What is Asbestos?

Although it is now widely known that exposure to asbestos can cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, many workers and veterans risked their lives for years without being warned of the dangers posed by these microscopic fibers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has warned that no amount of asbestos exposure is safe. And once exposed to asbestos, a person has a lifelong risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

At Belluck & Fox, our nationally recognized asbestos attorneys have spent more than 20 years fighting for justice for those who have suffered the consequences of asbestos exposure.

Our top rated mesothelioma lawyers at Belluck & Fox have recovered more than $1 billion for asbestos victims and their families, with our work more than once being featured as The National Law Journal’s Largest Verdicts of the Year.

Our Dedicated Attorneys Hold Asbestos Companies Accountable

This dedication to justice on behalf of asbestos victims is driven by our compassion for patients and their families. We understand how debilitating asbestos-related diseases can be, so we do everything we can to take the burden off you, including:

• Meeting with you and your family wherever is most convenient, whether than means driving across New York or flying across the country.
• Conducting a thorough investigation based on your work history and/or time spent in the service. From there, we can track down which asbestos companies were responsible for your exposure.
• Talking with your doctors, financial experts, and former coworkers to gather evidence for your claim.
• Taking your testimony at a place that is comfortable for you, to save you from having to travel, whenever possible.

Learn more about how you or a loved one could be eligible for compensation by scheduling a free case consultation with us today. One of the partners in our firm will personally contact you within 24 hours to discuss your case.

“It must be so rewarding to know that someone was compensated for the negligence and deceit in knowingly allowing Asbestos products to be sold and used. … Please keep doing what you are doing knowing that what you are doing is a worthwhile cause.”

Asbestos Is The Cause of Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestos refers to a group of six fibrous minerals that can be found naturally in the environment, according to the National Cancer Institute. Three types of asbestos have been used commercially:

• White, or Chrysotile
• Blue, or Crocidolite
• Brown, or Amosite

More than 90 percent of the asbestos used in the United States was the white asbestos.

Where Is Asbestos Found?

Asbestos has been used in the manufacture of many commercial and household products, including (but not limited to):

Asbestos products are most dangerous when altered, which may occur when they are cut, sanded, or scraped. Other products, such as cements and insulation pastes, contained raw asbestos and were mixed onsite. All of these processes created asbestos dust that workers inhaled or ingested.

One cloud of dust from asbestos products can contain millions or billions of fibers, and even a small amount of asbestos can cause serious damage. Sometimes, dust could remain airborne for weeks, and sweeping and cleaning up materials could kick up dust again.

What Occupations Put Workers Most at Risk?

Throughout New York and across the country, workers in a variety of occupations were frequently exposed to asbestos. Some of the occupations that put workers at risk of asbestos exposure include:

• Veterans, particularly those who served in the Navy
• Construction workers
• Industrial workers
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Mechanics
• Firefighters
• Boilermakers
• Machinists
• Shipbuilders and shipyard workers
• Welders and metalworkers

There are many asbestos jobsites in New York, Massachusetts and throughout the Tri-State area where workers were exposed to the dangerous material. Even now, with the dangers of asbestos widely known, the fight to completely ban asbestos has been blocked by powerful corporations, and the risk of exposure remains.

What Diseases Are Caused by Asbestos?

Asbestos is a human carcinogen known to cause serious diseases in those who are exposed to it. Workers may inhale or ingest microscopic asbestos fibers, which then lodge in the mesothelium tissue that lines the chest cavity, lungs, abdominal cavity, abdominal organs, heart, and testicles. Ultimately, exposure to asbestos can cause:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Asbestosis
• Pleural plaques
• Many other health problems

Asbestos diseases can develop 15 to 60 years after a person was exposed to the dangerous material. So many workers are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other diseases as a result of being exposed to asbestos in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and after.

Did Asbestos Companies Know of the Danger?

It is a sad but true fact that many companies knew of the dangers asbestos posed but failed to warn workers. At Belluck & Fox, we have conducted extensive research into the history of asbestos use in New York, and we keep detailed records on the companies that could be held liable for harming workers.

Find out which companies have faced asbestos lawsuits.

Learn more about asbestos jobsites in New York.

Read about what types of companies may have put workers at risk.

How Does the Asbestos Claims Process Work?

People who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases have several options for pursuing compensation. They include:

• Filing claims with asbestos bankruptcy funds
• Filing an asbestos lawsuit
• Applying for VA benefits
• Applying for Social Security Disability benefits
• Filing a workers’ compensation claim

At Belluck & Fox, our knowledgeable New York asbestos attorneys will analyze your case and identify every potential source of compensation. Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may take a combination of actions. For example, we may file claims with asbestos trust funds, negotiate asbestos settlements with some defendants, pursue an asbestos lawsuit in court, and help you file for VA benefits in the meantime.

No matter our approach, our strategy will be based on decades of experience and hard evidence to back up your claims.

Learn more about Belluck & Fox, LLP

Let Our Nationally Recognized Asbestos Attorneys Stand Strong for You

If you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related condition, you need a strong and experienced advocate to fight for your rights. Schedule a free consultation with the respected New York asbestos lawyers at Belluck & Fox today to learn how we can help.