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What options are available for you or a loved one diagnosed with mesothelioma in Houston?
From its founding by Sam Houston to its emergence as a railroad hub to its current role as one of the most active centers of petroleum industry activity in the world, Houston, Texas has always been an economic and industrial powerhouse. Unfortunately, all of this prosperous activity also gave rise to facilities, factories and products that all contained copious amounts of asbestos.
Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma and their loved ones don’t have to deal with the devastating effects of this malignant disease alone. They can use the following information to learn more about their options for treating their mesothelioma while seeking legal recourse for their injuries.
We answer your most pressing questions regarding options for dealing with mesothelioma below. You will also learn how our Houston mesothelioma lawyers can help you through the process of negotiating with insurers, filing a personal injury claim, and getting compensation for your asbestos-related injury from all liable parties.
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Why Should I File a Mesothelioma Claim or Lawsuit?
Filing a personal injury claim for your mesothelioma is both a legal right and in your own best interests. While some people may not want to “rock the boat” or go through the trouble of filing a claim, the plain truth of the matter is that they are not the ones responsible for their asbestos exposure and subsequent disease. The average person simply does not have the knowledge and resources to avoid asbestos exposure. Asbestos’ dangers were hidden from the public for decades, and the presence of asbestos was similarly hidden within millions of job sites and products.
Compensation acts as the primary reason to motivate people to file an asbestos injury claim. Mesothelioma is a complex disease that is hard to treat. Even with medical insurance, someone may incur tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical costs and expenses. Their debilitated condition may also require them to miss work and receive specialized care in their home.
An asbestos claim can pay for:
- Medical bills
- Incidental expenses related to medical treatment, such as private care
- Funeral expenses
- Long-term care
- Lost income
- Compensation for loss of functioning
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages for companies that knowingly exposed you to asbestos
How Can I Pay for a Mesothelioma Attorney?
You should not have to pay a dime for your legal representation until you receive a settlement or award.
Our personal injury lawyers work on a “contingency” basis, which means that our payment is contingent on us earning you some form of compensation. We take a portion of that compensation as our fee. If we cannot win, you will not not owe us for our services.
Does My Mesothelioma Attorney Need to Be in Houston to Take My Case?
Our attorneys can represent you during your mesothelioma case. We have decades of experience and have recovered significant compensation for injured persons in Texas and across the nation.
Just because you live in Houston or your exposure occurred there does not mean that your case may be filed with the local Harris county court system. Part of asbestos litigation is determining the most appropriate venue in which to file your lawsuit, which in turn depends on the individual facts of your case.
Accordingly, our qualified mesothelioma attorneys will be willing to come to you in Houston in order to begin your litigation process. We will meet with you at the onset of your case and determine a strategy for moving forward with your claim and your treatment.
Can an Attorney Attend a Houston Court on My Behalf If the Case Goes to Trial?
If you cannot attend your court appearance or simply do not wish to, you may be eligible to have our attorneys represent you fully in Houston court — or whichever venue you were scheduled to appear.
To allow your attorney to act as a substitute, you must file a form known as a 977 waiver. Note that accepting the waiver is up to the judge’s discretion, so individuals should have cause to justify their non-appearance.
Similarly, if you live in Houston and your case is being tried in a far-away court system, our attorneys may represent you there, including if the court is out-of-state.
What to Look for in a Houston Mesothelioma Lawyer
Not just any lawyer will be capable of giving you the service, attention and expertise your mesothelioma case deserves. You should only work with a lawyer in Houston who can satisfy the following criteria:
- Comfortable to Talk To — You will need to share personal, possibly intimate details of your health, work history, and other matters to form the background for your case.
- Proven Track Record — Your lawyer should have a history of handling mesothelioma claims and asbestos cases so that they’re familiar with the unique requirements and can also instill confidence in their abilities.
- Works As Your Advocate and Guide — Mesothelioma victims can easily feel overwhelmed by their treatment and ongoing litigation. A reliable lawyer keeps you informed throughout this process and helps guide you from step to step.
- A History of Acting As a Mesothelioma Trial Lawyer — Your case could go to trial, which requires a host of presentational and organizational skills that is necessary to recover high compensation amounts.
- Willing to Travel on Your Behalf — Travel is extremely stressful, even without a debilitating condition. Your Houston asbestos attorney must be willing to come to you or travel to various offices and court venues in order to help your case proceed.
- Experience with Asbestos Trust Fund Claims — Asbestos trust funds have their own set of rules, requirements, and expectations in order to receive a settlement.
- Experience with the Veterans Affairs (VA) — Many mesothelioma claimants were exposed during service or served before occupational exposure. An experienced lawyer will be able to help you manage care through the VA system and navigate how their policies and insurance will affect your settlement/award.
- Can Accurately Evaluate Your Potential Compensation Based on Case Facts — Putting a dollar amount on your total mesothelioma damages is a monumental task, but those with experience can probe within the facts of your case and background and then combine this information to accurately project a possible fair settlement amount.
Houston Court House for Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases:
Judge Mark Davidson
Asbestos Multi-District Litigation Court
Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline, 17th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
(832) 927-2700
Why Do I Have to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit As Soon As Possible? What Is the Statute of Limitations in Houston, Texas?
According to Texas law (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 et seq.), asbestos injury victims have two years from the date they serve a complete, documented report of their mesothelioma diagnosis and exposure history to the person allegedly responsible for their injury.
The report must contain a number of documented findings by medical professionals, as detailed in sections 90.003 or 90.010 in Texas’s asbestos claims statutes.
If the injury victim has died, then a qualifying relative can file a wrongful death or survival action claim within two years of the exposed person’s death.
Greater Houston Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Diagnoses
Asbestos exposure has been both a historical and a very current problem with Houston residents. The state of Texas lies in the top percentile of overall asbestos-related diagnoses, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Minimum of Asbestos-Related Diagnoses in Texas 2001-2010 (CDC):
- Mesothelioma: 1,307
- Asbestosis: 1,190
- Non-Mesothelioma Lung Cancer: 8,132 (estimated)
Looking at the very least number of asbestos-related diagnoses per county, Harris County and other counties surrounding the Houston metro area rank highly. Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, and Montgomery counties all have over 100 people that have been diagnosed between 2001 and 2010.
Harris county, where Houston lies, had a estimated 352 asbestos exposure related diagnoses between 2010 and 2014, making it the most dangerous county in the state. On an average year, Harris county will have an estimated 112 people that are diagnosed with mesothelioma which encompasses the following cities, towns, and neighborhoods :
Baytown (part) – Bellaire – Bunker Hill Village – Deer Park – El Lago – Friendswood (part) – Galena Park – Hedwig Village – Hilshire Village – Houston (part) – Humble – Hunters Creek Village – Jacinto City – Jersey Village – Katy (part) – La Porte – League City (part) – Missouri City (part) – Morgan’s Point (part) – Nassau Bay – Pasadena – Pearland (part) – Piney Point Village – Seabrook (part) – Shoreacres (part) – South Houston – Southside Place – Spring Valley Village – Stafford (part) – Taylor Lake Village – Tomball (part) – Waller (part) – Webster – West University Place
Looking at older CDC data from 1979 – 2001, asbestos has left a devastating impact across Houston’s communities over the past decades.
How Can I Pay for a Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment in Houston?
If you have any of the symptoms of mesothelioma or a partial diagnosis, you owe it to yourself to get a full, well-documented diagnosis as soon as possible. A complete diagnosis is necessary to begin both proper medical treatment and begin filing an asbestos injury claim against liable parties.
A successful mesothelioma injury claim means that you will eventually be reimbursed for all of your out-of-pocket expenses in addition to other losses, such as lost income due to being too sick to work. Your medical insurance company may take some money from your settlement or award in order to recoup their own costs through a process known as subrogation.
While, starting treatment as soon as possible is paramount it is also important to contact an attorney soon to learn your options for covering treatment expenses until your claim is decided upon by working with our Houston mesothelioma lawyer advocates.
Houston Treatment Centers and Oncology Specialists for Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Care
There are many highly qualified physician specialists in the Houston region who have expertise diagnosing, treating, and caring for mesothelioma patients. In fact, Houston’s own Baylor College of Medicine has a specialized Mesothelioma Treatment Center that ranks as one of the top research and treatment centers in the nation.
Houston Hospitals with Mesothelioma Treatment Programs
- Baylor College of Medicine
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- CHI St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
Specific qualified physicians in Houston that treat mesothelioma include:
- Shawn S. Groth
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Baylor Clinic
- Houston, TX 77030
- Anne S. Tsao
- University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, Unit 432
- Houston, TX 77030
- Cesar A. Moran
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Houston, TX 77030
- Bryan Burt
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Baylor Clinic
- Houston, TX 77030
- David C. Rice
- University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Houston, TX 77030
- R. Taylor Ripley, MD
- CHI St. Luke’s Health–Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
- Houston, TX 77030
- W. Roy Smythe
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
- Houston, TX 77030
Houston VA Hospitals and Treatment Centers
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
- One of the largest hospitals in the VA system. It serves Houston, Harris County, and 27 surrounding counties. Has an affiliation with the Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
- Address: 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030-4298
- Phone: 713-791-1414 Or 713-791-1414
- Houston Southwest Vet Center
- Address: 10103 Fondren Road, Suite 470, Houston, TX 77096
- Phone: 713-523-0884
- Houston Vet Center
- Address: 14300 Cornerstone Village Dr., Suite 110, Houston, TX 77014
- Phone: 281-537-7812 Or 281-537-7812
- Houston West Vet Center
- Address: 701 N. Post Oak Road Suite 102, Houston, TX 77024
- Phone: 713-682-2288 Or 713-682-2288
Houston Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
Houston has the following clinical trials available, for the most current list please visit:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=mesothelioma+houston
- Trial of Adcetris in CD30+ Malignant Mesothelioma, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Study of Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraoperative Chemotherapy With Pemetrexed and Cisplatin for Malignant Pleural Mesotheliomas
- MEDI4736 Or MEDI4736 + Tremelimumab In Surgically Resectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- Adjuvant Pembrolizumab After Radiation Therapy for Lung-Intact Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- Phase 1 Study of INBRX-109 in Subjects With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors Including Sarcomas
- Atezolizumab, Pemetrexed Disodium, Cisplatin, and Surgery With or Without Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage I-III Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma
- Pleurectomy/Decortication (Neo) Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy to the Pleura in Patients With Locally Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- Ph 2/3 Study in Subjects With MPM w/Low ASS 1 Expression to Assess ADI-PEG 20 With Pemetrexed and Cisplatin
Houston Asbestos Exposure:
Major Ports and Shipping Channels in Houston, Texas Where Asbestos Exposure May Have Occurred
Port of Houston
One of the world’s largest and busiest ports, this 25-mile complex has been active since created in 1911. Major historic and current users of the port include oil companies, automobile importers, and manufacturers.
Port facilities and the vessels that travel through them have among the highest occupational job site risks for asbestos exposure. In fact, the Port of Houston was the destination for $128,385 in asbestos-containing materials in 2018 alone.
Ongoing asbestos removal and abatement projects continue in the port, and past workers from the port’s facilities may have a history of severe asbestos exposure and related illnesses.
Houston Ship Channel
Houston’s shipping channel is a major component of the Port of Houston as well as other numerous private and public terminals. The channel qualifies as one of the U.S.’s busies seaports, with millions of tons of petrochemical and agricultural products, among others, leaving the port each year.
Workers employed at facilities near the ship channel may have a severe history of asbestos exposure, and they are at a higher risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as a result.
Major Military Bases and Facilities in Houston, Texas Where Asbestos Exposure May Have Occurred
Houston Military Entrance Processing Station
Located in the historic U.S. Customhouse building, the Houston Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) has been processing entrants into the U.S. armed forces since 1996. No public record of asbestos containing materials or occupational exposure is readily available, but that does not rule out past exposures by former building occupants.
Coast Guard Air Station Houston
Built in 1963, this facility serves as a major staging ground for Coast Guard operations in the Gulf, including Search and Rescue (SAR), Homeland Security patrols, and Fisheries Enforcement. Like the MEPS facility, this facility has no documented history of asbestos use or occupational exposure.
Jobsites in Houston & Harris County With a History of Asbestos Risk
The following occupational and job sites in the greater Houston region have a documented history of asbestos use or severe exposure to individuals.
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