What Is Asbestos?

West Virginia Mesothelioma Attorney

Asbestos is actually a set of 6 minerals, which occur together naturally, and has been used for hundreds of years as an insulator against heat and as a sound-absorbing material. It has been used as electrical insulation for wires and also as insulation in buildings. Asbestos is a substance that is very fibrous, and it is usually mixed with cement or woven into a fabric. The fibers are microscopic and naturally just emanate from the mat or fabric that they are woven into, dispersing into the air.

The prolonged inhalation of these microscopic asbestos fibers is known beyond any doubt to cause mesothelioma, a form of cancer. Many countries have banned the use of asbestos and all products using the substance completely yet the United States has not yet completely banned its use. The Environmental Protection Agency promulgated the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule in 1989, which would have eliminated asbestos completely from market use, but the rule was overturned by the courts in 1991.

Longest Running Mass Tort in US History

The federal legal system has handled a large majority of the asbestos related litigation, and many of the cases have been handled on a mass tort claim or class action lawsuit basis. In fact, asbestos litigation is the longest running and most costly tort litigation in the history of the United States, involving over 1,000,000 plaintiffs and over 8,000 different defendants. The number of claimants is most likely set to rise and even double, due to the fact that the twin towers which collapsed in the tragedy of 9/11 in New York City was said to have contained large quantities of asbestos that rained down on the city in the aftermath.

If you or a loved one has been stricken with mesothelioma, please consider scheduling a free consultation with the West Virginia mesothelioma attorneys at Hartley Law Group, PLLC in West Virginia. Our attorneys have been litigating asbestos related mesothelioma cases in West Virginia for over 38 years, recovering millions of dollars for our clients and their families. We are here to fight for you. Contact us now.