Drug Injury Lawyer
Asbestos Dangers & Mesothelioma Cancer
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a virtually indestructible but naturally occurring mineral that conducts heat and electricity and is fire and chemical resistant.
If you have been injured by asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, it’s our job to get you the damages you deserve. Call our Houston injury lawyers today at (800) 444-5000 or fill out a FREE initial consultation form.
What is asbestos used for?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos has been widely used in manufacturing and is included as a material in many home and commercial products for more than a century. It was a common component in many construction products for industrial and commercial applications, particularly in manufacturing plants, refineries, and shipyards. It was used in many different products, including:
- brake pads
- brake shoes
- bricks
- ceiling insulation
- concrete
- drywall joint compounds
- fireproof drywall
- flooring
- gaskets
- lawn furniture
- pipe insulation
- roofing
Who has been exposed to asbestos?
More than 25 million people were exposed to asbestos at work and at home from 1940 to 1970. Additionally, thousands of men in the U.S. Navy were exposed to equipment covered with asbestos.
How toxic is asbestos?
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suggested that no other toxic substance has more clearly demonstrated toxic health effects than has asbestos exposure. Many people do not know that it can take from 10 to 60 years for some asbestos-related diseases to surface. This means people exposed to asbestos decades ago may just now be developing an asbestos-related disease. Not just workers, but also family members of those who worked in and around asbestos were often exposed to dangerous amounts of asbestos.
What types of illnesses are caused by asbestos exposure?
The most common asbestos diseases are:
- asbestosis
- lung cancer
- malignant mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure can also cause cancers of the:
- colon
- esophagus
- larynx
- oral cavity
- rectum
- stomach
Did the asbestos industry know about the dangers of asbestos?
Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products knowingly exposed workers for decades. Sworn testimony and court documents from the industry over the years reflect callous and intentional disregard of the safety of those working in and around asbestos.
The asbestos manufactures did not only fail to warn workers and their families and consumers of asbestos dangers, but in many cases actively concealed them. If the industry had been concerned with the lives, health, and safety of American workers and their loved ones, countless asbestos-related deaths, diseases, and disabilities may never have happened.
Is money compensation available to victims of asbestos exposure?
While many corporate asbestos defendants are no longer in business, many viable companies remain. Money from insurance coverage, reinsurers, bankruptcy trusts, and company assets is still available to compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases. While there are applicable time deadlines, eligibility requirements, and other evidentiary requirements, many exposure victims can receive money compensation for asbestos-related diseases.
This law firm is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or the U.S. Navy.
