Texas Mesothelioma Lawyers. Texas is home to a large number of shipyards and oil refineries. Thousands of residents have been exposed to asbestos simply by living in certain areas. Between the 1990s and 2008, more than 1,600 Texas residents died as a result of asbestos-related conditions. Residents and workers in Texas face the greatest risk of developing an asbestos-related condition. Asbestos Health Protection Rules require citizens who remove asbestos to be properly licensed or registered.
Residents who develop mesothelioma may wish to sue for compensation, but they must first meet certain medical criteria. Mesothelioma cancer is a very dangerous type of cancer that requires the best medical care. Claimants must also agree to participate in a multiclaim suit. Non-residents are ineligible to file a lawsuit in Texas; rules for oil workers differ slightly.
Because of its proximity to the United States Gulf of Mexico, Texas is known as the home of a large number of shipyards and oil refineries, including ExxonMobil, the country's largest refinery. Due to the constant and intense heat required by these operations, companies have used asbestos for decades to line their equipment and pipes, as well as to require workers to wear asbestos-laden protective clothing. As a result, thousands of Texas residents have been exposed to asbestos, putting them at risk of developing mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
At the same time, an increasing number of residents have been exposed to asbestos simply by living in certain areas. People living near the W.R Grace vermiculite mine truck route were found to be exposed until 1992, when the company decided to stop shipping thousands of tons of asbestos to twenty-four locations across the state. As a result, thousands of people in these areas and along truck routes have developed mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects lung functions.
When asbestos breaks, microscopic fibers are released that become lodged in the human body. They will accumulate, mutate, and even develop cancerous cells and tumors over time. This is a serious problem for Texas residents. Between the early 1990s and the end of 2008, more than 1,600 Texas residents died as a result of asbestos-related conditions, ranking Texas fourth in the country in terms of asbestos-related deaths. When it comes to who is at risk of developing mesothelioma, most doctors believe that Texas oil workers are the most at risk, while residents of Texas, particularly those living near asbestos mines, are also at risk.
Typically, oil workers, particularly those at the ExxonMobil refinery, were subjected to inadequately ventilated working environments and were required to work directly with asbestos due to the material's fire- and heat-resistant properties. To name a few applications, asbestos has been used in clothing, pipes, and boilers.
Furthermore, workers in the numerous ports and shipyards that dot the Gulf Coast face serious dangers. People who work in the Houston area's Barbours Cut Container Terminal, as well as those who work in businesses that operate in and around the Port of Houston, have been extensively exposed to substance. Workers at the Galveston Port and wharves have also been widely exposed, and the majority of them have already filed suit as a result.
In the coming months, even more workers and local residents will be required to take action in dealing with asbestos claims as a result of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008. As a result, Houston residents and workers are among those in Texas who face the greatest risk of developing an asbestos-related condition. Residents in San Antonio and Dallas face similar dangers.
Procedures and Regulations Concerning Asbestos in Texas
To prevent further injury, the state government has enacted a number of regulations as part of the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Rules. Initially approved in 1992 to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure, the laws require citizens who remove asbestos to be properly licensed or registered, including carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. When removing asbestos, these workers must wear special protective clothing.
Medical Criteria for Asbestos-Related Diseases Mesothelioma
Residents of Texas who develop mesothelioma may wish to sue for compensation, but they must first meet certain medical criteria. For example, State Bill 15 distinguishes between claims made by those who have been proven to be impaired by their condition and those that have not, allowing the injured to sue. It does, however, allow unimpaired people who later become ill to sue.
In Texas, How Do I File Mesothelioma Lawsuits?
Between 1998 and 2000, Texas led the nation in the number of asbestos-related lawsuits filed as a result of high levels of exposure. To help unclog the legal system, state legislators imposed strict requirements on people who want to sue. In addition to limiting lawsuits to those who have been harmed as a result of their exposure, the state gives claimants only two years to file a lawsuit, which is known as a statute of limitations. When a patient receives an official diagnosis, the clock starts ticking. Claimants must also agree to participate in a multiclaim suit. Non-residents are ineligible to file a lawsuit. The rules for oil workers differ slightly.
How to Choose the Best Mesothelioma Lawyer in Texas
Mesothelioma cancer is a very dangerous type of cancer that requires the best medical care and thus the need for patent to look for the best legal services that are available to assist in securing the best settlement for the treatment of the disease. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should be aware that you are entitled to substantial compensation to cover your medical treatments and needs.
As a patient, you must be cautious in selecting a Texas mesothelioma lawyer who specializes in this area rather than a general lawyer. Mesothelioma legal services will entail you getting a lawyer who has a thorough understanding of the cancer, its history, and the best compensation plans, which may even cover your family members because they are also potential patients of the disease due to their close interaction and relationship with you. The best mesothelioma lawyers specialize in specific areas of injury law and are more knowledgeable in the case of asbestos-related lawsuits.
You must understand the complexities of this area and be aware that your lawyer or attorney must have expert knowledge of the asbestos milieu, the best and most recent form of disease treatment, and the appropriate investigation to run in order to determine the level of injury.