Bremerton Mesothelioma Lawyer
Shipbuilding, at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and some of the Bremerton area’s other industries used asbestos extensively in their daily operations throughout the 20th century, exposing generations of workers and their loved ones to this hazardous material. Asbestos exposure is linked to mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly cancer, and other diseases. For over two decades, Bergman Oslund Udo Little’s Washington mesothelioma attorneys have been devoted to helping those impacted by asbestos exposure, helping them seek justice against those responsible for their harm.
Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: October 9, 2024
Asbestos Law Firm Serving Bremerton and Kitsap County
Since our firm’s establishment in 1995, we have been fighting for clients’ rights throughout the Pacific Northwest. Bergman Oslund Udo Little has proudly represented asbestos victims and their families from Bremerton and throughout Kitsap County, including Gorst, Kingston, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, and Silverdale.
We understand that a mesothelioma diagnosis can be frightening and overwhelming. Our team offers personalized, compassionate representation and zealous advocacy in the courtroom. We work hard for the best possible outcome so you can afford the care you need and deserve. If you want to connect with a mesothelioma lawyer in Bremerton, we urge you to contact us to schedule a free consultation.
Helping Victims of Asbestos Exposure in Bremerton Is Personal
Firm partner Brendan Little grew up in nearby Port Orchard and knew many families of workers who made a living at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
When he began practicing law, he learned the toll that asbestos products had taken on workers and loved ones in the area. He now dedicates his career to helping victims of asbestos exposure in his hometown and across Washington.
Most of the attorneys at Bergman Oslund Udo Little grew up in the Pacific Northwest and have been practicing here for decades. Our attorneys have represented over 850 mesothelioma clients and has participated in many cases establishing asbestos litigation law.
Our strong local ties give our clients a distinct advantage. We have intimate knowledge of the local laws and procedures that can impact your case. In addition, each family we represent receives personalized attention from a small team of professionals who treat you with the respect and dignity you deserve.
Millions Recovered for Kitsap County Residents
When you work one of our Bremerton mesothelioma attorneys, you put our experience and dedication to work for you. Our attorneys have achieved significant victories for clients throughout the Pacific Northwest. We have won more than $1 billion in settlements and verdicts in asbestos-related cases, including:
- $8.3 million for an electrician diagnosed with mesothelioma after serving in the United States Navy and at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton
- $5.6 million for a painter’s helper diagnosed with mesothelioma after working onboard the USS Ranger at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard from 1975 to 1976
- $5 million for a mesothelioma victim exposed to asbestos while working onboard ships at Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton
- $3 million for a pipefitter diagnosed with mesothelioma after working at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton
- $2.8 million for a mesothelioma victim exposed to asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, and insulation as a boiler operator while serving in the U.S. Navy from 1976 to 1977 and at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- $1.4 million for an insulator diagnosed with mesothelioma after working onboard numerous ships at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and various other shipyards from 1945 to 1967
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Washington, a Bremerton mesothelioma lawyer will help you seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other related damages. Our legal team will assist in identifying the source of your asbestos exposure and which manufacturers should be held responsible.
Since it has already been established that the makers of these products knew they were dangerous but failed to issue warnings, the process for filing a claim and settling a lawsuit is faster than most personal injury cases.
If the company responsible for the asbestos exposure has filed for bankruptcy, you may be entitled to file a claim through an existing asbestos trust fund. We can guide you through this process.
If a lawsuit is necessary to prove your case, our law firm is ready to go the distance on your behalf. In Washington, you have three years from the date of your diagnosis to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. We can also guide you through other compensation options, such as VA claims for those exposed to asbestos during military service.
Asbestos Exposure in Bremerton, WA
Kitsap County has the third-highest rate of mesothelioma deaths in the state of Washington due in part to its proximity to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, which employ a significant number of the area’s residents. The shipbuilding industry and others in the area, such as oil refining, timber, aluminum processing, power production, and paper production, have used asbestos for many years.
Many former workers were exposed to asbestos products, placing them at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos was commonly used for its natural heat-resistant, insulating, and fire-retardant properties.
Power plants used asbestos in boilers, generators, pipes, and wires. The manufacturing industry used contaminated asbestos insulation in its machinery and produced items containing the materials. Consequently, workers in the Bremerton area—and sometimes their loved ones—became exposed to asbestos. The most common places for asbestos exposure near Bremerton include:
- Shipyards – Hazardous workplaces like Seattle’s Harbor Island, Todd, and Lockheed Shipyards, and Bremerton’s Puget Sound Naval Shipyard exposed workers to asbestos.
- Paper mills – Companies like International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Crown Zellerbach and Weyerhauser used asbestos in their facilities.
- Power plants – Nearby Benton County’s Hanford Nuclear Site is known to have used asbestos.
- Others—Asbestos is also commonly found on work sites such as railyards, airports, warehouses, hospitals, foundries, gravel and sand producers, office buildings, and oil refineries.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry estimates that 27 million Americans were exposed to asbestos fibers between 1940 and 1979. Occupations commonly known for asbestos exposure in Kitsap County and the surrounding area include the following:
- Insulators
- Boilermakers
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Ironworkers
- Electricians
- Longshoremen
- Merchant mariners
- Roofers
- Painters
- Sheet metal workers
- Tile setters
- Welders
- Engineers
- U.S. military personnel
- Shipyard workers
- Drywallers
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Many Bremerton residents have worked at Naval Base Kitsap—the U.S. Navy’s host command in the Pacific Northwest—and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The shipyard has played a critical role in the Navy’s operations, supplying and repairing ships in World War I, World War II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Shipyards like this one were commonly known for using asbestos-containing products. Due to its heat resistance, asbestos was a popular material for insulating hulls, pipes, and boilers. Those building, maintaining, repairing, and serving on vessels were likely to come into contact with asbestos products.
When asbestos is disturbed, workers breathe in the tiny fibers, which lodge in the lung tissue and cause irreversible scarring. Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer of the tissue surrounding the lungs and other bodily organs, may not show up for decades after exposure. Even workers or loved ones who didn’t have direct contact with asbestos could become ill due to secondhand exposure.
If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma after working at the Puget Naval Shipyard, you have the right to file a claim for compensation. A skilled Bremerton asbestos lawyer can protect your rights.
Get a Free Consultation With a Bremerton Mesothelioma Attorney
Proving a mesothelioma case is challenging. It often requires collecting and examining decades-old evidence, such as employment and medical records. It may also involve locating evidence from different jurisdictions or states. Additionally, many well-funded and powerful parties will likely fight your claim to avoid paying the compensation you deserve.
Bergman Oslund Udo Little is a local Bremerton law firm that primarily represents asbestos-exposure victims with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. We know all the relevant regulations and laws regarding the handling and usage of asbestos, as well as how insurance companies and liable parties operate. Our attorneys have a thorough knowledge of the local sources of exposure and the types of evidence necessary to prove a case in Washington.
If you believe you’ve suffered asbestos exposure in Kitsap County or anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, let us fight for you. Call 206-957-9510 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Bremerton mesothelioma lawyer and learn more about your compensation options.
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
