Mesothelioma is devastating. On top of the symptoms they are already experiencing, mesothelioma victims learn that there is no cure for the disease, treatments at best slow the advance of the disease, that the average survival rate after diagnosis is one year, and that they can expect the disease to spread rapidly and painfully through their body.

No one wants to suffer through this terrible disease, and no one wants to watch a loved one suffer through it either. Yet, the horrific greed of asbestos companies has left a tragic legacy – as many as 3000 victims and families have to deal with a mesothelioma diagnosis every year in the United States.

The emotional and financial toll on the family is often put on the back burner as treatment options are explored and initiated. Wives and husbands have to put their lives on hold as they care for those they love, take them to treatments, feed, bathe, and medicate them. Their own needs are often forgotten until exhaustion hits.

Add to this the emotional pain of watching one of the people you love most in this world go through such agony and despair. Many spouses we’ve spoken to say they’d rather have the disease themselves than watch the love of their life suffer so much.

On top of all of this, most families feel tremendous financial strain as they try to pay for medical bills following treatment. A person must put their last wishes and finances in order, and this typically involves legal expenses. Income from work ceases. Then, after their loved one passes, a family must find a way to pay for a funeral and burial or cremation expenses.

Right away and for the rest of their lives, the loss of the victim is felt sharply. In legal terms, this is called loss of companionship. In reality, people must learn to live without someone they’ve shared their life with for decades.

All of these factors create what is often an overwhelming strain on spouses and family members of the victim. Deep anxiety and depression can occur.

That’s why we believe that families need support during this time as well. There is a comprehensive list of caregiver resources available here that we hope will make this situation just a bit easier. Contact us for a free mesothelioma information guide that includes tips for keeping yourself healthy, dealing with the emotional strain, how to care for your loved one, keeping documents organized, and much more.

Georgia is a state that faces a number of unsafe sources for asbestos exposure. From industrial worksites to asbestos products historically used to insulate Georgia homes and buildings, many Georgia residents are at risk for developing mesothelioma. A mesothelioma lawyer skilled in Georgia litigation can help asbestos sufferers seek fair compensation for their illness.

Georgia Plants and Industry

A number of heavy industry employers in Georgia have been identified as known sites of elevated asbestos exposure. Industrialized cities and towns such as Macon, Rome, Cartersville and Waynesboro and others are at an especially high risk. Notable Georgia employers that have been linked to mesothelioma include, but are not limited to:

• United States Army Base, Fort Benning
• Georgia-Pacific (several locations)
• Atlanta Journal Building, Atlanta
• Bowen Power Plant, Cartersville
• Kraft Power Plant, Port Wentworth
• Scherer Power Plant, Macon
• Young Refining, Douglasville
• Valdosta Tannery, Valdosta
• Vogtle Plant, Waynesboro

Naturally Occurring Asbestos in Georgia

Georgia is home to an unusually high number of areas that contain naturally occurring asbestos. The U.S. Geological Survey has documented 52 unique areas in the state that have large deposits of the fiber. The majority of these deposits are found in the northern region of Georgia, along the state’s border with North Carolina. Citizens living around these regions, particularly those near dormant asbestos mines, may be at an increased risk for unsafe asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma in Georgia

Negligence of Georgia employers and mining companies is often the root cause of mesothelioma in the state. The team of mesothelioma lawyers at Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP has extensive experience in Georgia law and litigation.

Our mesothelioma attorneys have filed petitions on behalf of Georgia residents in areas such as Fulton County. For examples of our successful track record with mesothelioma litigation, please view our featured cases and verdicts.

It is true that many of the cases our mesothelioma attorneys see are the result of asbestos exposure that occurred while the victim was employed as a laborer in the construction or automotive industries, or while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This is because asbestos products were widely used in these industries for fireproofing, insulation, and friction protection.

What many people may not realize is that asbestos was also widely used in homes, schools, and consumer products such as toasters, curling irons, and hairdryers. Teachers and hairdressers are among those diagnosed with mesothelioma. A percentage of victims were exposed to asbestos when their childhood homes were renovated. Children were also exposed at school. Housewives received secondary exposure when their husbands unknowingly tracked asbestos home on their clothes.

Most people living in the United States during the years of widespread asbestos use have likely had some level of asbestos exposure. Various federal and state regulatory boards have stated that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. That does not mean every one exposed will develop mesothelioma or everyone living during that time should be overly worried about mesothelioma.

What it does mean is if you know you were exposed to asbestos, you should contact your physician as soon as possible to discuss your exposure and possible mesothelioma screenings. If you have developed mesothelioma but are unsure when or where you were exposed, our mesothelioma lawyers may be able to help.