According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, the latest year for which this data is available, 2,681 new cases of mesothelioma were reported in the United States, and 2,376 people died from it. Though the first asbestos lawsuits were filed in the 1930s, today there remains confusion about the many types of asbestos exposure that can cause someone to contract mesothelioma.

There are people who have contracted mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure, but were unaware of it because their exposure was not in a “traditional” manner, such as directly working with it over many years as part of their job. When these individuals seek guidance regarding their legal options given their diagnosis, some lawyers might dismiss them as not having an actionable case.