Asbestos & Mesothelioma Law Blog
Ray Albright, a former Tennessee state legislator, recently revealed his mesothelioma diagnosis almost four decades after exposure to asbestos while working as a boilermaker in a Chattanooga factory to support his family. Sadly, doctors informed him that he only has a few months to live. He and his wife had planned to continue their lives together for decades to come as they raised a family, worked hard, and served the citizens of Tennessee.
According to reports, the victim took a job at Combustion Engineering back in 1953 where he worked for almost two-decades using a bandsaw to cut steel tops for boilers. The victim described the toxic atmosphere he worked in, noting the dust from the job made the air so thick that visibility was extremely limited.
Unfortunately for the victim, he and others at the plant unknowingly breathed in toxic asbestos, an industrial insulation commonly used in various industries because of its heat resistant properties. The former state legislator believes his employer and others knew about the dangers asbestos exposure could pose but did nothing to warn him and others.
“Asbestos was the cause of this,” said Albright. “And, you don’t know it, but forty years later, you find out what you were exposed to was extremely dangerous.” The victim’s analysis is not just an opinion but another example of an all too common occurrence across the country.
Asbestos Companies Knew About Risks for Decades but Failed to Warn
Mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of cancer, typically affecting the thin tissue lining the lungs, which usually takes decades to manifest itself in persons exposed to asbestos. While asbestos has been heavily regulated for many years, those laws came far too late to prevent thousands of victims from developing the deadly cancer.
Although state governments and federal agencies only outlawed asbestos in many applications during the 1970s, that action did not shield asbestos companies and other parties from liability for their negligence. Many asbestos companies already knew for decades about the debilitating toll asbestos could take on workers but did not inform anyone, much less provide safety equipment to mitigate the potential consequences of exposure.
By filing mesothelioma asbestos lawsuits against these negligent parties, victims can hold wrongdoers accountable for their careless actions while also recovering compensation to pay for the medical treatment necessary to fight the disease and live a more comfortable life. Additionally, filing lawsuits against asbestos companies responsible for your mesothelioma can help recover for loss of income or services your family relies on for support.
Nationwide Asbestos Lawyers
Because strict time deadlines apply to filing mesothelioma asbestos lawsuits, The Throneberry Law Group suggests contacting one of our experienced nationwide asbestos lawyers as soon as possible after an asbestos cancer diagnosis. Fill out an online contact form with the details of your case and let our dedicated team of attorneys help you and your family get the justice and compensation you deserve.