Eugene Mesothelioma Attorney

Industrial, mining, and other workers in Eugene were fully aware of many health and safety risks. Industrial workers knew about the risk of hearing loss, repetitive stress injuries, and falls. Miners knew about the risks of inhaling silica dust and cave-ins. But these workers did not know that the risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos exposure injuries may have been even worse. Oregon has one of the highest mesothelioma fatality rates in the country.

When victims are blindsided by serious illness diagnoses, the assertive Eugene mesothelioma attorneys at the Throneberry Law Group roll up their sleeves and get to work. Our team employs proven methods to obtain maximum compensation for your serious injuries. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available as well.

Metalworking and marine operations are the backbone of the economy in Eugene. These industries also have very high asbestos exposure rates.

Metal workers shape metal into everything from tiny pipes to large skyscraper frames. Specific metalworking trades include:

• Welders,
• Forge men,
• Foundry workers,
• Ironworkers,
• Blacksmiths,
• Sheet metal workers,
• Structural metal craftsmen,
• Tinsmiths,
• Smelters, and
• Metal lathers.

These individuals work in branches of the U.S. military and in the private sector. Areas of the private sector that employ metal workers include steel mills, factories, industrial plants, and the shipbuilding industry.

Cutting, sawing, or even touching asbestos-treated products released the toxic, microscopic asbestos fibers into the air, where they were inhaled or ingested by workers. Asbestos-laden pipes and insulated walls also exposed these workers to these fibers.

Anything that loosened those products released more asbestos fibers. The welding of metal sheets, the installing of metal studs, and drilling into cement often put more asbestos into the air. Metalwork that was performed on Navy ships unleashed streams of asbestos fibers.

The sailors aboard naval vessels also risked asbestos exposure. Mostly to reduce the risk of fire, shipbuilders used asbestos in boiler rooms, ammunition dumps, and floor tiles. The Navy continued using asbestos until 1980.

Oregon has one of the highest numbers of lawyers per capita in the country. But not all lawyers are good Portland mesothelioma attorneys. These matters are medically and legally complex.

Mesothelioma, which is usually a form of lung cancer, has at least a 50-year latency period. After so much time passes, it’s difficult, but certainly not impossible, to pinpoint the exposure source. That’s especially true if the victim worked in multiple at-risk industries, like in a metal shop and a dry dock, or if the victim has a pre-existing risk, like smoking.

Legally, these victims have multiple options. Each option has pros and cons. Speed is a good example. Bankruptcy victim compensation fund claims, if available, may be the fastest route to fair compensation. However, more money is usually available in a civil claim, which takes much longer to resolve.

Asbestos exposure victims need and deserve significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Eugene mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start fighting for you.