Georgia Asbestos Lawyer
Once praised for its versatility, tensile strength, heat resistance, and insulating abilities, asbestos is a mineral that was widely used for a variety of applications in the industrial and home construction industries. The mineral’s properties were so widely heralded that the U.S. military mandated the use of asbestos in every branch of the armed forces. At the time, asbestos seemed like the perfect cure-all for a multitude of applications. Today, however, we have learned that it can be highly toxic as well, and it is claimed to be one of the largest causes of mesothelioma and other lung diseases. That is one reason why it may be important to seek counsel from a Georgia asbestos lawyer if you have been exposed and suffered a severe injury.
Types of Asbestos
The Environmental Protection Agency officially recognizes the existence of six separate types of asbestos: actinolite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, amosite, and chrysotile. Despite the existence of each of these varieties, chrysotile is the most common form of asbestos. Today, it can be found in walls, ceilings, roofs, and floors of commercials building and homes. However, the other types of asbestos were also widely used for similar applications throughout the world.
Asbestos Exposure
According to data compiled by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, more than 75 occupations in America have been linked to exposing workers to the dangers of asbestos. Researchers estimate that military veterans comprise approximately 30 percent of all reported and unreported mesothelioma cases.
While Georgia asbestos lawyers and others around the U.S. have represented all manner of construction professionals, electricians, steamfitters, pipe fitters, and plumbers who worked between 1940 and 1980 have been found to be the most vulnerable to mesothelioma and other diseases caused by asbestos exposure. The occurrence of these diseases in the electrical power and shipbuilding industries has also been quite high.
Although Georgia asbestos lawyers have primarily represented those with asbestos-related illnesses linked to occupational exposure, many cases of second-hand exposure have been documented as well. Furthermore, homes, apartments, and commercial buildings built prior to 1980 are often full of building materials that contain asbestos, which can easily be dislodged and become airborne with normal wear and tear.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Many of those affected by asbestos have been the victims of mesothelioma, a highly aggressive form of cancer that is diagnosed in approximately 3,000 Americans each year and almost exclusively caused by exposure to the deadly mineral, according to studies.
Asbestosis is another equally dangerous asbestos-related illness. The lung disease was first diagnosed in 1924. Asbestos exposure can also be a cause of lung cancer. Beginning in 1917, studies in the U.S. began noticing numerous deaths in towns that thrived on asbestos mining, yet reportedly little to no regulations were put in place to reduce production.
Asbestos Litigation
In 1973, Clarence Borel set the precedent for sufferers of asbestos-related illnesses by becoming the first person to hold manufacturers responsible for injuries caused as a result of their asbestos products. Similar to today’s asbestos lawyers, his attorney, Ward Stephenson, filed a lawsuit against 11 manufacturers of asbestos products. Although Borel died three years prior from mesothelioma he developed as a result his 30 years of working in the oil refineries and shipyards along the Louisiana-Texas coast, his family was awarded $1 million in damages. A Georgia asbestos lawyer can assist families in these types of wrongful death cases as well.
Thanks to the success of Borel’s case, workers from coast to coast began seeking compensation for their asbestos-related illnesses. By 2002, 730,000 asbestos lawsuits had been filed against 8,400 companies. To date, and although every case is different and past results do not guarantee the outcome of future cases, asbestos lawyers have secured over $70 billion for their afflicted clients. According to the Government Accountability Office, $37 billion still remains in asbestos trusts to compensate litigants. Georgia, home of the Georgia-Pacific Company, bears many of these lawsuits as Georgia asbestos lawyers have been diligently working to provide their clients with the compensation they need to cover their damages.
In 2005, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that stricter requirements should be put in place to limit the ballooning number of asbestos lawsuits, making it more difficult for potentially afflicted claimants to receive compensation. This makes it even more important to contact an experienced Georgia asbestos lawyer who can help you navigate pursuing a claim and getting the appropriate compensation for you or a loved one’s injuries.
If you are a Georgia resident who has suffered injury from asbestos exposure, contact Attorney Group for Georgia today to be connected with a Georgia asbestos lawyer. The Georgia Injury Attorney Group can help answer questions you may have, help you determine if you have a claim, and connect you with an affiliated attorney, all at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
