New York, NY, July 18, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Mesothelioma cancer lawyers Weitz & Luxenberg would like to alert the public of the fatal dangers associated with secondhand exposure to asbestos. It was recently reported in the news that a widow who lost her husband to mesothelioma has now also been diagnosed with mesothelioma from secondhand asbestos exposure.

Her husband worked in the manufacturing industry with asbestos containing products. He experienced on-the-job asbestos exposure from 1963 through 1985. When he returned home from work, his wife would brush the dust of his clothing. It is very likely that she became exposed to asbestos from cleaning her husband's work clothes. This secondhand asbestos exposure eventually led to the development of mesothelioma cancer.

Secondhand asbestos exposure is asbestos exposure from another person who was directly exposed to asbestos. Often, secondhand asbestos exposure occurs when a person washes the clothes of another who works with asbestos. Once asbestos fibers enter the body, they can become lodged in internal organs such as the lungs and cause serious illnesses such as cancer.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma cancer include shortness of breath and chest pain. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, difficulty with swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers can help

Weitz & Luxenberg is the leading asbestos and mesothelioma law firm in the U.S. The firm's mesothelioma attorneys have provided outstanding financial assistance to many people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma by winning remarkable verdicts and settlements in mesothelioma cases. Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers accept mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer cases from all regions of the U.S. and certain regions of Canada. The firm provides free online case reviews from www.weitzlux.com and maintains a blog at mesotheliomajustice.blogspot.com.

Weitz & Luxenberg also handles cases involving defective products such as Hydroxycut and shoulder pain pumps. For the latest news on drugs and medical devices, visit www.pharma-watch.com.

A very important question to ask is how expenses and attorney fees will be handled for the case. The process is not fast -- preparation for the trial and then the trial itself -- will take many months (or even years).

During this time, there will be thousands of dollars of initial costs associated with preparing for the trial, such as travel, hiring expert witnesses, depositions, etc. Ordinarily, the attorney who represents you advances these initial costs that are associated with the preparation and trial.

Most attorney fees in these cases are based on contingency fee contracts. This means that the lawyers receive a percentage of the amount the victim recovers if the suit is successful. If the suit is not successful, then the attorneys earn no fee.