Florida Shipyard Workers Asbestos Exposure Lawyer

Shipyard Workers Asbestos Exposure Attorney in Florida

If you worked in a shipyard in Florida, a Florida shipyard workers asbestos exposure lawyer from Wallace & Graham, P.A. can help you seek recovery. People who were exposed to asbestos while working in ship construction, repair, and maintenance along Florida’s coast and at naval facilities may be eligible to pursue legal action.

Asbestos was heavily used in shipyards for decades, since it was heat-resistant and durable. As such, many workers there were in close contact with asbestos. Successfully pursuing a claim can require tracing exposure to a particular product or on a specific jobsite and holding the responsible companies accountable.

Hire a Shipyard Workers Asbestos Exposure Lawyer

Wallace & Graham, P.A. advocates for clients across the U.S. who have suffered as a result of asbestos exposure during shipyard and maritime employment. Our firm has nearly four decades of combined experience in handling these types of cases with complex exposure histories, multiple defendants, and long latency periods.

Wallace & Graham, P.A, through thorough investigation and use of medical and occupational evidence, seeks to identify those parties responsible for exposure and bring well-substantiated claims against them. The practice of Wallace & Graham, P.A. is focused on serious asbestos-related injury and wrongful death cases.

Asbestos Exposure at Florida Ports, Naval Facilities, and Commercial Shipyards

Shipyards throughout Florida have long used products containing asbestos in the building and repairing of ships. Shipyard facilities and companies working in tandem with Florida ports, including Jacksonville, Tampa, and Pensacola, often incorporated asbestos-containing products into their infrastructure.

Asbestos was used in the construction of these buildings and in the vessels because it is heat and corrosion-resistant, as insulation, fireproofing, and as a component in piping, boilers, and engine parts. The installation, removal, and disturbance of asbestos-containing materials throughout ship construction, maintenance, and retrofitting may have exposed workers.

Asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer have long latency periods. This is why shipyard asbestos exposure claims are legally actionable today, even after many years of first being exposed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 2,699 people in the U.S. were newly diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2022.

Job Duties That Commonly Led to Asbestos Exposure in Florida Shipyards

In Florida shipyards, many workers were exposed to asbestos as part of their normal work duties. Welding, pipefitting, electrical and engine work, and insulation were common occupations where workers were expected to perform their job in the vicinity of asbestos.

At shipyards that provided services for Florida’s busiest ports, maintenance shutdowns and refits of ships often disturbed old insulation and component parts, releasing fibers in confined areas of the ship. Even if a worker was not directly involved with the installation of asbestos products, exposure was possible by working in confined areas such as engine rooms, mechanical spaces, or in dry docks where the fibers were allowed to settle and accumulate.

What to Do After a Mesothelioma or Asbestos-Related Diagnosis?

When a mesothelioma or other asbestos-related disease is diagnosed, there are immediate medical and legal issues that must be addressed. Although medical issues, such as treatment, may take priority, legal issues may also arise, and it is important to begin to document facts that may be relevant if a legal claim is later assessed. At this stage, the following steps may help preserve important information:

• Retain employment records, including job titles, employers, and approximate dates of employment
• Document possible sources of exposure, such as worksites, equipment, or products regularly encountered
• Retrieve relevant medical records, including diagnostic imaging and pathology reports
• Record the date symptoms first appeared, as timing can affect when a legal claim is considered to have accrued

According to epidemiological research, approximately 80% of mesothelioma cases are pleural, meaning the cancer affects the lining of the lungs. This supports why inhalation exposure history and employment documentation are often central to evaluating asbestos-related claims.

FAQs

Can Navy or Military Shipyard Work Support a Florida Asbestos Claim?

Florida shipyards often performed repairs to naval vessels or supported military operations. Asbestos exposure could have happened during construction, repair, or maintenance work done by civilians, contractors, or members of the armed services.

Even though the federal government has its own set of rules, legal claims may be made against private manufacturers or suppliers who provided asbestos-containing materials at military shipyards. The unique circumstances surrounding each situation can depend on the location and the person who controlled the material.

What If My Asbestos Exposure Occurred While Working for a Contractor at a Florida Shipyard?

Often, asbestos exposure in Florida shipyards was not directly from a shipyard employer but through a contractor. Even then, claims may still be analyzed based on the work done, materials used and encountered, and the companies responsible for the products and working conditions present at the time.

Liability is not limited to the entity that issued a paycheck. Claims may be made against manufacturers, suppliers, or other companies based on facts specific to the individual case.

Can Family Members File Claims for Asbestos Exposure in Florida?

Asbestos-related claims brought while a person is living are usually made by the injured person in the form of a personal injury action. If the injury eventually causes death, certain family members may also be able to maintain a wrongful death action in Florida under the Florida Wrongful Death Act. In some cases, claims for secondary or household exposure actually suffered by family members may also be recognized in Florida, depending on the facts.

Contact a Florida Shipyard Workers Asbestos Exposure Lawyer

Shipyard asbestos claims in Florida present a range of unique legal and evidentiary issues due to the time period during which exposure may have occurred, the number of jobsites potentially involved, and evolving industry standards. Asbestos exposure in a shipyard context often raises complex issues of exposure source, liable parties, and diagnosis timing.

Wallace & Graham, P.A. advocates on behalf of individuals and families impacted by shipyard asbestos exposure through fact-driven investigation and litigation. Thoroughly evaluating a claim may include analyzing work history, medical documentation, and past shipyard conditions. An initial legal assessment can help an individual understand their options. ​​Schedule a consultation today to hire a shipyard workers asbestos exposure lawyer.