Kentucky may be landlocked, but there are a few shipyards along the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, and many people in the state may have worked at coastal shipyards in the past. Shipyards have historically been one of the highest-risk workplaces when it comes to asbestos exposure, which can cause mesothelioma. If you have been diagnosed with this cancer after working in this industry, you need to speak to a Kentucky shipyard workers’ mesothelioma lawyer.

The Kentucky mesothelioma lawyers at Wallace & Graham, PA have years of proven experience representing clients in mesothelioma cases nationwide, and we know the challenges that shipyard workers may face when they have been diagnosed with this incurable and terminal cancer. These cases are inherently challenging in several ways, and you can trust our team to help you understand your legal options and pursue compensation for your diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is not a particularly common form of cancer; the American Cancer Society reports that there are only about 3,000 new cases diagnosed in the US each year. However, new cases continue to appear because of asbestos exposure that happened many years ago. It can take decades for mesothelioma to cause noticeable symptoms, and once symptoms appear, it has likely reached an advanced stage.
Shipyard workers may have been exposed to asbestos not only from the facilities themselves but also from the materials they used to build watercraft. When asbestos particles enter the body, usually through the lungs, they can gradually cause mesothelioma. For pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of this cancer, the five-year relative survival rate ranges from 23% to just 11%, based on how far it has spread through the body.
Once you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Kentucky, you need to consult an experienced attorney who can help you determine your legal options. Depending on how you were exposed, you could have legal grounds to claim compensation through various channels. For example, if you develop a work-related illness, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. You may also qualify to file a claim with a mesothelioma trust fund.
Many US companies that formerly produced asbestos products were required to establish these trust funds to compensate those who were found to have been harmed by their products. Your Kentucky shipyard workers’ mesothelioma attorney can help you determine eligibility and file a claim, or you could have grounds to file a personal injury claim for toxic exposure against a specific defendant responsible for the asbestos exposure that led to your diagnosis.
Wallace & Graham, PA has a strong record of success with cases against property owners, employers, manufacturers, and other defendants. You can trust us to calculate your claimable damages, which may include medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering, and we will provide ongoing support through every stage of your case.
Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing, and you’re likely to have many complex questions in this difficult situation. The team at Wallace & Graham, PA can provide the guidance you need, so contact us today to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Kentucky shipyard workers’ mesothelioma lawyer.