Workers in various industries face the risk of occupational illness in Texas. Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma risk should be top concerns for anyone working in high-risk industries, especially when they must work in older buildings that may still contain asbestos. If you develop mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at work, you need to hire a mesothelioma lawyer you can trust as soon as possible to help you pursue accountability and compensation.
Working in Texas: Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Risk
Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, an incurable and terminal form of cancer that most commonly forms in the lungs. Many people working in various industries face the risk of asbestos exposure on the job, and eventually, some of these people will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. In Texas, some of the highest risk occupations and industries for asbestos exposure include:
Many occupations in the oil and gas industry, especially those who work in refineries.
Plumbing, which often requires working near asbestos insulation and pipe coverings. Plumbers may also have to cut or grind older cement pipes made with asbestos.
Electrical work, which may require working inside walls and ceilings that can contain asbestos insulation.
Shipbuilding. Many shipyards and shipbuilding facilities in Texas are high-risk workplaces for asbestos exposure.
Metalworking.Trabajadores del hierro and steel mill employees may require the use of fireproof equipment made with asbestos, as well as furnaces and other machines that contain asbestos components.
These are just a few examples, and while asbestos use has declined significantly in the US over the past few decades, the Sociedad Americana contra el Cáncer reports that there are still about 3,000 new mesothelioma diagnoses nationwide each year. This is largely due to asbestos exposure that happened many years ago, as this disease has an extremely long latency period, often taking decades to cause noticeable symptoms.
Legal Options for Asbestos Exposure in Texas
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure at work in Texas, you need to contrate a un abogado especializado en mesotelioma at your first opportunity to help you pursue accountability and compensation. You may have multiple legal options available to you, but proving liability for the exposure and accurately calculating your damages would be challenging without an experienced attorney’s help.
Many companies that formerly manufactured asbestos products in the US have since shut down, and many were required to establish mesothelioma trust funds to compensate those later discovered to have been harmed by their products. You could qualify to file a claim against one of these trust funds, and your mesothelioma attorney can guide you through the filing process.
You may also have grounds to file a personal injury claim for toxic exposure against a specific defendant, such as an employer, property owner, or product manufacturer. In this situation, you must have evidence to prove liability before you can claim compensation for your damages. Ultimately, you could have several options, and hiring an experienced attorney increases your chances of reaching favorable results.
The mesothelioma attorneys at Wallace & Graham, S.A. have an extensive record of successful cases nationwide, and we have helped Texas workers in various industries pursue a wide range of mesothelioma cases. Our team can review the details of your situation and explain your legal options, but you have limited time to build a case. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn more about our legal services.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Es curable el mesotelioma?
No, mesothelioma is an incurable cancer, and treatment will focus on slowing its progression and managing symptoms for as long as possible. The tasa de supervivencia promedio a cinco años para todas las etapas de mesotelioma pleural, the most common form of this disease, is only 15%. Early detection can make treatment more effective and preserve life expectancy, but if the disease has spread to distant regions of the body, life expectancy is typically short.
¿Cómo provoca el amianto el mesotelioma?
Asbestos causes mesothelioma when asbestos fibers enter the body and become embedded, most often in the lungs. Over time, these fibers will cause mesothelioma to develop, and it can take many years for symptoms to appear. The rate of progression varies from case to case, and repeated exposures can cause mesothelioma symptoms to appear more quickly. There is also no safe level of asbestos exposure; once could be enough for someone to develop mesothelioma.
¿Cuánto puede reclamar en concepto de indemnización por mesotelioma?
The amount of compensation you can claim for mesothelioma depends on the specifics of your case. You may have grounds to claim compensation for all medical expenses related to your diagnosis, including future costs of palliative care, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you calculate the full extent of the damages you are eligible to claim.
Can You Sue Your Employer for Asbestos Exposure?
You may have grounds to file a claim against your employer for asbestos exposure under certain conditions. If they were negligent in any way that contributed to the exposure, failed to follow applicable workplace safety regulations, or intentionally concealed a known asbestos exposure risk, you could have grounds to pursue legal action if you developed mesothelioma because of this exposure. Hire a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible to help you build your case.
¿Por qué debería contratar a un abogado especializado en mesotelioma?
You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer because you are significantly more likely to succeed with any legal efforts you make to claim compensation for your damages. You will need a skilled attorney’s help to prove the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that caused your condition and to calculate all of the damages you are eligible to claim. You’re more likely to achieve a favorable outcome with an experienced attorney representing you.
Wallace & Graham, PA can provide compassionate and results-driven legal counsel for all stages of your legal proceedings after a mesothelioma diagnosis in Texas. Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma risk should be consistent concerns for anyone in a high-risk industry, and they must also know where they can turn for help if they are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Póngase en contacto con nosotros to schedule a free consultation with an experienced mesothelioma attorney.
Acerca del autor:
William M. Graham
Socio director de
Wallace & Graham, P.A.
William M. Graham es socio director de Wallace & Graham, P.A. en Salisbury, Carolina del Norte, donde se especializa en casos de mesotelioma y exposición al asbesto. Con más de 30 años de experiencia legal, fue admitido en el Colegio de Abogados del Estado de North Carolina (1991). Graham obtuvo su título de Juris Doctor en la Facultad de Derecho de Antioch y es reconocido por su dedicación a los clientes afectados por enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto. Su práctica refleja una profunda experiencia y compromiso con la defensa de los clientes.