Mesothelioma & Boilermakers
Many boilermakers were unknowingly exposed to asbestos fibers, which, when inhaled, can become embedded in the linings of major organs like the lungs, causing the development of serious diseases like mesothelioma decades down the line. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease after working as a boilermaker, The Gori Law Firm can help. We’ve handled claims for thousands of asbestos exposure victims nationwide, and we’re ready to stand by your side in your fight for compensation.
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- Boilermakers faced heavy exposure to asbestos throughout the 20th century, making them vulnerable to developing diseases like mesothelioma years later.
- Various options for pursuing compensation are available to boilermakers suffering from asbestos-related diseases.
- Though the use of asbestos is limited today, older boiler systems can still put workers at risk for exposure.
- The experienced mesothelioma attorneys at The Gori Law Firm can help boiler workers get the compensation they deserve for their suffering.
Mesothelioma Compensation for Boilermakers and Boiler Mechanics
Boiler workers who have developed an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma have multiple options for seeking compensation. Depending on the circumstances, they may even be able to pursue compensation from multiple sources.
If you suffer from mesothelioma, you may be entitled to pursue compensation through the following:
- Mesothelioma lawsuit: In a personal injury lawsuit, you can take legal action against the parties responsible for your asbestos exposure, such as asbestos product manufacturers. Most of these suits end in settlements—sometimes in the millions of dollars.
- Asbestos trust fund claim: Many asbestos product companies filed for bankruptcy after the truth about asbestos’s harmful effects came to light. The courts required many of them to establish trust funds for victims of asbestos-related diseases. These trust funds contain approximately $30 billion combined.
- Wrongful death lawsuit: The families of those who have died from asbestos-related diseases may be eligible to pursue wrongful death lawsuits and seek compensation for their losses.
- VA claim: If your asbestos exposure occurred during active military service, you may be entitled to file a claim for disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA provides health care and monthly compensation to veterans with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Why Choose the Gori Law Firm?
At The Gori Law Firm, our attorneys have extensive knowledge about the industrial sites and Navy vessels in each state where boiler mechanics were known to have been exposed to asbestos. We’re committed to helping our clients make the asbestos connection and obtain compensation for their suffering. Our team can help you:
- Identify all the sources of your exposure
- Identify all liable parties
- Deal with those parties’ insurance companies
- File lawsuits
- File trust fund and VA claims
- Negotiate settlements
- Take your case to trial if necessary
With over 20 years of experience litigating mesothelioma claims and over 100 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have recovered over $4 billion in settlements and verdicts nationwide. We work closely with our clients to provide them with the personal support and resources they need throughout their cases, standing firm in our belief that our clients get the best outcome when our whole team works together.
Millions Recovered for Boiler Workers Exposed to Asbestos
Over the years, The Gori Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for boilermakers exposed to asbestos on the job. Some of the notable settlements and verdicts we’ve recovered for our clients include the following:
How Were Boilermakers Exposed to Asbestos?
Asbestos was a cheap, durable, and heat-resistant insulation material used commonly in the 20th century for giant boilers in naval and merchant ships, industrial plants, factories, power plants, schools, hospitals, churches, apartment buildings, and more. Asbestos insulation encased the boilers themselves. The material was also a common component in turbines, pipes, valves, gaskets, and door seals. It was prevalent in every part of boiler rooms, engine rooms, and pipe networks.
Some products that commonly used asbestos before the 1980s include the following:
- Asbestos blankets
- Boiler doors
- Concrete
- Floor tiles
- Boiler insulation
- Pipe insulation
- Adhesives
- Gaskets
- Wraps
- Liners
According to the EPA, workers could be exposed to asbestos in contaminated automobiles whenever they removed a brake disk, drum, clutch cover, or wheel from the vehicle. Asbestos exposure was especially heavy in brake dust.
Boilermakers and other tradespeople often experienced heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos during the construction, installation, service, operation, and maintenance of boiler equipment. They also worked in confined spaces with low ventilation, increasing the concentration of asbestos fibers in the air.
The following are some of the manufacturers that have been held accountable so far for exposing boiler workers to asbestos:
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Combustion Engineering
- Foster Wheeler
- Kewanee Manufacturing Company
- Riley Stoker
- Cleaver-Brooks
- General Electric
- Westinghouse
Who Is Liable for My Exposure as a Boiler Worker?
Numerous parties could be liable for your exposure to asbestos as a boiler worker. The identity and number of responsible parties will vary based on the details of your case. Liable parties could include your asbestos product manufacturers, asbestos mining companies, property owners, contractors, and more.
Many companies manufactured, distributed, and used asbestos-containing materials for boilers despite knowing about the dangers the mineral posed. As a result of this negligence, boilermakers may be able to hold asbestos companies legally responsible for their diseases.
Is Asbestos Still Used in Boilers Today?
Though asbestos components have been phased out in new boilers, older boilers still pose the risk of legacy exposure. Federal regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency since the 1970s have increasingly restricted the use of asbestos. In 1975, the EPA specifically banned asbestos installation of friable asbestos pipe insulation and block insulation on facility components like boilers and hot water tanks. However, older boilers likely contain asbestos components, putting boilermakers at risk for exposure.
How Much Is My Boiler Worker’s Mesothelioma Case Worth?
The amount you could receive in a settlement or other claim depends on the individual factors of your case–an experienced attorney can help estimate the value of your case. Though each case is unique, many mesothelioma settlements reach millions of dollars.
The types of damages you may be eligible to receive can include economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages; non-economic damages, like pain, suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of society; and punitive damages, which aim to punish the defendant when you can prove intentional, fraudulent, or negligent conduct.
Contact The Gori Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease after being exposed to asbestos as a boilermaker, contact The Gori Law Firm today for a free consultation. Our mesothelioma attorneys can review your case, explain your compensation options, and help you file a claim. We’ll even make a donation to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation if you allow us to review your case.
Call our team today at 618-659-9833 or contact us online.
