National Guard Asbestos Exposure in North Carolina

Have you received a diagnosis for mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another health condition linked to asbestos? Do you suspect your exposure to the toxic substance occurred while you served your country in the National Guard? If so, you could be entitled to an array of compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.

Let a National Guard asbestos exposure attorney with Ward Black Law help you pursue every avenue for financial recovery and accountability for your illness. Our firm has over 30 years of experience to put at your disposal, as well as the knowledge and resources to handle even the most complex cases. What’s more, we won’t charge you a fee unless we win your case, so there’s no risk in demanding justice.

If you’ve become ill after exposure to asbestos while serving in the National Guard, you may be entitled to compensation for your financial expenses and personal suffering. Contact the asbestos National Guard lawyers of Ward Black Law for a free initial case review about how to pursue it.

Understanding Asbestos Exposure in the National Guard

For much of the 20th century, the U.S. military liberally used asbestos materials for construction and equipment parts due to asbestos’s superior heat resistance and insulating properties. Although the U.S. Army and Air Force have spent the past few decades eliminating asbestos from Department of Defense (DOD) facilities and equipment, many National Guard units have not received renovations and upgrades for their facilities and equipment. Generations of National Guardsmen have come into contact with asbestos from old facilities and older equipment inherited from the Army.

Critically, civilian construction companies and industrial manufacturers also used asbestos in a wide range of applications throughout much of the 20th century. Because National Guardsmen often get called upon to conduct search-and-rescue missions or to maintain civil order during widespread natural disasters, many Guardsmen have also been exposed to asbestos while performing duties in damaged or destroyed civilian buildings and neighborhoods.

Asbestos Risks for National Guard Veterans in Greensboro, NC

National Guard veterans who have been exposed to asbestos during their service are at risk of developing life-threatening illnesses as a result. Using and maintaining asbestos-containing materials and components – especially when drilling, grinding, or sawing asbestos-containing materials – can generate dust that contains microscopic asbestos fibers. When inhaled or ingested, asbestos particles can enter the lungs and bloodstream and get lodged in internal tissues, remaining in the body for years or decades.

Trapped asbestos fibers can irritate cells in bodily tissues, causing irritation and permanent tissue damage that results in chronic health conditions such as asbestosis. Asbestos can also damage cells’ DNA, forming cancerous tumors. Symptoms of asbestos exposure typically do not appear for several decades after exposure.

How Was Asbestos Used in the National Guard?

Countless National Guardsmen have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials and products for decades. For example, Guardsmen who trained and performed duty assignments in old facilities may have done so around building materials that contain asbestos, such as floor tiles, ceiling panels, roofing shingles, siding, structural concrete, and insulation. Military equipment used asbestos-containing components for decades, including brake pads, clutch linings, valves, and gaskets. Guardsmen who worked around heavy equipment, especially personnel assigned to the motor pools of National Guard units, frequently became exposed to asbestos dust that broke off from these components as they wore down.

National Guard units have served in several overseas conflicts over the last several decades, including the First and Second Gulf Wars and the War in Afghanistan. Deployed Guardsmen were exposed to asbestos in temporary or prefabricated barracks and buildings in forward operating camps and bases. Servicemembers who served abroad have also said the military used burn pits to dispose of waste and surplus materials, including materials containing toxic substances like asbestos.

Who Is at Risk from Asbestos Exposure from the National Guard?

Guardsmen who performed specific duties or served in particular operations are at significant risk of developing severe illnesses from asbestos exposure. These risks increase when units fail to equip Guardsmen with appropriate personal protective equipment to shield them from toxic hazards in the air like asbestos.

Individuals who served in the National Guard in the following capacities may be at increased risk of developing asbestos-related ailments:

• Guardsmen who served in unit motor pools and as wheel mechanics
• Guardsmen who served as mechanics or aircraft maintenance engineers
• Guardsmen deployed on overseas combat tours, including in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Guardsmen mobilized for natural disasters or states of emergency, such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, or western U.S. wildfires

Seeking Compensation for Asbestos Exposure in the National Guard

If you’ve developed illnesses after receiving asbestos exposure through National Guard service, you could have the right to pursue legal claims to seek compensation for your financial and personal losses. The companies that manufactured asbestos-containing materials and equipment components knew for years that their products could be responsible for the harm they caused you. As such, they or the trusts they set up before declaring bankruptcy might owe you compensation for the following:

• Medical treatment for illnesses or chronic health conditions caused by asbestos exposure, including surgeries, hospitalization, prescription medications, and chemotherapy
• Costs of long-term care and support services you may need if you’ve suffered physical disabilities that prevent you from performing daily activities
• Loss of income for the time you need to take off work to treat your illness or health condition
• Loss of earning capacity and job benefits if your illness permanently disables you from working
• Physical pain and emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to physical impairments or reduced life expectancy

Pursuing claims against companies that supplied asbestos-containing materials or equipment to the government can quickly become complicated. Turn to the attorneys at Ward Black Law to help you pursue your legal claims.