Asbestos Exposure: Who is Responsible?

Asbestos exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are released into the air and inhaled or ingested. Asbestos is a mineral found in rocks. Manufacturers discovered that asbestos exhibited superior insulation and fire-retardant properties, and therefore the dangerous substance was used in construction until the 1980s. Although the use of asbestos is banned in many countries, some asbestos use still occurs in the United States today.

When someone is damaged by exposure to a dangerous product like asbestos, they may be entitled to compensation. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos symptoms to manifest, and when they do, asbestos exposure can be responsible for:

• Asbestosis
• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma
• Lung scarring

Those who have been injured by asbestos need to have a way to recover costs for lost income, medical bills, and travel costs related to treatment. Their families need a method to recover resources if a wrongful death has occurred.

Aleks Jakulin, in a Columbia University statistical modeling blog, wrote, “The United States is already the most litigious society in the world. We spend about 2.2 percent of gross domestic product, roughly $310 billion a year, or about $1,000 for each person in the country on tort litigation, much higher than any other country. This includes the costs of tort litigation and damages paid to victims.”

While the amount of money spent on litigation looks high, readers need to realize businesses are formed and set up to limit liability. Corporations are used to make sure that owners are not responsible for business liabilities and shareholders are generally not responsible for company actions.

Limited liability companies are entities that have members instead of shareholders, but like corporations, the members are not usually responsible for acts committed by the company.

Some businesses, like oil exploration firms, use the limited partnership as a preferred business organization method. In a limited partnership, a general partner carries all of the liability exposure, while the limited partners can share in their profits but have no liability exposure. If a corporation is the general partner, however, personal liability is severely limited.

Businesses are set up to avoid personal responsibility and use all available legal means necessary to avoid liability. With that kind of playing field, people who have been injured by exposure to asbestos-containing materials (ACM) should not hesitate to contact an attorney to help them receive compensation for their asbestos-caused health issues.

Asbestos was first mined over 4,500 years ago. In the 1800s, production ramped up but even as early as 1930, asbestos-caused lung problems were discovered. Asbestos use began to decline in the mid-1970s, but before that, there had been growing evidence that asbestos exposure could be deadly.

Anyone with asbestos exposure issues should be reticent about seeking legal counsel. As shown above, companies are organized to protect individual owners, and asbestos risks have been known about and ignored for years.

If you think you have asbestos exposure problems, you need to contact a qualified Mesothelioma Attorney like the Throneberry Law Group. The Throneberry Law Group provides aggressive and compassionate support and representation for asbestos cancer victims. Call an experienced Throneberry Law Group attorney today at (888) 506-1131, or visit them online for 24/7 assistance.