Mesothelioma Attorney

Asbestos Exposure After Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina ripped through the city of New Orleans. The incredible force of the winds and powerful tidal surges that occurred that day left schools, homes, and other buildings underwater. The unfortunate location of New Orleans made the flooding even worse, as the city sits on naturally low ground near the Mississippi River.

The sheer power of the tidal surges that slammed into the city ripped apart many homes and caused many others to collapse. While many residents had evacuated the city, some had refused to leave and were either stranded on the roofs of their homes or inside the safe walls of the New Orleans Superdome.

Eventually, the water began to drain and volunteers from around the country swarmed the city to help with the relief effort. Most homes and buildings in the area had been severely damaged by the hurricane, causing their walls to collapse and debris to invade the streets of the city. Many of these homes were built before 1980, meaning that any homeowners or volunteers that came in contact with the buildings were put at risk of asbestos exposure.

Prior to the 1980s, it was not widely known that asbestos was a dangerous material. In fact, asbestos was widely used in over 3,000 construction materials before it was linked to the development of cancer. The fallen houses of New Orleans presented a seemingly endless source of asbestos as homeowners and volunteers began rebuilding.

Today, we understand that asbestos exposure is a direct cause of some devastating forms of cancer. Mesothelioma, which develops in the lungs, has been proven to be caused by the ingestion or inhalation of asbestos fibers.

The homeowners and volunteers that helped rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina may have been unaware of the dangerous that they faced. Manufacturers and employers are responsible for the safety of their consumers and employees. The negligent manufacturers and employers that allowed thousands of people to be exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers need to be held legally liable for the illnesses of those people.

Knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyers understand the negative impact that mesothelioma can have on your life and the lives of your loved ones. If you are facing mesothelioma due to the negligent actions of a manufacturer or employer, it is time to speak with an attorney.

Contact the mesothelioma lawyers of Williams Kherkher for more information about your legal rights as a victim of mesothelioma. Call 866-950-9000 today to schedule your initial consultation.