Was There Asbestos Exposure in Your Past?
Representation in Mesothelioma Litigation
Some people who were heavily exposed to asbestos never develop cancer or other illness. Others developed mesothelioma from indirect exposure, such as people who lived near factories or wives who washed their husbands' work clothes. Asbestos is the only proven cause of mesothelioma, a cancer of the linings around the lungs and internal organs. Any level of exposure is potentially harmful.
- Men are far more likely than women to develop mesothelioma. Millions of men worked at jobs in the 1940s, '50s, '60s and '70s that had substantial unprotected exposure to asbestos fibers.
- Smokers are at increased risk for mesothelioma and greatly multiplied risk for asbestosis and lung cancer if they were previously exposed to asbestos.
Patterns of Exposure: Industries and Products Linked to Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a mineral once widely used in industrial settings, construction materials, and consumer products for its heat insulation and fire retardant properties. Persons who worked in any of the following industries and occupations have an elevated incidence of mesothelioma:
- Power plants and chemical refineries
- Shipyards and steel mills
- Paper mills
- Construction, remodeling and demolition
- Jobs on or around boilers, turbines, pumps, valves or piping in any industry
- U.S. Navy/Coast Guard personnel and merchant mariners
Visit our Navy-related mesothelioma page.
Other Occupations with Known Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is by no means limited to construction workers, ship builders, sailors, mill workers and industrial plant employees. Asbestos was so prevalent for many decades that millions of people routinely came in contact:
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- Electricians and plumbers
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- Auto mechanics
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Even this list is far from complete. There were thousands of different
products that contained asbestos, putting people at risk no matter how far removed from "hazardous" jobs.
Second-Hand Exposure
At 39, Gail was unusually young for mesothelioma and something of a mystery. Nothing in her suburban life or history raised red flags for asbestos exposure - no military service, never worked construction, didn't live near a factory. Our lawyers eventually traced Gail's illness to her job as a graphic artist at a school. She was exposed every summer as remodeling crews tore out old wallboard that contained asbestos - each morning her desk would be thick with dust.
The most common causes of secondary exposure are routine contact with contaminated clothing, inhaling airborne asbestos fibers from a nearby factory or breathing construction dust.
We're Here to Help
Like Gail, most victims of asbestos exposure never suspected the dangers, never suffered any ailments before a mesothelioma diagnosis. Now, decades later, they are suffering from a disabling disease and undergoing invasive medical treatments to extend life or ease the pain.
The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham has enabled many hundreds of clients and their families to get the right treatment and secure compensation through asbestos exposure litigation. Our attorneys are skilled at tracking down the source(s) of exposure and holding those employers or companies responsible for their negligence or willful indifference.
Contact us toll free at 888-698-9975 for a free initial consultation with experienced attorneys. We take cases throughout the United States.
