In some jurisdictions, legal compensation may be available not only for diagnosed asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, but also for the fear of or future risk of contracting asbestos-induced illness based on earlier airborne exposure. If you have a history of asbestos exposure, especially if it was prolonged or concentrated, contact our firm to schedule a consultation with a skilled asbestos lawyer today.
Nationwide Representation in Mesothelioma Litigation
Fighting the Asbestos Companies for Your Treatment and Compensation
Mesothelioma is a crushing diagnosis. It's the beginning of the end, but there is much that can be one to hold the cancer at bay and alleviate the symptoms. The Throneberry Law Office is committed to aggressive legal advocacy and compassionate, personalized attention for victims and their families. Call 888-356-0346 for a free consultation.
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Based in Illinois, we take mesothelioma and other asbestos disease cases across the United States. Our lawyers will travel to you to assist in getting access to medical care and tracing the sources of asbestos exposure to seek full compensation for the financial and personal loss.
Attorney Michael Jay Throneberry has practiced in mesothelioma litigation since his own father died of this potent cancer in 2004. Contact us today for representation by a law firm motivated by the right reasons.
Legal Redress for Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Injuries
In the past century, thousands of people were exposed to harmful, airborne asbestos fibers in industrial settings and through the use of asbestos-containing products and construction materials. Sometimes the dangerous, often fatal, diseases from breathing or ingesting asbestos fibers are not manifest for even up to 50 years. Even now, people exposed decades ago are developing asbestos-induced illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Courts continue to be choked with asbestos cases. Many large companies named as defendants in asbestos litigation have declared bankruptcy, and the resulting remedies and trust funds set up for claimants are sometimes inadequate. However, this does not mean victims have no legal recourse. If you have been exposed to asbestos to your physical, mental or economic detriment, consult an experienced attorney at Throneberry Law Office in Wood River, Illinois, to discuss your legal remedies.
RAND Asbestos Litigation Study
The combination of the overwhelming numbers of those exposed and the horrific nature of the resulting injuries created an explosion in asbestos-related legal activity. According to a 2005 RAND Institute for Civil Justice study, over 730,000 people in the US filed claims for asbestos-induced injuries from the 1970s through 2002. The defending businesses and insurers spent more than $70 billion in response, with only 42 cents per dollar going to the injured claimants and the rest going to defense costs and attorneys fees.
RAND calculated about 8,400 entities have been defendants in asbestos litigation. By mid-2004, at least 73 companies commonly named as asbestos defendants had declared bankruptcy.
Potential Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos lawsuits cover a variety of situations and are brought under different legal theories in both state and federal courts. The outcomes vary widely and different laws govern in each jurisdiction.
Many different types of defendants have been targeted including mining companies; manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and marketers; employers; and property owners, landlords and managers.
Product Liability
Lawsuits for asbestos injury are often brought as product liability cases. A product liability case theorizes that a defective or unreasonably dangerous product injured someone, potentially making anyone in the "chain of distribution" liable for that injury. Parties in the chain of distribution can include the manufacturer, material supplier, marketer, seller and distributor. There are several potential types of product liability, including strict liability, breach of warranty, negligence, defective design, civil conspiracy, failure to warn of danger and others.
Premises Liability
In some states, premises liability lawsuits are a potential source of recovery for asbestos injuries. Plaintiffs sue operators or owners of industrial facilities that used asbestos in production, or where asbestos exposure occurred from construction materials. Landlords, property managers and property owners may face liability for exposure in residential and commercial buildings where asbestos-containing construction materials were used, resulting in injury to the occupants.
Workers' Compensation
Workers injured by asbestos in the workplace are usually eligible for workers' compensation benefits. The treatment of occupational diseases in the workers' compensation system varies by state - sometimes more restrictively than other types of diseases and sometimes more generously. Depending on the jurisdiction and the facts, workers may have additional legal remedies outside the workers' compensation system.
Economic Property Loss
Asbestos-containing materials were used to construct millions of buildings. Some lawsuits contemplate the economic loss to property from the asbestos contamination. The plaintiff seeks to recover the difference between the value of the property without asbestos contamination and the amount the property is currently worth with asbestos.
Conclusion
Asbestos litigation can be extremely complex. If you believe you have been or may be harmed by asbestos exposure, you should protect your interests by seeking the advice of a skilled lawyer at Throneberry Law Office in Wood River, Illinois.
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