Charlotte Mesothelioma Law Attorneys Blog | North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers

Tracing back to the source of asbestos exposure

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Product Liability on Monday, June 17, 2013.

Many people may already be aware that there are some folks who are more likely to have been exposed to asbestos than others. We have discussed how it was not uncommon for shipbuilders, plumbers, construction workers and soldiers in the U.S. Navy to have been exposed to the toxic material. They are often the ones who become victims of an asbestos-related disease later in life.

However, this is not to say that these are the only people who encountered dangerous levels of asbestos at some point. In fact, reports indicate that victims of diseases caused by asbestos are increasingly from a diverse background that may have nothing to do with working construction or installing insulation. Tracing back the source of exposure for these victims can be a challenge, but it is often crucial in order to secure compensation for victims and their families.

Building owners improperly disposed of asbestos to save $14,000

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Premises Liability on Friday, June 14, 2013.

Every day, there are many business decisions that are made in efforts to save money. Business owners want to cut costs and pull in as much profit as they can. Often times, these decisions have more to do with how a business is run, but sometimes they can have a clear and dangerous effect on workers.

Recently, for example, a company made a decision which put many people at risk of asbestos exposure. Sources indicate that the decision was made simply to save money.

Many parties often to blame for asbestos exposure

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Personal Injury on Monday, June 10, 2013.

Victims of diseases that are related to asbestos exposure are among those who truly understand how difficult their illness can be. Often times, a person who was exposed to asbestos had no idea how dangerous it was to be breathing in the airborne fibers at the time of exposure. They were often never warned about the health risks or provided with protective equipment.

It can also be devastating because it can take decades for a person to start developing symptoms. Often times, diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis are not diagnosed until it is too late for certain treatments to be effective.

Another reason that asbestos-related diseases are so upsetting is there are generally many people who are to blame for the exposure.

Illegal asbestos removal from Nestle plant was in bad taste

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Premises Liability on Thursday, June 6, 2013.

Charlotte residents familiar with Nestle products may have positive associations with the chocolate producer, but workers who were ordered to demolish a factory building that once belonged to the company were left feeling bitter about the illegal process. Not only were the workers not licensed to perform the work, but it was done improperly. It's possible they suffered harmful exposure to asbestos while removing it from the plant.

The current owner of the building pleaded guilty this week to violating the Clean Air Act. The felony conviction could put him behind bars for up to five years when he's sentenced in October. He also faces a maximum fine of $250,000.

Italian billionaire sentenced to 18 years for asbestos violations

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Wrongful Death on Monday, June 3, 2013.

On this blog, we often discuss the price that victims of asbestos exposure are forced to pay. Too often, innocent people are developing mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses because of exposure many years ago. Readers may know now that asbestos is a hazardous material, but for decades, many workers were not aware that breathing in asbestos could cause mesothelioma and other fatal diseases.

Some employers took advantage of this fact. Rather than spend money on protecting workers from asbestos, many employers said nothing and took no action to provide workers with protective gear. Tragically, this negligence ended up costing employees their lives in many cases.

One such negligent employer was recently sentenced to spent 18 years in jail for his failure to protect people from asbestos.

Study looks at why only some countries ban asbestos

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Product Liability on Tuesday, May 28, 2013.

Many people have seen the devastation of diseases that are caused or exacerbated by exposure to asbestos. After lying dormant for decades, asbestos-related diseases often start showing symptoms long after a person can protect themselves from being exposed. By the time a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or other similar disease, it can be too late for treatment to be effective and little can be done to help victims.

For victims of asbestos-related diseases and their families, it can be very frustrating that the fiber is still available. Many countries, including the United States, do not have a comprehensive ban in place that would prohibit the use of the material. If the dangers of asbestos exposure are so well known, why have so many countries failed to ban asbestos or include it on global lists of hazardous substances? One study recently tackled this very question.

Oklahoma tornadoes stir up asbestos concerns

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Personal Injury on Friday, May 24, 2013.

People all across the country have been focused on the devastation that was recently caused by tornadoes that tore through parts of Oklahoma. People were injured and killed as the terrifying storms pummeled the state for hours, leaving a trail of devastation behind. After these natural disasters, it is important for people to focus on staying safe and healthy as the process of rebuilding and cleanup begins.

One of the very real concerns that people should be aware of is the risk of toxic asbestos exposure. This risk can be exceptionally high in areas where buildings and homes have been destroyed and must be cleaned up.

Report: Unsafe building, asbestos poses threat to residents

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Premises Liability on Monday, May 20, 2013.

The owners of a building and employers have a responsibility to make sure a property is safe for employees, tenants and visitors. This means that they must comply with state or federal safety regulations and they must deal with any hazards or violations in an appropriate manner. When a property owner does not take this responsibility seriously, people can get injured or sick. In many of these cases, it can be appropriate to file a premises liability claim.

One of the most common hazards that is present in many building across the country is asbestos. For several decades, homes and other buildings were constructed using asbestos in insulation, roofing and plumbing materials. Property owners must be sure that they are aware of any asbestos that is present and deal with it appropriately. In general, property owners can protect residents and workers by notifying them of the dangers of disturbing asbestos or they can have the asbestos removed responsibly so that the risk of anyone being exposed to the toxic material is eradicated. However, negligent property owners ignore this duty and end up putting innocent people in danger.

Exhibit dedicated to victims of asbestos exposure at plant

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Workers' Compensation on Friday, May 17, 2013.

It can be very frustrating and stressful to get injured or sick at work. Not only can it affect a person's ability to continue working, but certain conditions can end up taking a horrific toll on a person's health. In many cases, it is possible for people in this situation to apply for workers' compensation benefits in order to cover the costs of lost wages or medical bills.

But for workers who learn that an employer could have prevented the injury or illness from ever happening, feelings of frustration can quickly turn into anger. Victims of asbestos exposure often understand this better than many other people.

Mesothelioma victim awarded compensation

On behalf of The Law Offices of Wallace & Graham posted in Personal Injury on Monday, May 13, 2013.

By the time that many people learn that they have developed a devastating illness related to asbestos exposure, they may be retired and workplace illnesses are the last things on their minds. Many victims are also parents and grandparents when they are diagnosed with a disease such as mesothelioma, which means that many people are affected by the tragic news.

Asbestos-related illnesses can take decades to start showing symptoms. It could be 40 years after a person has worked with the toxic fiber when they find out that they may die from the exposure. Many victims are understandably concerned with how this type of diagnosis will affect their loved ones. Suddenly, there are huge medical bills, lost wages and funeral expenses to consider. Instead of relying on family members to deal with these costs, many victims choose to file a lawsuit against a former employer in order to pursue compensation.

North Carolina Mesothelioma Attorneys Wallace and Graham Video

North Carolina Personal Injury Law Blog