Asbestos Exposure in New Orleans Shipyards
For years, asbestos was used widely in the shipyards and shipbuilding industries of New Orleans and the United States. Asbestos can handle high temperatures and is resistant to fire. Since a fire at sea is a disaster, asbestos was widely used on ships to keep vessels safe. In addition, asbestos naturally resists corrosion and was used for critical ship systems, including insulation.
In fact, workers in shipyards and the shipbuilding industry who worked in the time between World War II and the Korean War were very likely to be exposed to asbestos. Asbestos exposure in New Orleans shipyards is rampant. The material was used to insulate pipes, boilers, incinerators and other areas. In many cases, these areas were not ventilated very well, meaning asbestos dust was trapped in the ship and inhaled by anyone working onboard.
While asbestos was originally used to make vessels safer, it was found to cause a rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma, which often attacks the lining of the lungs, stomach, heart and other major organs. Mesothelioma has a latency period of twenty to fifty years, meaning many people who experienced Louisiana asbestos exposure on ships, in shipyards and in shipbuilding did not know the impact for many decades.
If you worked in this industry and have been diagnosed with cancer, contact Irpino, Avin & Hawkins Law Firm for a free consultation. You may have a legal claim and be entitled to compensation for the injuries you have suffered.
Did You Sustain Mesothelioma From New Orleans Shipyards?
Many shipyards in New Orleans and Louisiana have been linked to asbestos, including:
- Boland Machine/ Shipyard
- American Tankships Corporation
- Buck Kreihs Shipbuilding
- Delta Shipbuilding Corporation
- Delta Southern Shipyard
- Alcoa Steamship Company
- Avondale Shipyards, Inc.
- Pendleton Shipyard
- Todd Shipyard
- Equitable Shipbuilding
- Higgins Shipyard
If you worked for these or any other shipyards or shipbuilding companies, contact a medical expert with extensive experience in mesothelioma for monitoring and treatment. The sooner your mesothelioma is detected, the better results you may be able to get from treatment.
In addition to contacting a medical professional, contact Irpino, Avin & Hawkins Law Firm for a free consultation. There may be multiple liable parties in your case and you may have a claim. Asbestos companies and other parties knew about the dangers of asbestos for years before admitting to the hazards and can be held liable. You may be able to seek compensation for your mesothelioma, even if the shipyard or shipbuilding company where you worked is no longer in business.
Irpino, Avin & Hawkins Law Firm has handled individual mesothelioma claims, and our attorneys have served on steering committees of class action lawsuits. We have the compassion and experience to tackle these challenging claims. Reach out to Irpino, Avin & Hawkins Law Firm today online or by calling us at 800-7500-LAW or 504-525-1500 for a free consultation.