Legal Information
The development of mesothelioma is strongly linked to workplace asbestos exposure, as many professions involved sustained exposure to large quantities of this material. However, the lengthy delay between the recognition of asbestos dangers and the implementation of formal worker protections has led to a surge of asbestos legislation and legal actions against past companies that produced, used or worked with this material.
Full Industry Awareness
One of the most common misconceptions regarding asbestos materials manufacturing is that companies were not aware of the risks of asbestos exposure until the general public was in the late 1970s. This is not true. Numerous internal documents which have surfaced during litigation against these companies prove not only the widespread awareness of the health risks of asbestos exposure, but also a conscious effort to hide such information and mislead the public.
Aside from this past desire to conceal the known effects of asbestos exposure on consumers and employees, these internal documents which have surfaced also indicate the blatant disregard for life some of these companies held. As corporate greed replaced the sense of responsibility to consumers, several company documents highlight this total abandonment of morality.
Contributing Factors
One of the major reasons for such frequent asbestos litigation and legislation is this past concealment of its devastating exposure risks. Many internal documents now suggest that many companies that manufactured asbestos-laden products knew of the dangers, yet chose not to make those findings public knowledge. In some cases, these companies actually discussed ways to conceal these risks between themselves to avoid the potential profit dip that followed.
However, the development of the United States Environmental Protection Agency signaled the beginning of the end for asbestos as a socially-acceptable material. Beginning in the 1970s, this organization dedicated to protecting “human health and the natural environment” has been regulating and banning materials proven to cause disease, including asbestos. Although still not completely banned today in the United States, its high degree of regulation has helped justify the appearance of numerous lawsuits and legal actions.
Legal Action Today
Today, we see legal action taken against past producers of asbestos-tainted materials frequently, as the latency period of asbestos-related diseases causes delayed development. This means individuals exposed to asbestos as many as 50 years ago may only begin experiencing symptoms of disease today. Furthermore, this rapid appearance of asbestos litigation in the 1980s gave rise to a new way of compensating past employees of companies that used asbestos: trusts.
As recent awareness of asbestos dangers like mesothelioma has grown, so have the frequency and scale of legal action. Furthermore, as increasing numbers of claimants have come forward after experiencing this professional exposure, trusts have become increasingly sizable to accommodate growing numbers of individuals showing signs of asbestos exposure.
Today we recognize the need for fair compensation paid to victims of asbestos exposure. In addition to filing a claim for pain and suffering, mesothelioma victims and others with a related disease file claims against past companies guilty of employee asbestos exposure to help alleviate the financial strain of the following:
- Medical Bills
- Related Medical Treatment Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Expenses Not Covered by Insurance
- Financial Support for Loved Ones
- Funeral Expenses
Despite its status as a heavily regulated material banned in most kinds of construction, the past prevalence of this material and its value means individuals will likely continue to develop these diseases long after the last asbestos-tainted building material has been used. This means the incidence of asbestos-related legislation and lawsuits are not likely to slow anytime soon either.
Your Legal Options
To learn more about industry awareness of asbestos risks, offending companies, and your legal options, call us at (888) 360-2406 or fill out the form above. We have patient advocates ready to discuss your legal options with you and help you recover the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one is the victim of an asbestos-related disease, do not let these companies go unpunished. Contact us today and win the justice you deserve.
