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Diagnosed With an Illness Caused by Asbestos Exposure? The Clock is Ticking

Receiving a diagnosis concerning a serious disease or terminal illness can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Your first instinct may be to worry about it later – after all, you feel well enough, and you’re now motivated to live life to the fullest. Unfortunately, ignoring your illness won’t make it go away, and refusing to think about your future could jeopardize your legal rights. If you’ve been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos exposure, you need to understand that time is not on your side. As a result, you should speak with a North Carolina asbestos attorney as soon as possible.

Illnesses and Diseases Caused By Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is the primary disease that people worry about when they have been exposed to asbestos. It is an aggressive form of cancer that affects the membrane that covers the lungs. It is one of the most deadly forms of cancer, and most people who suffer from it will succumb to the disease.

However, there are many other diseases and illnesses in addition to mesothelioma that is caused by asbestos exposure:

  • Lung cancer
  • Laryngeal cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Pleural effusion
  • Pleural plaques
  • Asbestosis

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to compensation and should speak with a North Carolina asbestos attorney right away.

The Deadlines for Pursuing Your Asbestos Claim

Under North Carolina law, any civil claim for damages must be filed prior to particular deadlines depending on the type of case. In legal terms, this deadline is referred to as the statute of limitations. If you do not file your claim by the statute of limitations applicable to your case, your case will be dismissed, regardless of how strong your claim may be.

In personal injury cases seeking compensation for asbestos-related illnesses, your time to file varies. If you are pursuing a workers’ compensation claim, your time to file will still vary. It can be complicated, so your time to file is limited, and the sooner you begin collecting the evidence you need, the stronger your claim will be.

If you have lost a loved one to mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in North Carolina is complicated and varies based on different factors. 

Specifics of individual claims could affect statutes of limitations and should always be discussed with an attorney.

If you do not file your case within the statute of limitation, you will not be able to recover any compensation. Even if you didn’t plan to go to court, the other party (your employer) or the insurance company will not compensate you for your claim because they know that you cannot take legal action against them.

Talk to a North Carolina Asbestos Attorney Today

Founded in 1982, the lawyers at Martin & Jones have decades of experience in trying complex personal injury cases. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, we can help you get the compensation you and your family deserve. Contact us today at 800-662-1234 to schedule a free consultation to discuss how we can help you.

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“I would like to leave a testimonial thanking Steven and Allison for their care and understanding. Steven’s pursuit and success in getting some compensation for our loss. A final closure of our loss of brother Mike. Thanks to Martin & Jones for looking after Mike’s care since his injury in 2005. You have been there for Mike and his family for a long time. Mike passed in 2016 and you stood for the family up to the present (July 2017). Many thanks.”

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The law firm you choose makes a difference. If you are the victim of an accident or an illness that someone else caused, the North Carolina personal injury law firm of Martin & Jones has the depth of experience, skills and sensitivity to make your road to recovery as smooth as possible. Whether you have experience with the legal system or have never hired a medical malpractice or personal injury lawyer before, our attorneys and staff will do our best to answer your questions, provide clear advice and prepare you and your family for what to expect. If you would like more information or to meet with one of our attorneys, please fill out the form below or call us at 800.662.1234.