Houston is a city of more than 2.2 million residents today and is the 4th most populous city in the country. This city is the home of many thriving businesses that mostly derive from its natural gas and oil industry base.
With all of the manufacturing and industrial enterprises here that are focused on oil and gas exploration, petroleum refining and petrochemical production, it is not surprising that this city has had high levels of asbestos contamination in the past. (HoustonTx.gov)
High-Industries for Asbestos Exposure in Houston and Across Texas
Generally, Texas is ranked #4 in the nation for mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths. In the last 15 years, there have been 2,462 mesothelioma deaths, 656 asbestosis deaths, for a total of 3,118 deaths. (asbestos.com)
Many in Houston and across Texas who suffer from mesothelioma were exposed to heavy amounts of asbestos on the job when they were working in oil refineries, steel mills and foundries, chemical plants, petrochemical industries, and automobile factories.
Some of the job sites in Houston and in Texas with known asbestos exposure include:
- Texaco Oil
- Lone Star Industries
- Texas Chemical
- Lyondell Chemical
- Chevron Phillips Chemical
- Gulf Oil
- Bethlehem Shipping Company
- Gulfport Shipping Company
- Todd Shipping Company
Houston Oil Refineries and Corporations
Oil and chemical refineries offer many jobs to people in Houston and Texas, but these are dangerous occupations because they require regular exposure to high heat. Because of heat and fire-resistant qualities of asbestos, it was often used as an insulating material as well as a fire retardant to shield workers and keep them from danger while working in such high-heat conditions. Because of these factors, many workers in these fields in Houston have died from mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Shipyards
Shipyard workers in the Houston area have been known to have had high exposure to asbestos-containing materials in their work. Asbestos was commonly used until the 1980s in many shipyards across the country. Asbestos was often used to retard fire in most ships and shipyards for decades. Asbestos also was frequently used to coat boilers and pipes in engine rooms because of its excellent insulation properties.
Unfortunately, many shipyards knew that asbestos was hazardous and did little to nothing to protect workers from its dangers. Shipyard workers also often work in areas with poor ventilation, which makes it more likely that they will suffer from asbestos-related conditions years later.
Schools
Asbestos-containing materials were often used in schools across Texas for decades. Today, public schools in the state are required to do assessments of their asbestos-containing materials and keep updated reports on the possibility for those materials to result in asbestos exposure. Many Texas schools still have asbestos that needs to be contained. If it ever is at risk of exposure, it must be safely be removed by certified asbestos abatement specialists.
Houston and Texas Asbestos Lawsuits
Houston and Texas generally have been a popular place for asbestos lawsuits. But the number of cases filed in the state has dropped in the past few years. From 1988 through 2000, Texas ranked among the top five states in the nation with the most asbestos claims in state and federal courts. In the mid-1990s, three counties in Texas accounted for 40% of the filings.
In 2005, the state adopted SB 15. This is a Texas state law that created precise medical criteria for asbestos claims. By mandating plaintiffs to demonstrate asbestos-related disabilities before filing a claim, SB 15 removed unimpaired asbestos victims from state courts and put them into an inactive docket. So, asbestos claimants with cancer and other serious health problems started to see their cases resolved faster. If claimants in the inactive docket can show proof that they have asbestos cancer or asbestosis, they may be transferred back to the active docket.
Even with the tighter restrictions on filing asbestos cancer claims in Houston and Texas, many people in the state have obtained mesothelioma compensation from companies that were responsible for exposing them to asbestos:
- In 2001, a jury in El Paso awarded $55 million to a patient with mesothelioma. The award had $15 million in punitive damages for Kelly-Moore Paint Company.
- In 2001, an Orange, Texas jury awarded $130 million to five men who got lung cancer, asbestosis, and colon cancer after they worked at US Pipe in Alabama.
- In 2012, a Dallas, Texas painter was awarded $10 million from several firms that exposed him to asbestos for decades. He worked often with textured paints and drywall compounds. The companies most responsible were Dow Chemical, Bondex, Georgia Pacific, and Kelly-Moore.
Houston Mesothelioma Attorney Information
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma from being exposed to asbestos, talk to one of these asbestos attorneys below:
Sutliff & Stout Injury & Accident Law Firm
550 Post Oak Blvd #530
Houston TX 77027
(281) 853-8446
www.sutliffstout.com
If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos on the job and developed mesothelioma, you could be entitled to money damages for your losses. This law firm has years of experience handling asbestos-related claims in Houston and across Texas.
Charles J. Argento, Accident and Injury Attorney
1111 North Loop West #715
Houston TX 77008
(713) 766-4694
www.charlesargento.com
Attorney Charles Argento is an experienced and skilled litigator and negotiator in asbestos claims in Houston and surrounding areas. Talk to him if you were exposed to asbestos at home or on the job and have developed mesothelioma.
Marc Whitehead & Associates
5300 Memorial, #725
Houston TX 77007
(800) 562-9830
www.person-injurylawyer.com
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the Houston region, it is important to hire an asbestos mesothelioma attorney who has a deep understanding of asbestos litigation in state courts and Congress. Contact Marc Whitehead & Associates in Houston to get the best compensation for your mesothelioma case.
See all Texas Mesothelioma Lawyers
Get Houston Mesothelioma Legal Help
If you were a worker in Houston and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the shipyard or the companies that supplied the facility with asbestos-containing materials.
With over $30 billion available for victims through the Asbestos Trust Funds, you could be entitled to financial compensations without ever filing a lawsuit. Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer victims qualify immediately. Complete the form or call us toll-free (800) 352-0871