Find Out if You're Eligible for Compensation
Tennessee is not without its share of asbestos issues. The state has numerous industries that place thousands of workers at risk for asbestos exposure. Many today are exhibiting issues due to their asbestos exposure in the form of diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lung (pleura).
Jobs with Asbestos Exposure in Tennessee
The International Paper Company is headquartered in Memphis and has used asbestos in its daily operations for decades. Millions of employees are at risk for asbestos exposure, as well as the eventual development of mesothelioma or asbestosis. A number of other paper companies have also used asbestos and placed thousands of workers at risk for exposure to the toxic fibers. A study conducted in 2002 showed that over 35 percent of workers in the paper industry have been exposed at some point when working for at least a year.
Tennessee is also home to one of the largest public utility companies in the United States. The Tennessee Valley Authority generates and produces electrical power to millions of businesses and homes since 1933. The power plant employs thousands of workers and has placed those people at risk for asbestos exposure. Asbestos is used to insulate pipes and pipe fitters. It is very possible that the materials utilized to construct the power plant also contain asbestos.
Where You May Have Been Exposed to Asbestos in Tennessee
Power Plants
- Watts Bar Nuclear
- Tennessee Valley Authority
Asbestos-Related Deaths in Tennessee
Since 1979, over 600 people in Tennessee have died from an asbestos-induced disease. Over 200 of the total have died from mesothelioma. Many of the deaths were concentrated in urban areas in Tennessee. The state is ranked 24th in the nation for the number of mesothelioma cases.
Legal Resources for Tennessee
Tennessee statute allows you a year to file a personal injury claim based upon proof of negligence on behalf of the asbestos manufacturers and/or your employers. Due to mesothelioma's latency period from the time of exposure to the time you are diagnosed, this particular statute may not apply.
The statute of limitations in the state of Tennessee for an asbestos case can be different from personal injury statutes. Even if your case has merit, missing the window of opportunity to file within the set statute of limitations can leave you unable to file your claim. It is advised that you contact us and let us help you determine if you have a potential case and to draft a time-line for your lawsuit of when your statutes are over.
