Savannah Injury Lawyer Manages Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases
Personal injury and wrongful death litigation in Southern Georgia
Mesothelioma is a painful and deadly cancer affecting the linings of various vital organs, most often the lungs. Asbestosis is a chronic lung ailment marked by scarring and shortness of breath, and is often a precursor to mesothelioma. Both conditions are linked to asbestos exposure. Individuals with mesothelioma or asbestosis have the right to compensation if they can prove the source of their exposure, which is usually a contaminated workplace. At Anderson Law Firm, we help mesothelioma victims and their families recover compensation through personal injury and wrongful death litigation. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this disease, contact us and learn about your rights in the matter.
A brief history of asbestos litigation
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral with unique heat-resistant properties that made it useful for a variety of purposes, such as fireproofing and insulation. Its use in construction goes back to the Egyptian pharaohs (at least), as does the knowledge that exposure to asbestos can be deadly. With the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, asbestos saw widespread use as an insulator for steam engines, boilers, and ovens. Eventually, asbestos was used in everything from cement sheets to floor and ceiling tiles to pipes. In the 20th century, asbestos was vitally important in shipbuilding, automobile manufacture, and the construction of skyscrapers. And from the 1930s to the 1950s, it was used heavily in home construction in products such as plaster, glue, caulk, siding, roofing, and even some forms of linoleum.
But along with widespread use of asbestos came a surge in asbestos-related health conditions, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestos litigation began in the United States in the 1930s, but early plaintiffs had little success. Litigation increased in the 1960s and 1970s, eventually forcing the Johns-Manville Corporation, one of the leading defendants in these actions, into bankruptcy. However, as part of the bankruptcy action, Johns-Manville was forced to create a trust to compensate future victims of asbestos exposure.
More and more companies were sued and forced to create trusts before filing for bankruptcy. What changed in these later cases was the perception that companies knew about the dangers and did nothing to protect their workers. Today, victims of mesothelioma and asbestosis can sue the company responsible for their exposure or file a claim with one of the trusts established by a company that is no longer operating.
As the attorney in your asbestos litigation, we carefully research your exposure to locate the proper defendant or trust, and pursue compensation with the utmost determination.
Important deadlines for your mesothelioma claim
In Georgia, there is a statute of limitation for mesothelioma claims that requires you to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of your diagnosis. If you are filing a wrongful death claim for a deceased relative, you must file within two years of your loved one’s death.
Contact our Savannah law firm for mesothelioma and asbestosis representation
If exposure to asbestos has caused you or a loved one to develop mesothelioma or asbestosis, you have the right to compensation. Trust Anderson Law Firm to manage your asbestos litigation with deep concern for your outcome. To schedule a free consultation, call us at 912-328-6491 or contact us online. We are conveniently located at 800 Commercial Court, Savannah, Georgia 31406. We are about a mile west of the Savannah Botanical Gardens and near the Oglethorpe Mall (7804 Abercorn Extention, Savannah, Georgia 31406).
