Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

There are two families of asbestos, the Amphibole family and the Serpentine family, which differ based on the structure of their mineral crystals.

Amphibole Asbestos

The mineral fibers in Amphibole asbestos are chain-like, while Serpentine mineral fibers are in layered sheets. This can be seen under the microscope. There are five different types of Amphiboles: Amosite ("brown asbestos"), Crocidolite ("blue asbestos"), Anthophyllite, Tremolite, and Actinolite.

Amosite

A type of Amphibole asbestos that is made up of mineral fibers formed by crystals that look chain-like. Amosite is also called "brown asbestos" takes its name from the asbestos mines of South Africa.

Crocidolite

Crocidolite is one of the five types of Amphibole asbestos. This means the fibers in Crocidolite are made up of mineral crystals that look like chains. Crocidolite is often called "blue asbestos," and occurs naturally in Austrial, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, and Canada.

Actinolite and Anthophyllite

They are one of the most rare forms of asbestos. These are the minerals with fibers that form in manner of the Amphibole family — which means the fibers are made of crystals that are chain-like in appearance. Like two other rare forms of asbestos, Tremolite and Anthophyllite, Actinolite is found mainly as a contaminant in other minerals. These were not used commercially as were chrysotile, amosite, and, to a lesser extent, crocidolite.

Serpentine Asbestos

Chrysotile

The most common type of asbestos, it is also known as "white asbestos," and Chrysotile comprises approximately 90%-95% of all asbestos in the United States. It is made up of minerals which crystallize in the "serpentine" pattern, which means its crystals are formed in sheets. Chrysotile has been linked with all asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis, lungs cancer, and mesothelioma.

Asbestos fibers are extremely durable and are heat and fire resistant. Asbestos also serves as a strong binder for other materials. Because of these properties, asbestos was used in over 3000 different products in a variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer products. Because of their size and shape, asbestos fibers can easily become airborne and can remain in the air for long periods of time. Once asbestos settles, it can be redistributed into the air easily through a process called re entrainment. Unfortunately, once asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they tend to remain in the body for many years.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops within the mesothelium of the body. Mesothelium is a protective covering in the body. It covers various organs, including the lungs. The mesothelium is made up of two thin layers. When cancer develops in the mesothelium it is between these layers. The narrow space makes it very difficult to diagnose mesothelioma in the early stages.

Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat. Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the majority of patients will not live longer than eighteen months. There are a variety of reasons for this, including the advanced nature of the disease once it is diagnosed and the lack of an effective surgical method of removing the tumors.

For instance, in several cases it was found that people now being diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos thirty to forty years ago, or even before that. It is believed that many people, who are afflicted by mesothelioma, are not even aware of it. Another risk of developing mesothelioma is using products that contain asbestos.

Mesothelioma, being a deadly form of cancer, ruins the prospects of victims and their families. This varies depending on the concentration of the asbestos dust and fibers in the area but it has been recorded that those who have only been exposed for a couple of months have a chance of obtaining pericardial mesothelioma. About 90% of malignant mesothelioma is asbestos-related.

Mesothelioma affects men most due to the high exposure of asbestos in industrial typed jobs. Mesothelioma can be caused even due to an exposure to Asbestos for 1-2 months but it is most commonly found in those who had prolonged or persistent exposure.

If you have worked around asbestos or in a factory that may have used asbestos you should get to a doctor immediately, especially if you have any of these symptoms. It could save your life. Also, if you are the spouse of someone who has worked around asbestos and cleaned their clothes you have also probably come into contact, to a lesser degree, but you should be checked as well.

Modern medicine has come a long way as far as treatments but early detection and diagnosis is a must.

In order to get compensation for contracting mesothelioma, filing a lawsuit is imperative. However, the process is quite long and tedious. The most important step is selecting the correct mesothelioma attorney or law firm. It is important to find a good, decent and experienced mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after a diagnosis has been made. In most states there is a set time limit within which one can file a lawsuit, and it is very important that the victim party does not miss the deadline. Otherwise you may end up an ineligible claimant. So the earlier you get to a mesothelioma lawyer, the better your chances of success. 

In order to choose the correct law firm for filing your lawsuit, the following steps should be followed: 

• Start the Search You can look for a qualified mesothelioma attorney in various bar associations, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (found in most public libraries), Yellow Pages, and of course the Internet. Law firms normally have their own sites. 

• Narrow the Field After compiling a list of mesothelioma law firms in your area, try to establish contact with them either by mail, email or telephone for further information. It is important to provide the law firms with details of your legal issue and find out if they can handle your situation. Also inquire about their fees for an initial consultation and an estimate of the total cost involved in handling a mesothelioma lawsuit. It is recommended that the victim party schedule appointments with at least three different law firms before coming to the final decision. 

• Meet the Prospective Attorneys During the initial consultation, it is important that you and your lawyer get to know each other. There should be a free flow exchange between you. After carefully reviewing your case, the lawyer should be in a position to inform you of your rights and suggest alternative courses of action, if any. It is during this initial consultation period that a mesothelioma attorney can explain what he or she can do for you and the cost of services. It is also important for you to know about the attorney’s experience in handling previous mesothelioma lawsuits. If you are totally satisfied with the details, you may request a written fee agreement and a list of references before proceeding. 

Making your Decision After each initial consultation, it is important to consider the following questions about the mesothelioma attorney you just met: 

• Did I get a firm understanding of my alternative courses of action from the attorney?
• Do I understand the range of possible results for each course of action?
• Was the attorney knowledgeable about asbestos law?
• Was I given enough time?
• Did the attorney listen to me carefully?
• Did the attorney seem trustworthy?

Fees It is important to consider this aspect with due diligence. To lower costs, you can ask your asbestos lawyer to employ a junior lawyer to perform a certain part of the entire process. You can also perform some tasks by yourself to save time and money (provided your attorney allows you to do this). An asbestos lawyer may charge a flat fee for a specific task or offer other methods of payment. You may incur charges on other fronts like: court fees, copying, hiring expert witnesses etc. 

Contingent Fee You can ask for a contingent fee arrangement process. A contingent fee arrangement is where your lawyer receives a percentage of the settlement. If you do not receive compensation for the lawsuit your lawyer collects no fees. A contingency fee is a good option for those people who cannot afford hourly legal fees.

The first thing you need to look for in a mesothelioma lawyer is experience. The rise in mesothelioma cases coming to light has seen a boom in the number of attorneys who specialize in mesothelioma, and these skilled professionals have built up established links to help with many aspects of your lawsuit. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will have the necessary knowledge, experience, contacts and resources to put together a solid case and greatly increase your chance of success. 

Using an experienced lawyer will also enable you to check the law firm's track record when it comes to success rate with mesothelioma cases. Before you make any commitment to a lawyer or law firm, you should check how many mesothelioma cases the firm or lawyer has dealt with in the past, and how many of these have been successful. A good, experienced mesothelioma lawyer will be happy to answer these questions for you. Some lawyers will even be able to give you an idea for the figures involved with their successful cases, although they won't be able to divulge information about the plaintiff for confidentiality reasons. 

When looking for the right lawyer, you should also look into the firm's fee structure. Many mesothelioma lawyers now operate on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will only pay a fee for legal assistance if and when you are awarded compensation. This payment structure offers peace of mind, enabling you to pursue legal action without the worry of ending up with huge legal bills, even if you do not get compensation for your illness. 

Make sure that you feel comfortable with the lawyer you select, as you will need to be completely honest and frank with this lawyer in order to maximize the chances of a successful lawsuit. Even if you choose a law firm which states that they specialize in mesothelioma cases, make sure that you also check on the experience of the specific lawyer assigned to your case, as this will ensure that you get someone that has the skills and knowledge necessary to help you get compensation.