Jacksonville Asbestos Attorney

With a population of nearly 900,000 residents, Jacksonville is one of the largest cities in the country and is Florida’s largest city by population size. As one of the largest and most influential ports on the United States’ east coast, it perhaps comes as little surprise that Jacksonville has an extensive dock and shipyard history.

As the city grew, the military began to use Jacksonville’s desirable geography for Naval bases and air stations. The Navy alone has two bases — Jacksonville Naval Air Station and Mayport Naval Station — that are in operation to this day. Both the shipyard industry and military bases alike have been high-risk areas for asbestos exposure, which is harmful to human health.

Why Is Asbestos Exposure Dangerous?

Before the asbestos bans in the 1970s, asbestos-containing materials were widely used in shipyards, military bases and similar construction sites. The reason asbestos was a prized building material was rooted in the durable, chemically-resistant properties of asbestos.

Unfortunately, these desirable traits turn dangerous when asbestos undergoes abrasion and other processes that cause microscopic fibers to release into the air. Once airborne, the fibers are inhaled or swallowed, which causes several asbestosrelated diseases that include:

• Mesothelioma
• Asbestosis (a chronic lung disease that scars the lungs)
• Asbestos-related lung cancer

Each of these diseases can be fatal and often are, but mesothelioma is particularly difficult to diagnose thanks to a long latency period. It can take decades for an initial asbestos exposure to turn into mesothelioma, but the cancer moves aggressively once the transformation takes place.

A single exposure to asbestos may be all it takes to be diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, and Jacksonville residents have certainly suffered from the harms of asbestos.

Asbestos Exposure in Jacksonville

A Jacksonville veteran recently voiced frustration over the lack of quality treatment for his asbestos-related ailments and PTSD, according to local news reporting. This fact underscores that too many veterans are harmed by asbestos, as nearly a third of the nation’s mesothelioma deaths are suffered by veterans. This statistic is especially alarming in light of the fact veterans comprise
just eight percent of the population.

Shipyards, too, are a high risk jobsite for asbestos exposure. Given Jacksonville’s history of military and bases and shipyards, it may come as little surprise that Jacksonville’s Duval County has suffered over 500 asbestos-related deaths from 1999 to 2013. If you or a loved one has been harmed by an asbestos-related illness that was caused by Jacksonville asbestos exposure, talk to a
Jacksonville mesothelioma lawyer.

Talk to a Jacksonville Mesothelioma Lawyer

The Ledger Law Firm represents victims of a wrongful Jacksonville asbestos exposure or their surviving loved ones. With compassionate legal representation, we build a strong case that proves a victim’s illness was caused by another party’s wrongful exposure.

This helps families receive the funds they need and the justice that is more than deserved after being exposed to the dangers of asbestos. Contact us online today for a consultation to discuss your Jacksonville mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease lawsuit.