U.S. Coast Guard Asbestos Exposure Lawyer in Greensboro NC

Are you suffering the consequences of asbestos exposure from serving in or working for the U.S. Coast Guard? Coast Guard veterans, civilian workers, and their families may have been exposed to asbestos, a frequently used but dangerous substance found in many building and shipping materials. Prolonged asbestos exposure can lead to deadly conditions, including mesothelioma, cancer, and asbestosis.

Ward Black Law is ready to determine whether you could be entitled to compensation for your asbestos exposure in the Coast Guard. Our experienced attorneys have represented numerous military service members who served their country bravely only to contract a deadly disease years later. We will fight for the maximum compensation and accountability you need and deserve.

Contact Ward Black Law today for a free and confidential case review with a North Carolina Coast Guard asbestos lawyer.

Why Should I Choose the Greensboro Asbestos Attorneys at Ward Black Law?

Ward Black Law has represented over 1,000 North Carolinians seeking compensation for asbestos exposure. We understand how devastating a diagnosis of mesothelioma, cancer, or other asbestos-related condition can be for you and your family. You deserve a legal advocate who will fight for justice and accountability after all you’ve done to safeguard our country.

This battle will not be easy. Our Greensboro asbestos attorneys can stand by your side from day one and help you with the following:

• Gathering the necessary service and medical records to substantiate your claim
• Advising you on all your legal options for seeking compensation
• Filing a detailed claim against the companies that exposed you to asbestos products
• Seeking compensation from other sources if available

How Are Coast Guard Veterans at Risk of Mesothelioma?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is resistant to heat and corrosion. Because of this, government and private industry frequently used asbestos in various goods and materials, including building and shipping materials, furnaces, automobiles, fabrics, and pipes.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by regular use, repair, or demolition, tiny fibers are released into the air if proper countermeasures are not in place. If someone inhales these fibers, they can become lodged in the mesothelium, a protective membrane that lines internal organs like the lungs, heart, and stomach. Over time, the lodged fibers can cause inflammation, leading to a rare type of cancer called mesothelioma.

According to Coast Guard records, hundreds of cutters built before 1991 are known to have asbestos-containing materials, including thermal installation and floor tiles. Many cutters constructed before 1991 were still in operation from 1990 to 2017. Coast Guard members would have been routinely exposed to asbestos while working and berthing on these cutters. These service members may be at greater risk for developing mesothelioma from inhaling asbestos fibers from the cutters.

High-Risk Asbestos Coast Guard Occupations

Coast Guard veterans who frequently worked with or around asbestos-containing materials may be at greater risk of developing asbestos-related conditions like mesothelioma. In particular, veterans who served during World War II or at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, where many cutters were built and repaired, are at particularly high risk.

Coast Guard occupations that may have been exposed to asbestos include:

• Shipyard workers 
• Boiler and engine room workers 
• Insulators 
• Plumbers 
• Electricians 
• Welders 

Filing a Coast Guard Mesothelioma VA Claim

Veterans who experienced asbestos exposure while in the Coast Guard and later developed an asbestos-related condition like mesothelioma can file a claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To receive benefits, the veteran must provide evidence showing that they were exposed to asbestos during their Coast Guard service and developed an asbestos-related condition as a result.

Because conditions like mesothelioma often take decades to develop and present symptoms, gathering the evidence necessary to prove a causal connection between your Coast Guard service and mesothelioma can be a significant challenge. For example, the VA lists the following sources that can provide evidence of asbestos exposure for Coast Guard veterans:

• Permanent duty assignment orders for a Coast Guard cutter constructed before 1991
• A career summary list of all permanent duty assignments that includes a cutter built before 1991
• Coast Guard service treatment records that show a permanent duty assignment on a cutter built before 1991
• Military service records from the National Archives showing a permanent duty assignment on a cutter constructed before 1991
• Military service records from the Coast Guard Military Records Section showing a permanent duty assignment on a cutter constructed before 1991

Our experienced Coast Guard asbestos exposure attorneys are ready to help you locate and present the evidence necessary to prove the link between asbestos exposure on Coast Guard ships and mesothelioma or other deadly diseases and conditions. With a lawyer’s assistance, Coast Guard veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma can receive medical and monthly income benefits.

Who Else Is Liable for Coast Guard Asbestos Exposure?

The companies that manufactured and sold asbestos-containing materials knew of their carcinogenic properties but failed to warn consumers of the dangers. According to research in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, these companies recognized the dangers of asbestos as early as the 1930s but then tried to disguise the link between asbestos and cancer, even after experiments in the 1940s found cancer in mice exposed to asbestos.

When a company manufactures, distributes, or sells a dangerous product to the public, victims injured by the product can hold the company liable for damages. Likewise, Coast Guard veterans who contracted mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure from the dangerous materials these companies sold to the military can also seek compensation from those companies for their medical expenses, lost earnings, and diminished quality of life. Potential sources of additional compensation include asbestos trust claims and claims against solvent manufacturers and distributors.

Our attorneys can help you explore all your legal options for pursuing money from parties responsible for your asbestos exposure while you served in the Coast Guard.