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West Virginia Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma in West Virginia

West Virginia Mesothelioma LawyerLocated primarily in the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia is famous for its thick forests and abundant natural resources. The Mountain State, as West Virginia is affectionately nicknamed, conducts nearly 15% of the nation’s coal production, and is also home to booming industries in manufacturing, mining, steel, and power. These industries have high incidences of asbestos use, putting West Virginia in the top five states for asbestos litigation. Exposure to asbestos, a heat and fire-retardant material, can cause mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer.

While the symptoms of asbestos related illnesses do not typically show until years later, anyone exposed to asbestos on the job can be at risk for developing these illnesses. The lawyers at MesoLawyersCare have successfully handled legal claims for individuals and their family members exposed to asbestos at worksites across West Virginia. The following five West Virginia worksites are examples of places that have presented an elevated risk of asbestos exposure:

1. Weirton Steel – Weirton, WV

Wierton Steel was a large steel mill founded in 1905 by Ernest T. Weir and James Phillip. The mill was built near Hollidays Cove, as the cove supplied the water necessary for steel production. During WWII, Wierton Steel produced record amounts of steel to aid in war efforts. After the war, however, the demand for steel decreased. Weirton Steel continued production until 2003 when the company filed for bankruptcy, and then sold to ArcelorMittal. Equipment used at the steel mill would reach extremely high temperatures. Asbestos was used as insulation on the equipment.  Cements, as well as gaskets and packing, were other types of asbestos materials used for the equipment to function properly.  As the machinery aged and was worked on, particles of asbestos became airborne and were then inhaled by workers. Inhalation of airborne asbestos can cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma.

2. Allied Chemical – Moundsville, WV

In 1920, Allied Corp. was formed focusing on chemical, aerospace, automotive, and oil and gas industries. After WWII, Allied expanded to manufacture other products including refrigerants and even plastic dinnerware—the company changed its name to the Allied Chemical Corporation in 1958. Over the years Allied Chemical further ventured into the gas and oil business, and later acquired Honeywell, taking that name. Allied Chemical’s involvement in various manufacturing and production meant they used asbestos in their equipment to protect against corrosion and high temperatures. Asbestos was used equipment such as furnaces, pipes and pumps, valves, gaskets, cement, and insulation. Workers who worked with or repaired and maintained equipment and buildings at the Allied Chemical facilities were at risk of exposure to asbestos.

3. DuPont Washington Works – Parkersburg, WV

The DuPont Washington Works site is DuPont’s second largest manufacturing facility in the world. The 1,700 acre DuPont Washington Works site opened in 1948 and manufactures products for construction and auto industries. Presently, the site also develops materials that are used in consumer products such as toothbrushes and sports equipment. Employees and contractors at the DuPont Washington Works worksite were specifically exposed to asbestos while working with manufacturing equipment that contained or was insulated with asbestos. DuPont, like many other manufacturing companies, failed to take protective measures and warn employees and contractors of the dangers of asbestos, which left many employees exposed to fatal levels of asbestos. Companies that made and sold the asbestos materials also failed to adequately warn about asbestos dangers.

4. Union Carbide – Institute, WV

Union Carbide, a chemical plant that manufactured chemicals used for antifreeze in cars, was founded in 1917.  The company quickly expanded by acquiring other chemical producers. During the Cold War, Union Carbide was involved in rocket research and development, specifically developing plastics, rocket motors, and liquid fuels. Union Carbide has faced scrutiny for exposing workers and others to dangerous substances, including asbestos. For a time, Union Carbide mined asbestos and manufactured asbestos products. As with many chemical plants dealing with flammable chemicals, asbestos was used in equipment for its insulating and sealing properties. From mining to working with asbestos containing equipment, many workers at Union Carbide were exposed to harmful levels of asbestos.  Union Carbide asbestos was also used in many spackling compounds and paints.

5. John E. Amos Power Plant – Winfield, WV

Owned and operated by Appalachian Power, the John E. Amos Power Plant is a three-unit coal-fired power plant built in the 1970s. The plant continues to provide electricity for nearly two million homes. Like many power plants, electricity at the John E. Amos plant is generated by boilers—water is heated by coal to nearly 1,000 degrees and the steam created is used to power windmill-like turbines. Power plants built prior to the 1980s commonly used asbestos as insulation.  The asbestos was typically used on high-heat equipment in order to insulate the machinery. The harmful effects of asbestos typically do not show until years later, so many former workers from the John E. Amos power plant remain at risk of developing asbestos related illnesses.

The attorneys from MesoLawyersCare have recovered more than $10 billion dollars for people diagnosed with mesothelioma nationwide. Our firm has successfully represented workers exposed to asbestos at worksites throughout West Virginia. For more information or a free consultation with our attorneys, fill out the form on this page, start a live chat now with one of our representatives, or call 1-888-568-1177.
 

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Did You Know?

  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The highest award of compensatory damages ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $30.3 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The largest punitive damages verdict ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $18 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are more than 50 bankruptcy trusts accepting claims to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are many “asbestos dockets” that permit living mesothelioma patients to obtain a jury verdict in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, more than 2000 mesothelioma cases were filed in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In some mesothelioma cases, settlements can be obtained in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Thousands of different companies have been defendants in mesothelioma cases over the past 40 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma cases, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 75.7 months, or over 6 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 73.8% were living after 3 years, and 65.3% were living after 5 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 64% were treated with HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 303 pleural mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 18.4 months.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of pleural mesothelioma patients, 73.1% were still living after 1 year, and 22.9% were still living after 3 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, the largest number of mesothelioma cases were filed in the following 10 courts: (1) Madison County, IL; (2) Cook County, IL; (3) St. Louis, MO; (4) Los Angeles, CA; (5) New York, NY; (6) Philadelphia, PA; (7) New Castle County, DE; (8) Middlesex County, MA; (9)Middlesex County, NJ; (10) Kanawha County, WV.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The states with the largest number of diagnosed mesothelioma cases are: New York, New Jersey, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are about 3000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 1 in 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 80% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 22% of all mesothelioma cases occur in women.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    A history of asbestos exposure can be found in more than 80% of mesothelioma cases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 30% of all mesothelioma patients in the United States were exposed to asbestos in the military.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by laundering, or other household contact with, work clothing contaminated with asbestos.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by work with (direct exposure) or around (bystander exposure) asbestos-containing products.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The average time between a person’s first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (latency period) is more than 40 years.
 

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Contact MesoLawyersCare Now

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact us to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve from the billions of dollars in asbestos trust funds available now for qualified asbestos victims. With just one call, you can put all our experience and success to work for you.

We have represented thousands of victims of mesothelioma and their families in virtually every State in the country and in decades of work have recovered billions of dollars in financial compensation for our clients.

Call us now at 1-888-568-1177, fill out the form on this page or chat with a live person. The consultation is free and it costs nothing upfront to hire the lawyers behind MesoLawyersCare. We only get paid if you collect a settlement or verdict and you will never receive a bill from us.

 

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