FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TEXAS MESOTHELIOMA ATTORNEYS

WHY DO TEXAS MESOTHELIOMA ATTORNEYS RECEIVE MORE CASES THAN NEARLY ANY OTHER LAWYERS IN THE NATION?

The Lone Star State has long had a problem with asbestos due to the industries that are prevalent in the region. However, the rate of asbestos-related deaths in the state is quite low. With the enormous population here, the raw number of asbestos-related deaths is the fourth highest in the nation, with about 2,000 deaths confirmed between 1999 and 2010.

Few parts of the country can match the state’s industrial might, and industrial centers require large amounts of asbestos to insulate buildings and equipment used in their facilities. In particular, oil and gas, chemical, shipbuilding and shipping companies in the state have exposed their workers to a dangerous amount of the material for decades.

Some cases of asbestos-related illness, though, are due to living near sites that handle the material. For example, more than 500,000 tons of contaminated vermiculite were stored in Dallas and Houston facilities for decades, resulting in many instances of asbestos-related illnesses in people living nearby.

WHAT KINDS OF WORKERS OFTEN NEED THE HELP OF TEXAS MESOTHELIOMA ATTORNEYS?

Workers in the oil and gas, chemical, shipping, aviation and shipbuilding industries are at the highest risk of asbestos exposure, as the material is typically used on oil platforms, refineries and inside ships and airplanes for insulation purposes. Some oil platforms required their workers to mix bags of asbestos-containing compounds with minimal safety equipment for years to facilitate the drilling process. These workers would often end up caked in dangerous substances, exposing them to asbestos for many days after initial contact.

Specifically, Texaco, Lone Star Industries, Chevron Phillips, Lyondell, Bethlehem Shipping, Gulfport Shipping, and Todd Shipping are among the companies that have been confirmed for exposing their workers to asbestos. There are likely many more oil platforms, refineries and shipping centers that continue to do so.

WHY ARE TEXAS MESOTHELIOMA ATTORNEYS HELPFUL TO INJURED WORKERS?

Asbestos can permanently rob a person of their health as there are few treatment options for people who are affected by it. Cancer caused by asbestos is typically fatal and results in a rapid degeneration of health. Lawyers experienced in the field are capable of taking the fight back to negligent companies that know how dangerous their products and work processes are, but choose to ignore them. By standing up for your legal rights, a lawyer helps provide for you and your loved ones financially and ensures that negligent companies will think twice before knowingly exposing other workers.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL LAWS IN TEXAS THAT AFFECT HOW THESE CASES ARE MANAGED?

In July 2014, the state supreme court determined that a plaintiff in an asbestos injury case could not win a claim unless the victim could prove two significant things. They must show that their injuries were a result of a dangerous level of asbestos exposure, and the defendant produced the exposure. Until then, asbestos injury claims had to clear a lower bar for proof, so the change makes it more difficult for victims to win their case.

This is why more injured workers are looking to experienced lawyers for help. Professional legal assistance can ensure that all of the facts in the case are brought to light.

Source: http://www.terrybryant.com/frequently-asked-questions-about-texas-mesothelioma-attorneys-a-435.html