Asbestos Exposure May Have Caused Your Mesothelioma

asbestos sign on fence Asbestos was used in a variety of industries until the mid-1970s when it was discovered that exposure to asbestos caused workers to contract mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that is often fatal.

Asbestos was used as insulation in a variety of products across many industries, exposing many workers to this harmful mineral when they did not know the risks. Typically, workers are not diagnosed until decades after they stop working with asbestos-containing materials.

Workers who spent time in the following industries are at greater risk of having been exposed to asbestos:

Construction: From 1920 to 1980, workers in all construction-related trades were at risk of exposure to asbestos because the majority of structures that were built contained asbestos in the flooring, roof, walls, pipes and insulation. Outside workers such as bulldozer operators and crane operators were also at risk because asbestos materials were cut on jobsites.
Firefighters: Because firefighters often enter older asbestos-containing structures on the job, they are often exposed to the material. Their masks protect them from exposure during a firefight, but they may not be wearing such protective gear when entering a building to investigate once a fire is put out, placing them at risk of exposure.
Military: Prior to the mid-1970s, all branches utilized asbestos in barracks, tanks, airplanes and ships. Those working and living in these areas were exposed and they may have exposed others to secondhand asbestos, as particles may have clung to their clothing.
Shipbuilding: Before the mid-1970s, every ship utilized asbestos for piping insulation and other purposes. Workers may have cut or sanded down asbestos materials, sending the harmful particles into the air and exposing everyone working on the project.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it may have been caused by workplace exposure to asbestos. Call the mesothelioma attorneys at Schmidt Kramer to find out if you are entitled to compensation.

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Schmidt Kramer, P.C.partner Gerard C. Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.
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$4,034,000.00 Personal Injury
Yesterday a Judge in Union County (Lewisburg, PA) awarded a couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania, over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting.You might ask yourself, how does a turkey hunting accident end up with that type of verdict? In order to understand the verdict you would have to know our clients. They are good people who had their life wrecked. Plus, you would have to know the defendant, who should not have been hunting with a gun because he was prohibited after a previous criminal conviction.It is a good verdict, because the Judge was able to do two things with his decision. First, he communicated to two very good people that their losses were something that those of us on the outside could appreciate and value. Mike Hobbins (our client) is a 51 year old guy who lost his sight because a convicted felon --who should not have even possessed a gun-- went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger. The Judge accepted the financial loss Mr. Hobbins' suffered, but listened closely to the evidence of less tangible losses. When Mike broke down on the stand, because his daughter would end up walking him down the aisle at her wedding, as opposed to how it was supposed to go, the Judge was listening. When Mike could not keep it together, because of how emasculating it was for him not to be able to provide financially for his family, the Judge was listening. It was facts like these that the Judge cited to support the $2,000,000 award for non-economic damages. Second, the Judge wanted to send a message. Union County is a hunting county. Many of the residents hunt there, and people from outside the area come to Union County to hunt. It was my impression, from the Judge's statements as he rendered his decision, that he wanted to send a message to the people in Union County to protect them in their sport. The rules in place to restrict people convicted of crimes not to have a gun are not to be broken. Hunting is serious and you have to identify your target before you shoot. When you turn your back on the rules that are set to provide safety in a sport, you risk being an example. Here, the $1,000,000 punitive damage award sends that message loud and clear.When it really comes down to brass tacks, the right action was taken against a Defendant who may never truly appreciate what kind of impact his reckless choices caused.At Schmidt Kramer, we are injury lawyers. That means we work with people who were hurt in car accidents, who were hurt by the neglect of nursing homes, or those that were seriously injured because of the reckless, thoughtless acts of others. If you or a loved one have been injured in Pennsylvania, we may be able to help. While the verdict yesterday is not one that is representative of every case we do, it does show that serious and dedicated representation can bring good results.Joe ChapmanJanuary 18, 2013
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$1,200,000.00 Personal Injury
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Did On-The-Job Asbestos Exposure Cause Your Mesothelioma?