The Golden Gate Bridge, perhaps the signature attraction in San Francisco, illustrates the several types of asbestos exposure hazards in the City by the Bay.
The attractive serpentine rock formations on either end of the bridge contain asbestos fibers. These fibers could easily float into the air. Furthermore, at the time builders constructed the Golden Gate Bridge, they typically used asbestos to waterproof underwater concrete, like the pillars that support the bridge. Finally, the facilities that produced this asbestos-laced cement were laced with asbestos themselves.
At the Throneberry Law Group, our dedicated San Francisco mesothelioma lawyers assist all these victims. We start by evaluating your case, pinpointing the asbestos exposure window, and connecting victims with top-shelf doctors. Then, we gather evidence that supports your claim. Finally, when the case goes to court, we do not stop working for you until we obtain maximum compensation.
San Francisco Asbestos Hotspots
The combination of natural and industrial asbestos exposure has made Northern California one of the nation’s biggest asbestos hotspots. A federal judge recently estimated that, in the early 2000s, asbestos exposure cases made up a quarter of the cases on his docket.
Specific hotspots that poisoned victims in the San Francisco Bay area for decades include:
- Hunters Point Naval Shipyard: This facility was the first dry dock on the Pacific Coast. The Navy used it for shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance. After World War II, activities in the shipyard ranged from ship repair to submarine servicing and testing. In 1990, workers removed 226,000 square feet of asbestos-contaminated materials from twenty-four areas on the site. The Navy stopped cleanup work in 1995, but asbestos particles remain in the area.
- ABC Automotive: For years, ABC and other auto parts manufacturers used asbestos in brake pads, clutch pads, and other components. Asbestos does not conduct heat, so it reduces the temperature of these parts. It also reduces friction. The low cost and relative efficiency of asbestos prompted ABC and other manufacturers to ignore the health risks and continue using asbestos until the 1990s.
- Housing Units: Over half the single-family homes and apartment complexes in San Francisco were built before 1980. These builders used asbestos insulation in attics. They also wrapped pipes and electrical wires with asbestos. They even laced ceiling and roof tiles with asbestos. The people who live in these structures, and the people who demolish and renovate them, are now at risk for exposure.
A San Francisco mesothelioma lawyer can obtain compensation for direct and indirect exposure victims. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages are available as well, in many cases.
Asbestos Exposure Illnesses
Lung diseases, like pleural mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural thickening, are the most common asbestos exposure illnesses. A single microscopic fiber could cause one of these serious and often fatal diseases.
Pleural mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that forms between the heart and lungs. These tumors are very difficult to detect, diagnose, and treat. Therefore, the five-year pleural mesothelioma survival rate is under 10%.
These fibers could also burn tissue in the airways, causing asbestosis. A little scar tissue does a lot of damage. Many of these airways are not much larger than the tip of a pencil. Many asbestosis victims are so frail that they cannot medically tolerate aggressive asbestosis treatment procedures.
Pleural thickening inflames the aforementioned meso lining and other linings of the lung. The inflammation essentially crushes the victim’s lung, making it very difficult to breathe, even while resting.
Count on a Hard-Hitting San Francisco Attorney
Asbestos exposure victims deserve and need substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced San Francisco mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
