphibole is one type of asbestos.

Families should gather these records early:

• Work history
• Job site names
• Employer names
• Dates

Military and union records can help too.

What a Mesothelioma Claim Can Cover

Each family’s situation is different. A free, confidential consultation has no obligation to continue. It is the best place to ask what a mesothelioma claim may involve.

The losses that matter depend on the patient’s situation. They also depend on the facts of the exposure.

In a wrongful death case, the family does not sue alone. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.20, the decedent’s personal representative brings the action.

• The decedent is the person who died.
• The personal representative is the person who manages the deceased’s estate.

The action is brought for the survivors and the estate.

Under Fla. Stat. § 768.21, survivors may recover the value of lost support and services. A surviving spouse may recover for loss of companionship and for mental pain and suffering. A survivor who paid medical or funeral expenses may recover those costs.

Florida law also bars punitive damages in asbestos claims. Punitive damages are extra money meant to punish a wrongdoer. Under Fla. Stat. § 774.207, punitive damages may not be awarded in any civil action alleging an asbestos or silica claim.

Some companies that made or sold asbestos went through bankruptcy. Those companies set up asbestos bankruptcy trusts. A trust may pay claims separately from a lawsuit.

Federal bankruptcy law also addresses asbestos personal injury claims.

No amount, outcome, or trust payment can be promised in advance. Every family’s facts are different.

How the Process Works: Steps and What to Expect

The process starts with a free, confidential consultation. There is no obligation to continue. Here is what usually follows:

1. Consultation. You talk with us by phone or in person. You share the diagnosis or loss and the exposure history you know.
2. Records review. We review medical records, diagnosis details, and the work and home history your family shares.
3. Identifying sources. We look at which companies, job sites, and asbestos trusts may be involved. We also confirm whether another firm should take part.
4. Investigation. We request records. Where needed, we speak with witnesses, such as former co-workers or industrial hygiene professionals. Industrial hygiene professionals measure workplace air and safety conditions.
5. Negotiation or court. We discuss options with you. We negotiate or file in court. We keep you informed at each stage.

Timelines vary widely. Records requests, trust filings, and court schedules differ from case to case.

Florida Deadlines and Why Timing Matters

Florida sets filing deadlines for personal injury and wrongful death claims. These deadlines are called limitation periods. A limitation period is the time limit for filing a claim.

Fla. Stat. § 95.11 sets many of these limitation periods. Section 95.11 covers actions other than for recovery of real property. Real property means land and buildings.

Under Section 95.11 of the Florida Statutes, the general deadline for a negligence lawsuit is two years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)).

A nonmalignant condition is a non-cancerous condition.

Deadlines depend on the type of claim, so contact the firm promptly to protect your rights.

Records and witnesses become harder to find over time. We cannot promise that any family still has time to file. Please contact us promptly.

Why Coral Springs Families Work With CHG

CHG Personal Injury Lawyers is a Florida firm. We serve families in Coral Springs and across Broward County.

The firm focuses on personal injury matters. These include catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and mass-tort claims. A mass-tort claim involves many people harmed by the same product or conduct.

The firm handles mesothelioma and other asbestos disease matters. Sometimes we handle them together with another firm.

Igor Hernandez is the responsible lawyer for this page. Our lawyers are admitted to The Florida Bar.

We publish educational content in English and Spanish. Families who prefer Spanish can read this information in that language.

Ask us who will handle your matter and how updates will reach your family. We will answer those questions directly during the consultation.

Questions Families Ask About Mesothelioma Claims

Talk With Our Team About Your Family’s Exposure History

If your family is facing a mesothelioma diagnosis, you do not have to sort out the exposure history alone. The same is true if a past job site or a spouse’s work clothes have you wondering about exposure.

Contact CHG Personal Injury Lawyers for a free, confidential consultation. There is no obligation to continue.

Please follow your doctors’ care. Our firm does not give medical advice.