A mesothelioma diagnosis often comes decades after the asbestos exposure that caused it. Daspit Law Firm helps Galveston County workers, veterans and families identify where that exposure happened and pursue compensation from the companies responsible.
We handle mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer claims on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney fee unless we win. We can come to your home or treatment center, in English or Spanish. Call (281) 748-2044 for a free consultation.
For much of the 20th century, asbestos was used in insulation, gaskets, pumps, boilers, fireproofing and building materials. The Galveston area combined several of the industries that used it most heavily, which is why so many local workers and their families were exposed.
Ship construction and repair on Galveston Island and Pelican Island, along with work on Navy, merchant and offshore vessels, often meant handling asbestos pipe insulation and boiler lagging in tight engine rooms. Seamen and dock workers may also have claims under our maritime and offshore injury practice.
Refineries and petrochemical plants in Texas City and along the Houston Ship Channel used asbestos to insulate high-temperature pipes, heaters and towers. Pipefitters, boilermakers, insulators, millwrights and operators were frequently exposed during turnarounds and repairs. Our refinery and plant accident lawyers know how these facilities operate.
Drywall compound, floor tile, roofing and siding often contained asbestos. Island homes and commercial buildings that are renovated or demolished after storms can still release fibers. Workers in these trades may also have construction accident claims.
Spouses and children of workers were sometimes exposed by dust carried home on clothing, hair and vehicles. These family members can develop mesothelioma too, and they may have claims of their own.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin lining around certain organs. Doctors classify it by where it starts: pleural (lungs), peritoneal (abdomen), pericardial (heart) and, rarely, testicular. Symptoms usually appear 20 to 50 years after exposure, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Asbestos exposure is also linked to asbestosis, lung cancer, pleural thickening and some cancers of the larynx and ovary. Common warning signs include:
• Shortness of breath or chest pain
• A dry cough that does not go away
• Fluid around the lungs or abdomen
• Abdominal swelling or pain
• Unexplained weight loss and fatigue
If you worked around asbestos and notice these symptoms, tell your doctor about your work history. Asbestos is one form of toxic exposure; for other chemicals, see our Galveston chemical exposure lawyers.
• Manufacturers of asbestos insulation, gaskets, brakes and building products
• Suppliers and distributors that sold asbestos materials
• Premises owners, such as plants and shipyards, that exposed contract workers
• Equipment makers whose pumps, valves and boilers required asbestos parts
Many of these claims are based on Texas product liability law, including failure to warn. Many former asbestos manufacturers went bankrupt and set up trust funds to pay victims. A claim against those trusts can usually be filed in addition to a lawsuit against companies that are still operating.
Chapter 90 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code sets medical report requirements for asbestos and silica claims. Most asbestos cases filed in Texas state courts are transferred to a statewide multidistrict litigation pretrial court before returning to the original court for trial.
Texas generally allows two years for personal injury and wrongful death claims, but special accrual rules apply to asbestos cases, so the deadline is usually tied to diagnosis or death rather than the date of exposure. Because these rules are technical, contact a lawyer soon after a diagnosis.
Texas courts require proof that exposure to a defendant's product was a substantial factor in causing the disease. Work histories, coworker testimony, product records and expert opinions are used to build that proof.
• Medical bills, including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation
• Travel and lodging for treatment at specialized cancer centers
• Lost income and loss of earning capacity
• Pain, mental anguish and physical impairment
• Asbestos bankruptcy trust payments
• Wrongful death and survival damages for families
If your loved one has passed away, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim in Galveston, and the estate may bring a survival claim for the losses suffered before death.
Founding attorney John Daspit previously worked as an insurance defense lawyer and spent thousands of hours on litigation arising from the 2005 BP Texas City refinery explosion. He understands how industrial companies and their insurers defend large claims.
We build a detailed history of your jobs, ships and job sites, identify the products you worked around, and file both lawsuits and trust claims where appropriate. We understand that time and energy are limited, so we come to you.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, call (281) 748-2044 or request a free consultation. We are available 24/7, and there is no fee unless we win.
Mesothelioma usually develops 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos. That is why many people diagnosed today were exposed in the 1950s through the 1980s at shipyards, refineries, plants or construction sites. Because of this long delay, Texas ties the filing deadline in asbestos cases to diagnosis or death rather than the date of exposure.
Often, yes. Many asbestos manufacturers that went bankrupt created trust funds to pay current and future victims. You may be able to file claims with several trusts and also bring a lawsuit against companies that are still in business. A lawyer can match your work history to the products and trusts involved.
Texas generally allows two years, but asbestos claims have special accrual rules. In most cases the clock is tied to the date of diagnosis or death, not the date you were exposed. Wrongful death claims by family members generally must be filed within two years of the death. Speak with a lawyer promptly to protect your rights.
Yes. Under the Texas Wrongful Death Act, a surviving spouse, children and parents may seek damages for lost support, companionship and emotional suffering. The estate may also file a survival claim for medical bills, pain and suffering the person experienced before death. Family members harmed by secondhand exposure may have their own claims.
Yes, in many cases. Veterans generally cannot sue the military, but they can often bring claims against the companies that made the asbestos insulation, boilers, pumps and gaskets used aboard ships. Veterans may also qualify for VA benefits, which are separate from a lawsuit or trust claim. Many veterans pursue both.
All too often, accident victims are steamrolled by insurance companies determined to minimize or deny their claims. Don't let this happen to you. Hire us to fight for the compensation you deserve.
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At The Daspit Law Firm, Our Team of Attorneys Handles the Full Range of Personal Injury Cases, Including Car and Truck Accidents, Industrial Accidents, Construction Accidents, Maritime & Offshore Accidents, and Much More.
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