Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium that is most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos, either brief or prolonged. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare type of cancer; however, there are approximately 2,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. This type of cancer is more prominent in men than in women and more likely to appear at a later age; however, mesothelioma can appear in men or women of any age.

Approximately 80 percent of mesothelioma cases are found in people with a history of exposure to asbestos or in people who have worked with asbestos. The first lawsuits associated with mesothelioma and asbestos were filed in 1929, before the link to asbestos and mesothelioma were officially made. When the link was made, more and more lawsuits against manufacturers and employers were filed. The number of lawsuits increased when employers failed to implement safety measures for asbestos exposure.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the US has set limits for asbestos exposure and enforces that people who work with asbestos wear protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure. While it is true that the risk of getting mesothelioma increases with prolonged or heavy exposure to asbestos, people with only brief exposure have also contracted mesothelioma.

If you have contracted mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you should contact a Rhode Island (RI) Mesothelioma lawyer to discuss your case. Make sure you have documentation of the time that you were exposed to asbestos and the conditions of your exposure. These facts will help the Rhode Island (RI) Mesothelioma attorney plan out your course of action in court.

A Rhode Island (RI) Mesothelioma lawyer can help you decipher whether or not you have a case in the court system for your mesothelioma. However it is important to note that if you were exposed to asbestos by an employer, you can most likely file a lawsuit against the company.

Rhode Island (RI) Mesothelioma lawyers and attorneys can help you get compensation for your medical treatments. You should not have to deal with the treatments and expense of the disease that you had little or no part in contracting—the manufacturers and distributors of asbestos are liable to cover your medical expenses.