South Carolina Navy Veterans: Asbestos Exposure Could Be The Cause Of Your Illness

By Author: Alyssa Weiss
Total Articles: 3
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In South Carolina, many Navy veterans were exposed to asbestos while serving decades ago; some of those veterans have developed mesothelioma; however, many who got sick have been able to prolong their lives and alleviate symptoms by obtaining proper medical care. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that usually takes decades to develop, but quickly invades the body after it has done so. Some symptoms of mesothelioma are difficulty breathing, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, chronic fatigue, sudden weight loss, and nausea or vomiting.

Asbestos is the only proven cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a mineral that was widely used in industrial settings, construction materials, and consumer products. Persons who worked in shipyards and other industrial settings have suffered most from mesothelioma. Asbestos was prevalent for many decades, and millions of persons came into contact with the material, including electricians, auto mechanics, and military personnel.

Speed is critical in most mesothelioma lawsuits. And mesothelioma lawyers can be useful in guiding victims of this illness through the complex legal process ...
... required to get compensation. However, the first priority of mesothelioma lawyers should be getting sufferers the medical help they need; then seeking to hold accountable the corporations or employers responsible for asbestos exposure.

The statute of limitations, grounds for filing claims, available damages and caps on non-economic damages are different from state-to-state. But persons who have fell ill deserve the right to pursue their claims in court. Mesothelioma lawyers can analyze the diagnostic and treatment records to establish the link between asbestos exposure and the victim's cancer, and they can calculate the long-term costs of health care treatment. By gathering and analyzing the stories and life history of the victim the liability of a particular company or employer can be demonstrated. Asbestos exposure in the Navy entitles many veterans of that service to financial remuneration or Veterans Administration benefits.

From the 1940s to the 1970s, asbestos was widely and heavily used in shipbuilding. Although many of the ships built at the end of the asbestos era are still in service, the majority have been out of service for quite some time. There is nevertheless a paper trail. Records of where the asbestos-laden ships were built, which contractors contributed to their construction, and which asbestos-containing products were used in the process still exist. Every member of the Navy has a Form DD-214 listing, which contains information about the person's enlistment, duty stations, ports of call, rank, pay and assignments aboard ship. This information can be used to pinpoint the boilers and turbines or the asbestos-lined auxiliary equipment with which a victim of mesothelioma has had significant contact. Servicepersons from every type of Navy craft, including World War II veterans, Korean War vets, Vietnam vets and those exposed during peacetime/Cold War deployment may have been exposed to asbestos; so, it is important to get tested, even if there are no symptoms.

Sadly, many of the victims of asbestos exposure die before realizing the outcome of a legal proceeding. However, on many occasions a Mesothelioma Lawyer Georgia or a Mesothelioma Lawyer South Carolina can continue the lawsuit as a wrongful death action on behalf of the estate, ensuring that the victims get justice to the fullest extent possible, even in the unfortunate event of their passing away.

For more information please see Mesothelioma Lawyer South Carolina