Tennessee is an industrial state, home to the International Paper Company and the Tennessee Valley Authority, the largest public utilities company in the U.S. Tennessee’s booming asbestos industry has helped the state thrive, however, it has also contributed to the death of many workers and residents. In fact, asbestos use and exposure in industrial factories, construction sites and chemical plants across the state contributed to more than 600 deaths from 1999-2010. According to statistics, Tennessee ranks 20th for the number of deaths caused by asbestos exposure.
Even though laws governing the use asbestos have been set in place, Tennessee workers and residents continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers, since symptoms of these cancers can take up to 50 years to develop. And because so many companies failed to protect their workers against the harmful effects of asbestos even after learning about the potential dangers, asbestos lawsuits continue to be filed over exposure that occurred decades ago.
Mesothelioma Lawyer Tennessee
If you or loved one is a current or former Tennessee industry worker, struggling with the effects of asbestos exposure, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. There are laws governing the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit from the time of diagnosis; so to be sure you file in time, you should contact an attorney as close to your diagnosis as possible.
Our mesothelioma lawyers are also available to help the families of those who died from mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers. We can help recoup damages such as medical bills, funeral bills and lost economic and social support. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today.
Asbestos Exposure in Tennessee
The industries that make this state thrive are among those that once greatly depended on asbestos because of its resistance to heat and friction.
Among Tennessee jobsites that may have exposed workers to asbestos are:
- American Smelting and Refining Company
- Combustion Engineering
- Erachem Comilog, Inc.
- Franklin Mill (International Paper)
- Mueller Company Plant
- Thyssen-Dover Elevator facility
Chattanooga and Asbestos Exposure
In April 2011, a major tornado ripped through this state and seven others. More than 300 died, and many neighborhoods and business areas were destroyed. Tuscaloosa AL was hit the worst, but the damage caused by the deadly twister left residents of TN with a major mess to clean up.
Asbestos containing materials were used a great deal in construction until the 1980s, so there was a high risk of people being exposed to asbestos in the aftermath. There are no laws currently in the state for how asbestos should be safely removed from homes that were damaged by storms or floods. So residents are concerned about being exposed to deadly asbestos when they are cleaning up damaged properties after natural disasters.
Nashville and Asbestos Exposure
In May 2010, a terrible flood went through Nashville and several other towns in central TN. More than 11,000 properties were damaged, and the mayor’s office told homeowners to be very careful when they removed debris from their homes; asbestos materials likely were present in buildings constructed before 1990. Government officials also recommended that asbestos abatement officials be called in for much of the clean up due to the high risk of exposure.
At the Rose of Sharon Primitive Baptist Church in Nashville, more than two feet of brackish water inundated the building during the flood. After the flood receded, members of the church began the clean up. As they pulled up carpets and tore out drywall and pews, many experienced breathing problems and rashes. They stopped the clean up and brought in the state government enforcement agency. It was found that the building had asbestos and many other harmful contaminants. The members of the church were shocked to know that they were dealing with asbestos containing materials and were putting themselves and people in the community at risk for asbestos cancer. Eventually they called in asbestos abatement professionals and they handled the proper removal of the asbestos.
Asbestos Litigation in Tennessee
The widow of a pipefitter from Chattanooga won $1.4 million in an asbestos lawsuit against the manufacturer of asbestos containing plumbing parts. The woman sued North Brothers for providing parts laced with asbestos to her husband’s company. The man, Philip Jackson, worked for 30 years at Combustion Engineering and he was exposed to asbestos for at least 20 of those years. He died from mesothelioma in 2009.
Have You or a Loved One Worked in a Tennessee Industrial Plant?
If so, you should contact your doctor for a complete physical evaluation to see if you have been affected by asbestos exposure. If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer or another illness, the next step is to hire a skilled legal professional who will help you get the mesothelioma compensation you need and deserve.
Families of workers may also be at risk as the tiny asbestos fibers have been known to travel home in workers’ clothing and shoes.
Asbestos Attorneys for Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Contact mesothelioma centers to speak directly with a Tennessee asbestos attorney. Our lawyers have dedicated their practice to helping individuals affected by mesothelioma and their families. We are highly familiar with the laws surrounding asbestos exposure and can help you get the compensation you and deserve.
