Asbestos Injury Claims (Mesothelioma)

Unsafe levels of workplace asbestos exposure have been discovered by various industries throughout Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky. Major asbestos manufacturers in our region have been held liable for the damages caused to workers as well as companies exposing their employees to materials containing asbestos.

Despite knowing the dangers asbestos as early as the 1930s, many manufacturers and construction contractors neglected to inform their employees of the presence of asbestos in materials or the potential injury asbestos can cause. A likely factor in many business decisions to allow workplace asbestos exposure is the fact that mesothelioma, the cancer caused by asbestos, can take decades to develop. These companies hoped that this length of time would keep them from their responsibilities to their exposed workers and the risk of incurable cancer from asbestos. They were wrong.

Asbestos is the name for a mixture of naturally occurring minerals forming strong fibers so flexible and durable that they can be separated into thin threads and woven. Approximately 27.5 million people were exposed between 1940 and 1979 to asbestos at work. Since 1980, the yearly average rate of mesothelioma deaths continues around a steady 3,000 deaths annually. Exposure to asbestos fibers continues even today, but EPA and OSHA regulations now set standards for exposure and protective equipment.

Industries with highest asbestos exposure are those directly mining asbestos and manufacturing asbestos products. Because the injury-causing aspect of asbestos is its thin fibers that can be breathed or swallowed, workers who manufactured asbestos products or worked with these products or materials are at only slightly less risk of asbestos injury. These workers include shipyard workers, truckers and others working in the distribution of asbestos products, and construction and insulation workers. Because of its ability to be shaped and its fire-retardant nature, asbestos is used in various industrial products, including cement, brake linings, textiles, and roof shingles.

While risks of asbestos injury correspond to the volume of asbestos to which one is exposed and length of time spent around asbestos, those who were only briefly exposed (less than three months) have developed mesothelioma, a disease almost uniquely caused by asbestos fibers. Cases an asbestos-exposed worker’s family member developing rare, asbestos-related diseases have also been reported, which is the reason OSHA requires asbestos-exposed clothing to be washed, and remain, at the workplace.

The Higgins Firm lawyers file claims for victims in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, as well as for their families and survivors. Our experienced Asbestos attorneys in Nashville can help you avoid dead ends and pursue those most appropriate to your claim.

Asbestos lawsuits are based upon the liability of manufacturers of asbestos and asbestos products or materials. To recover damages, the asbestos lawyer must establish exposure to these products or materials caused the harm suffered.

Initial work in the asbestos injury claim includes obtaining medical records and garnering pertinent information about the injured client’s work history. This helps determine when exposure to asbestos may have occurred and assess whether the claim has a reasonable chance of success. If so, our asbestos lawyers will file a complaint against all companies responsible for the asbestos injury.

If you or a loved one have developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related injury, contact our Nashville law offices for a free, and confidential, consultation. Our Nashville injury attorneys have decades of experience working for workers injured throughout Tennessee and neighboring states and have a reputation for fair, quick resolutions to workplace injury claims. Call our toll free number 800.705.2121 or complete our workplace injury form for an initial consultation.

Contact us online or call us at 800-705-2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.