A Buffalo mesothelioma lawyer can help if you received a diagnosis of an asbestos illness, like mesothelioma. Buffalo was once a major center for the construction, transportation, manufacturing, steel, and railway industries. The city’s economy is now less industrialized, but this past left behind a deadly legacy of asbestos exposure.
If you or a loved one have mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation.
Understanding the full spectrum of illnesses that can arise from asbestos exposure is crucial. These conditions can vary and impact your life in numerous ways. Here’s a closer look at the types of asbestos-related illnesses:
- Mesothelioma: A severe cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Specific to the abdominal lining, this type can cause significant discomfort and complications.
- Malignant Mesothelioma: Known for its aggressive nature, it requires immediate medical attention.
- Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma: A rare form that’s particularly challenging to treat.
- Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer: Often indistinguishable from other lung cancers but directly linked to asbestos.
- Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure: Even indirect contact can lead to serious health issues.
- Environmental Asbestos Exposure: Occurs when asbestos fibers are present in your surroundings.
- Talc & Asbestos Exposure: Common in certain consumer products, leading to unexpected exposure.
- Railroad Asbestos Exposure: Historically prevalent in the railroad industry, affecting workers and their families.
- Other Asbestos Injuries: Various other health problems can arise, underscoring the importance of awareness and early detection.
By recognizing these conditions, you can better understand your rights and the potential avenues for compensation. Stay informed and consult with professionals who can guide you through the complexities of asbestos-related health issues.
Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in Buffalo, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Buffalo Asbestos Facts
- The state of New York had over 15,000 deaths from asbestos-related illnesses between 1999 and 2017.
- Erie County and Buffalo accounted for 1,417 of those deaths, the highest number in the state.
- Several industries in the Buffalo area contributed to deadly asbestos exposure, including chemical manufacturing and steel.
How Does Asbestos Exposure Lead to Mesothelioma?
Asbestos, a mineral found naturally in the environment, poses significant health risks when its fibers become airborne and are inhaled. When these microscopic fibers enter the lungs, they can cause severe damage at a cellular level.
The Process of Damage
- Inhalation: Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can lodge deep in the lung tissue. The body struggles to expel these persistent fibers.
- Scarring and Inflammation: Over time, the presence of these fibers leads to inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue. This condition is known as asbestosis.
- Cellular Damage: The ongoing irritation and scarring disrupt normal cellular processes, potentially leading to genetic mutations.
- Cancer Development: These genetic mutations can trigger the uncontrollable growth of cells, which may eventually result in mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer primarily affecting the lining of the lungs.
Long Latency Period
It’s important to note that mesothelioma can take decades to develop after initial asbestos exposure. This delayed onset makes early detection challenging but underscores the importance of regular medical screenings for those at risk.
In summary, the inhalation of asbestos fibers initiates a cascade of cellular damage in the lungs, gradually setting the stage for mesothelioma to develop even many years after the exposure.
Understanding Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Injuries
When it comes to mesothelioma and asbestos-related injuries, several distinct types and conditions merit attention. Here’s a comprehensive look at these serious health issues:
Types of Mesothelioma
- Pleural Mesothelioma
- This type affects the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. It’s the most common form of mesothelioma.
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Occurring in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, this form is less common but still significant.
- Pericardial Mesothelioma
- This rare type impacts the pericardium, the lining around the heart.
- Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
- Known for its aggressive nature, this form tends to have a poorer prognosis.
Asbestos-Related Injuries
- Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer
- While distinct from mesothelioma, lung cancer can also be caused by asbestos exposure.
- Secondary Asbestos Exposure
- This occurs when individuals are exposed to asbestos indirectly, often through contact with someone who has had direct contact.
- Environmental Asbestos Exposure
- Individuals can encounter asbestos in the environment, such as in older buildings or industrial areas.
- Talc and Asbestos Exposure
- Some talc products are contaminated with asbestos, leading to unexpected exposure.
- Occupational Asbestos Exposure
- Jobs in railroads and other industries often involve high levels of asbestos exposure, posing a significant risk.
Other Related Injuries
The nature of asbestos exposure can lead to a variety of injuries beyond those directly linked to mesothelioma or lung cancer. Each case is unique, impacting health in multiple ways and requiring specific legal and medical attention. Understanding these variations can guide both prevention and treatment efforts.
Understanding the Risks of Second-Hand and Environmental Asbestos Exposure
When discussing the potential health risks associated with asbestos, many people assume that only direct contact, such as working with asbestos materials, could lead to conditions like mesothelioma. However, second-hand and environmental exposures present significant risks as well.
Second-Hand Exposure
If you lived with or near someone who worked with asbestos, you might have been exposed indirectly. Workers often carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, hair, or belongings. Family members could then inhale these fibers, unknowingly increasing their risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Environmental Exposure
Living near facilities that utilized or manufactured asbestos can also be hazardous. Asbestos fibers can become airborne and settle on surfaces, including freshly laundered clothes left to dry outside. This type of environmental exposure can be just as dangerous, as asbestos fibers are microscopic and highly durable, persisting in the air and soil for extended periods.
Key Takeaways
- Indirect Risks: You don’t have to work directly with asbestos to be at risk.
- Living Proximity: Simply residing near asbestos-handling facilities increases exposure chances.
- Family Transmission: Asbestos fibers can travel from workplace to home, affecting family members.
Understanding these risks is crucial for taking appropriate precautions and seeking early medical consultation if you suspect asbestos exposure, regardless of whether it was direct, second-hand, or environmental.
When Do I Need a Buffalo Mesothelioma Lawyer?
If you have a diagnosis of mesothelioma, contact a Buffalo asbestos attorney right away. Mesothelioma is overwhelmingly caused by negligent workplace asbestos exposure. You have a right to take legal action and to seek compensation.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to top Buffalo mesothelioma lawyers. There is no charge to talk to a lawyer and no obligation. There are time limits on filing asbestos lawsuits, so reach out now.
How a Buffalo Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help
Seeking compensation for related expenses is the main reason people sue for mesothelioma. Asbestos illnesses are considered personal injuries. You can sue for damages or file a claim with an asbestos trust fund.
You need an experienced mesothelioma lawyer for the best chance of a successful lawsuit or claim. A Buffalo asbestos attorney or law firm will help you and your family in several ways:
- Provide a free initial consultation to review your case, answer questions, and provide guidance
- Explain your options, which might include filing a lawsuit, making an asbestos trust fund claim, or seeking VA benefits
- Put decades of experience in action to get you a good result
- Utilize expert investigators and medical professionals to build a case with solid proof that the defendants exposed you to asbestos and caused your illness
- Maximize the amount of compensation you receive
- Litigate your case in court if necessary
- Offer contingency payment, so you pay nothing until you win compensation
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Buffalo, New York?
Buffalo has a long history of industrial workplaces. Many people were exposed to asbestos on the job. Older buildings and homes also put people at risk of exposure.
Dupont Yerkes Plant
For more than 100 years, the DuPont Corporation employed many workers in and around Buffalo. The DuPont Yerkes Plant, which opened in the 1920s, initially made rayon materials for tires.
DuPont then began manufacturing cellophane, followed by Tedlar, a weather-resistant vinyl chloride film, and Corian.
As with most industrial plants before strict regulations enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the DuPont Yerkes Plant relied on asbestos in machinery, equipment, building materials, and products.
Numerous former workers at the Dupont Yerkes Plant developed life-threatening illnesses after prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers while at work.
Bethlehem Steel
Steel was another important industry in the Buffalo area, and Bethlehem Steel employed many residents for years. The company used asbestos to protect against heat and fire.
Workers from the plant are now getting sick and recalling the toxic dust they inhaled for years on the job. Thousands have filed claims for compensation through a government program, but many have been denied.
Durez Plastics
Durez Plastics operated in North Tonawanda, just outside of Buffalo, until 1994. The company employed more than 1,000 people. Durez manufactured items out of plastic using molding compounds with asbestos.
Workers mixed asbestos into other materials to make these compounds. This put workers and others in the area at risk of asbestos exposure. Durez faced many asbestos lawsuits as a result.
For a place that takes pride in being the city of good neighbors, job sites like Durez Plastics did their neighbors an injustice. They spewed asbestos fibers all over the surrounding area, putting those communities at risk. The impact extended beyond just the workers, seeping into the lives of families and neighbors who lived nearby.
The shuttered site at Durez left many contaminants, including asbestos, which continued to put nearby residents at risk. A $7.4 million clean-up of the area began in 2017. This effort was crucial in addressing the lingering dangers that had silently threatened the health of the surrounding community.
In the end, the story of Durez serves as a stark reminder of how the reach of asbestos contamination can extend far beyond the factory walls, underscoring the importance of vigilance and responsibility in industrial operations.
Occidental Chemistry (OxyChem)
Located in nearby Niagara Falls, the OxyChem plant used asbestos for many years and continued using it long after other industries stopped. OxyChem announced it would close the plant in 2021. Until then, it used asbestos to make chlorine.
Using asbestos in chlor-alkali plants, like OxyChem’s New York facility, is still legal. Stringent safety rules supposedly protect workers, but they report that the rules are not always followed. They continued to face exposure risks through 2021.
Other Buffalo Job Sites Associated with Asbestos
Buffalo was home to several job sites, buildings, and companies that once heavily used asbestos in products and equipment. Many are still in use today.
Schools, Churches, and Hospitals
- Ascension Church
- Bennett High School
- Buffalo Technical High School
- Burgard Vocational High School
- Hutchinson High School
- Maryvale High School
- South Park High School
- Buffalo City Hospital
- Columbus Hospital
- Deaconess Hospital
- Sisters of Charity Hospital
- VA Western New York
- Buffalo State College
- Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- University of Buffalo
- Beth Zion Temple
- Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital
- Mercyhurst University
Electric Companies
- Buffalo General Electric Company
- Western Electric Corporation
Chemical Companies
- Allied Chemical and Dye
- Hooker Chemical Plant
- Schoellkopf Aniline and Chemical Works Inc
- Shell Chemical Company
Oil and Steel Companies
- Felmont Oil Company
- Ashland Oil
- Mobil Oil Corporation
- Acme Steel
- Bethlehem Steel Corporation
- Donner Steel Works
- Eastern Concrete Steel Company
- Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company
- Ramco Steel
Additional Companies
- Buffalo Athletic Club
- Buffalo Cold Storage Company (Elmwood Warehousing)
- Buffalo Color Corporation
- Buffalo Crushed Stone, Inc.
- Buffalo Furnace Company
- Buffalo St. Railway Company
- Buffalo Y.M.C.A.
- Buffalo Waterworks
- Claxton Asbestos
- Colonel Ward Pumping Station
- Davis‐Fetch & Company, Incorporated
- Donner Union Coke Corporation
- Dunkirk Steam Station
- East Buffalo Brewing Company
- Eastman Kodak
- Fidelity Trust Company
- General Motors Chevrolet Plant
- General Railway Signal Company
- Gioia Macaroni Company, Inc
- Hanna Furnace
- Hinde and Dauch Paper Company
- Hudson Plastering Corporation
- Sorrento Cheese Factory
- Spencer Kellogg and Sons
- Mckinnon Dash and Hardware Company
- Rogers, Brown, and Iron Company
Getting Mesothelioma Treatment In Buffalo
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is backed by the National Cancer Institute as an innovative, cutting-edge cancer center. It is one of only 39 cancer centers designated by NCI.
RPCI offers innovative treatment for every kind of asbestos-related disease, including malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis. There are several discipline areas and treatment options at RPCI, including:
- Radiology
- Blood and marrow transplants
- Oncology
- Radiation and radiation medication
- Chemotherapy
- Clinical Genetics
- Neurosurgery
- Microneurosurgery
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Elm & Carlton Street
Buffalo, NY 14263
Phone: 1- 877-275-7724 (ASK-RPCI)
In nearby Rochester, the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center is considered among the best for cancer treatment centers in the Western New York area. Patients are offered innovative treatment options and services in state-of-the-art buildings that consist of:
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Clinical trials
- Surgery
- Cancer counseling
- Out-of-town lodging assistance
- Financial counseling
Wilmot Cancer Institute – University of Rochester Medical Center
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 704
Rochester, NY 14642
Phone: 585-275-5830
This firm was extremely professional and responsive. If you have any meso questions, I’d highly recommend them
– Michael L.
Legal Help in Buffalo
Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. For questions and assistance, feel free to contact us at 800-793-4540.
