Memphis has long been hailed as the home of blues and even the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll thanks to a long legacy of renowned musicians. While Memphis may be a national icon based on the legacies of Johnny Cash, B.B. King and Elvis, the city also built extensive industry.

From major highways, railroads and an extensive transportation infrastructure to the city’s important manufacturing presence for the region, the city of nearly 700,000 residents is home to a proud industrial tradition.

This tradition, like many other cities with manufacturing histories, is sadly paired with the reality that many Memphis workers were exposed to the dangers of asbestos.

Why Is Asbestos Exposure Dangerous?

Asbestos exposure was widely used at industrial and manufacturing jobsites until the 1970s, at which point the mineral was banned. The reason for the ban stemmed from the fact that, despite the durable and chemically resistant properties of asbestos, the mineral released its microscopic fibers into the air when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed.

It is at this point that exposed workers or anyone else near the exposure can inhale the fibers, which can ultimately enter the lining of the lungs. In the decades that follow, those exposed workers can develop the following diseases that are potentially fatal:

• Mesothelioma
• Asbestosis
• Asbestos-related lung cancer

Military veterans and so-called blue collar workers are most at risk for developing one of these diseases since these occupations are where the majority of asbestos exposure occurred. Sadly, a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is all too often fatal.

Too many loved ones have mourned the passing of a family member diagnosed with mesothelioma. While improvements in survival rates are being made, the fact remains that the five-year survival of pleural mesothelioma patients is an unsettling 10 percent.

These findings reveal why too many Memphis residents have lost their life due to a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Asbestos Exposure in Memphis

CDC estimates show that Memphis and Shelby County have lost over 250 residents to asbestos-related deaths. Known jobsites that exposed workers to asbestos and could have contributed to these tragic figures include:

• AFR Storage Facility
• Buckeye Technologies
• Chissa Hotel
• Cole Manufacturing Company
• Federal Reserve Bank
• General Motors Corp
• Kroger Company
• Memphis Gas & Electric Company
• United States Naval Station
• Young Insulation Company

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma that you believe was caused by a legally responsible party, talk to a Memphis mesothelioma lawyer today.

Talk to a Memphis Mesothelioma Lawyer

A mesothelioma diagnosis that was caused by a wrongful exposure to asbestos entitles the victim to receive legal compensation. The Ledger Law Firm helps mesothelioma victims pursue this legal right by proving that the exposure was caused by a legally responsible party based on the evidence.

Our team understands that the expenses of mesothelioma treatment and the significant harms the disease inflicts deserve both compensation and justice for victims. Contact us online today to receive that justice and legally deserved compensation by talking with a Memphis mesothelioma lawyer who will protect your legal rights.