Mesothelioma Lawyers for Asbestos Claims and Mesothelioma Navy Compensation

Asbestos: A Deadly Threat Below Deck

Asbestos was valued in shipbuilding for its heat resistance, affordability, and strength. It was used extensively in Navy ships built between 1930 and the 1970s. Pipe insulation, boilers, engines, walls, ceilings, floors, and more contained asbestos. As a result, asbestos fibers were released into the air and inhaled by sailors, especially in confined spaces. This constant exposure put them at risk for developing mesothelioma, a deadly cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles.

The Navy’s Use of Asbestos

The Navy relied heavily on asbestos, using it in thousands of parts and materials aboard its ships. Asbestos was found in:

• Insulation around pipes, boilers, steam lines, and hot water lines
• Fireproofing materials
• Gaskets, packing, seals, and adhesives
• Brakes, clutches, and electrical wiring insulation
• Wall and ceiling panels
• Flooring, cement, and plastic fixtures
• Valves, gauges, evaporators, and distillers
• Soap and paint used onboard

Pipe lagging and insulation were especially hazardous, since repairing or removing damaged insulation released large amounts of asbestos fibers into the air.

Hotspots for Asbestos Exposure

Since asbestos was used everywhere on Navy ships, most sailors were exposed to it to some degree. However, those who worked in certain high-risk areas faced greater exposure:

Engine Rooms: These contained boilers, turbines, evaporators, steam pipes, and other equipment insulated with asbestos. The confined space increased inhalation exposure.

Fire Rooms: These contained asbestos insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing materials. Frequent repairs stirred up asbestos.

Machinery Rooms: These contained equipment like pumps and compressors protected with asbestos insulation.

Living Quarters: Asbestos was used in decking, walls, and ceilings. Pipe insulation could release fibers.

Navy Minesweepers: Extremely high asbestos exposure happened on these smaller, congested ships.

Ship Repair Yards: Workers who repaired and refurbished Navy ships also faced asbestos exposure risks.

Our Mesothelioma Lawyers Get Justice for Navy Veterans

If you served in the U.S. Navy and later developed mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may be eligible for compensation through asbestos trust fund claims and lawsuits against private companies linked to your exposure. VA benefits are a separate VA process, and VA.gov explains how to apply. The lawyers at Braver Law are ready to help with your trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Don’t wait to get help. Contact our mesothelioma lawyers today for a free case evaluation and learn how we can help you. Justice and compensation can’t bring back your health, but it can ease the financial burden on you and your family. You served our country honorably – let us serve you now.

The People Behind the Machines: High-Risk Navy Jobs

Hundreds of thousands of sailors served aboard U.S. Navy ships where asbestos exposure was prevalent. Those who worked closest to asbestos-containing equipment and materials faced the greatest risks. These high-risk occupations included:

• Machinist’s Mates: These sailors worked throughout the ship’s engine rooms and machinery spaces maintaining engines, condensers, purifiers, and evaporators insulated with asbestos.
• Boiler Technicians: These workers operated and repaired boilers containing asbestos insulation, gaskets, cement, and other materials. Frequent rip-outs exposed them to asbestos.
• Damage Controlmen: These sailors fought fires and controlled damage from casualties like flooding. Their repair work exposed them to asbestos in piping, boilers, and structural components.
• Construction Mechanics: These workers built, repaired, and renovated ships and facilities. Handling asbestos insulation, roofing, siding, and other materials posed exposure risks.
• Electrician’s Mates: These sailors maintained electrical systems containing asbestos wiring, fuse box, and circuit breaker insulation. Rewiring disturbed asbestos materials.
• Pipefitters: These workers cut, threaded, and fit pipes covered in asbestos insulation. Sawing and sealing pipes released asbestos dust and fibers.

Though these veterans faced some of the greatest risks, asbestos exposure didn’t discriminate. Any sailor serving between 1930 and the 1970s was likely exposed to some degree.

Compensation Options for Navy Veterans with the Help of Mesothelioma Lawyers

Navy veterans diagnosed with an asbestos disease like mesothelioma have legal options to pursue compensation. This can help cover medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses that arise after diagnosis. Compensation may be available from:

Asbestos Trust Funds – Companies that manufactured asbestos set up trusts to pay victims. Veterans may be eligible for significant compensation.

VA Benefits – A separate VA process. Veterans whose asbestos exposure happened during service may be eligible, and VA.gov explains how to apply.

Lawsuits – You can file a lawsuit against companies that made asbestos products used on Navy ships.

It’s critical to explore your options as soon as possible after diagnosis. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you seek compensation so you can focus on your health.

Braver Law’s Mesothelioma Lawyers Help Those Who Served

We understand how to build a strong case by:

1. Pinpointing asbestos exposures on ships using your service records, testimonies from fellow sailors, and our asbestos product databases.
2. Working with doctors to show your disease is linked to asbestos exposure during your Navy service.
3. Determining all potential sources of compensation and vigorously pursuing them on your behalf.
4. Handling negotiations and litigation so you don’t have to deal with complex legal processes.

Let us help you with your asbestos claim. Contact us for a free, no-obligation case review and learn more about how we can help. The time to act is now.

Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos on U.S. Navy Ships