San Diego County Mesothelioma Attorneys and Lawyers

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Mesothelioma is an uncommon but devastating form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, intestines, and heart.  The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to the toxic substance asbestos, and it takes decades before any symptoms of the disease begin to show. 

The disease is caused when a person inhales or ingests asbestos particles which pierce the lungs, intestines, and heart.  These particles irritate the mesothelium, a protective sack that secretes the fluids that allow organs to move properly.  Not only do asbestos fibers prevent the organs from functioning, the mesothelium can develop cancerous tumors that can quickly spread throughout the body.  The cancer is so insidious that people diagnosed with mesothelioma rarely live five years after initial symptoms develop.

According to figures released by the federal government, there were between 230 and 371 mesothelioma-related deaths in San Diego County between 1979 and 2001.  In fact, San Diego County ranked second in California and eighth in the nation in deaths related to asbestos exposure.  Each one of these people had a life, a name, and family forced to grieve for a loved one taken far too soon.

A large number of these deaths can be attributed to the fact that San Diego has always been a seafaring city, and shipbuilding has long contributed not only to the economy of the region but to the defense of our country as a whole.  Unfortunately, asbestos was traditionally used in a number of aspects of ship construction, which exposed thousands of workers to a number of fatal diseases including asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Due to the prolonged latency period of asbestos-related diseases, many people who were exposed to this deadly material moved on to other parts of the country only to discover later on that they contracted terminal mesothelioma.  Even if you do not live in San Diego but were exposed to asbestos serving in the military or from your job, we can help you.  Our dedication to justice knows no boundaries or limitations.