According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) more than 10,000 Americans will die each year as a result of asbestos exposure.
Vermont is a state with a long history of industrial growth. Asbestos was once widely used throughout the state in many different industries because of the heat and fire resistant properties. Vermont received tons of asbestos shipments throughout the 20th century and was the second state in the United States to mine asbestos. Many people have spent years working alongside asbestos fibers and asbestos related products, often without their knowledge or any form of protective equipment.
Vermont has had a very long history of mining operations. In 1929, Vermont began mining naturally occurring asbestos deposits located in the Green Mountains and asbestos deposits in Belvidere Mountain. Although mining operations continued until 1993, there are still remaining quantities of processed rock and sediment located around mine entrances that still contain asbestos. Remaining processed materials could pose a health risk for residents living near Eden and Lowell. Vermont mined and processed Serpentine, which produced an abundance of Chrystolite Asbestos. Anyone who was employed in or around mining operations may have been exposed to harmful levels of asbestos. Prolonged asbestos exposure has been linked to Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Residents living close to naturally occurring asbestos sites and construction zones have also been unknowingly exposed to asbestos. The highest rates of asbestos exposure in the state of Vermont occurred between the years of 1920-1980, but cases of new exposures are still being reported. The highest amounts of asbestos were found in the counties of Bennington, Windham, Rutland, Windsor and Lamoille. Asbestos was used extensively in mining operations, paper processing plants, oil refineries, manufacturing plants, power plants, steel mills, iron mills, academic buildings, schools, libraries, museums, retirement homes, residential homes, and in many historic buildings.
Due to the common practice of adding asbestos to nearly every type of construction material prior the 1980’s, most of the buildings constructed in Vermont contained some type of asbestos. Asbestos was also used as an additive in cement mixtures between the 1930’s through the 1970’s. Vermont public water systems may have trace elements of asbestos because pipe insulation and asbestos cement was used to manufacture water pipes all throughout the state.
Vermont Workers and Asbestos Exposure
Workers from many professions have been placed at risk of asbestos exposure. Exposure could have taken place at any time, from the initial construction of a building, to any renovation or during a demolition. The most common professions to suffer asbestos exposure include: insulators, miners, plumbers, pipe fitters, electricians, auto mechanics, sheet metal workers, oil refinery workers and construction workers.
Vermont workers even brought home asbestos fibers on their clothes and in their hair, subsequently exposing their friends and family members to dangerous levels of asbestos. Industries relied heavily on products that contained asbestos. Many workers were exposed to while working at job sites with asbestos-containing equipment. Common pieces of equipment used which contained asbestos particles were: engines, pipe fitting systems, electrical insulation, flooring, ceiling tiles, boilers, pipes, heating systems, furnaces, vents, paints, cement, roofing materials, brakes, drywall and any other heat or fire resistant clothing.
Exposure to asbestos has been proven to cause a variety of fatal health conditions including Mesothelioma and Asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that has been linked to asbestos exposure; it is found in the tissues that surround the lungs, heart and abdomen. Symptoms can take upward to 40 years to manifest making a diagnosis difficult. Vermont currently ranks 47th in the U.S. for Malignant Mesothelioma Deaths. Because of the delayed onset of symptoms, many Vermont residents and workers are currently at risk. Vermont residents exposed to asbestos as far back as the 1940s are still developing asbestos related illnesses today.
Vermont Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Claims
Over the last 20 years, hundreds of people in Vermont have been injured by asbestos. More than 106 Vermont residents have died from asbestos related diseases. 75 of those deaths were caused by Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an incurable disease with a brief life expectancy following a diagnosis.
Symptoms include: cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, anemia, bowel obstruction, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, weight loss, finger clubbing and swelling of the face or neck.
Currently there are two types of Mesothelioma Claims:
- Mesothelioma Personal Injury Claims: where a claim is filed by a person diagnosed with Mesothelioma
- Mesothelioma Wrongful Death: in which a claim is filed by family members of a person who has passed away from Mesothelioma
Victims of asbestos and those diagnosed with Mesothelioma are entitled to compensation in the form of:
- Reimbursement for loss of wages
- Medical expenses
- Funeral cost
- Pain and Suffering
- Physical Impairment
- Disfigurement
- Medical Expenses
- Economic Damages
- Emotional Distress
- End-of-Life Expenses
- Future Medical Bills
- Loss of Income
- Loss of Parental Care
- Loss of Spouse
- Product Liability
- Punitive Damages
- Monetary Compensation
- Any other expenses not covered by a patient’s insurance coverage.
While no amount of compensation can be made for damages caused by asbestos and related diseases, monetary compensation can help with any economic hardship brought on by this terrible ordeal. Monetary compensation can also assist with end of life expenses and make a difference in the lives of family members who are left behind by victims of an irresponsible industry. Asbestos Manufacturers have placed the lives of millions of Americans at risk for the sake of profits. The dangers of asbestos were even withheld from workers despite numerous medical journals at the time placing asbestos at the epicenter of many health risks.
As the number of diagnosed cases of Mesothelioma increased, so did the number of lawsuits in the state of Vermont. The statute of limitations to file an asbestos-related claim in Vermont is 3 years from the discovery of a diagnosed case of Mesothelioma and 2 years from the occurrence of a wrongful death.
Vermont law entitles victims of asbestos exposure to receive compensation for damages related to any asbestos related injury. In order to receive the appropriate compensation, a law firm will need to know: what type of mesothelioma one has been diagnosed with, if the disease can be treated, the dates of exposure, and where the exposure took place. Also any information regarding the types of products used which led to exposure and which companies could be held liable could greatly increase the success of a claim. This information can be attained through the combined efforts of a victim in need of compensation and the law firm that will represent them.
Vermont courts have determined that in the event of a wrongful death, a sibling may seek damages for the loss of companionship, if there are no living parents, spouse or children. Currently, there are no special statutes for asbestos claims in the state of Vermont.
Those responsible for damages are asbestos manufacturers, landlords and any companies that were involved in the shipment of asbestos. There is also a greater liability for companies that willfully employed personnel at worksites that were known to have levels of asbestos, but failed to warn their employees or take appropriate action to minimize health risks.
Here is a list of successful cases that ruled in favor of those injured in the state of Vermont:
$4,079,745 was awarded by Vermont courts to a 76 year-old Vermont Plaintiff, who was diagnosed with Mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos.
$4.2 Million dollars was awarded to a 41 year-old Vermont Construction Worker that developed Mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on the job.
$1.8 Million dollars was awarded to a Vermont Carpenter that developed Mesothelioma at the age of 68.
Vermont Mesothelioma Legal Help
We help Mesothelioma patients and their families make educated decisions about how to start with filing asbestos and Mesothelioma claims. We will also recommend an experienced Vermont Mesothelioma Lawyer or Vermont Mesothelioma Doctor to help you get your claim started.
We have a Mesothelioma Helpline - Toll Free: 800.291.0963 that is available 24/7 to talk with a live Mesothelioma Help Center counselor. We understand that those dealing with asbestos cancers face a number of challenges, including the tremendous costs of Mesothelioma treatment.
We have helped many families get experienced legal and medical help for their Mesothelioma cancer and asbestos cancer cases. We will actually walk you through the process of contacting an experienced Vermont Mesothelioma lawyer that we have worked with to get you the best possible settlement for your Vermont Mesothelioma claim.
Vermont Mesothelioma Lawyer - Experience
Deciding which Vermont Mesothelioma law firm to represent you and your case is very important.
Choosing the right lawyer will also be important to your Vermont Mesothelioma settlement.
Many Mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer cases in Vermont have settled or received multi-million dollar verdicts.
Mesothelioma cases are not restricted to just one state. Filings are usually in multiple states.
Mesothelioma cases are contingency based cases. This means that no money should be paid by you. Mesothelioma lawyers earn their money only if they win you case. You are entitled to an experienced Vermont Mesothelioma lawyer that has a track record of success in Vermont asbestos lawsuits.
Experience - The Mesothelioma Help Center has been helping Vermont Mesothelioma victims and their families for more than 12 years.
Mesothelioma Statistics
- It has been well documented for many years that asbestos exposure can result in the development of deadly cancers, particularly Mesothelioma.
- Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos. It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.
- There are currently about 3000 new cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40.
- About 4,000 People die each year from Mesothelioma. During the 20th century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the U. S.
- More than 700,000 people have filed claims against more than 6,000 Asbestos companies.
- The number of Mesothelioma and asbestos related victims is projected to increase steadily over the next 10 years.
- According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) more than 10,000 Americans will die each year as a result of asbestos exposure.
- One out of every 125 American men who die over the age of 50 will die from an asbestos related cancer.
- Asbestos companies knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure in Virginia for many years before ever warning the public of those risks. It is thought that around eight million people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos over the past half a century, and many more asbestos related cancer cases are expected to be reported in the next 25 years.
We help with you file Mesothelioma and Asbestos-related claims in each state
Call us toll free at 800.291.0963 or use quick contact form located at the right of this page and we will contact you within 24 hours.
