Corvallis Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs, other organs, and the abdomen. Its only confirmed cause is exposure to asbestos, a mineral widely used throughout the 20th century in many applications, including roofing, flooring, and insulation. If you developed mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure, an Oregon mesothelioma lawyer with Bergman Oslund Udo Little can fight for the compensation you deserve.
Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: November 21, 2024
Asbestos Law Firm Serving Corvallis and Benton County
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma, you might be eligible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit to pursue justice. You deserve skillful representation from a knowledgeable and experienced Corvallis mesothelioma attorney.
Bergman Oslund Udo Little is the Pacific Northwest’s premier mesothelioma law firm. We have been fighting to protect the interests of families facing the challenges of mesothelioma since 1995. We have a long track record of successfully handling mesothelioma claims and have developed extensive knowledge of the local sources of asbestos exposure in and around Corvallis.
Areas We Serve
Our mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers have proudly represented asbestos victims from Corvallis and locations across Benton County, including the following:
- Philomath
- Monroe
- Adair Village
- Alsea
- Blodgett
- Bellfountain
- And more
We are proud of the testimonials from our clients that speak to our commitment to supporting those who have become ill following asbestos exposure. When you work with our firm, your Corvallis asbestos cancer attorney will have strong local ties that give them intimate knowledge of the local legal landscape and the sources of asbestos exposure in your area.
Why Choose BOUL for Your Corvallis Mesothelioma Claim?
Hiring an effective Corvallis asbestos lawyer who understands what’s at stake in your case can make a significant difference in the outcome. We recognize how seriously mesothelioma can impact your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. That’s why our firm takes a holistic approach to your case, offering comprehensive support through education, service, advocacy, and litigation.
As a small firm with a narrow focus, we deliver personalized and specialized attention to all our clients. We’re also tenacious—we’ve recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients in mesothelioma cases. For example, we obtained the largest mesothelioma verdict in Oregon history. In that case, we represented the family of a general laborer who was exposed to asbestos while working at a fiberglass pipe company for four months in 1974. He died from mesothelioma at age 67. A jury awarded $30 million to our clients.
Asbestos Exposure in Corvallis and Benton County
While mesothelioma impacts patients nationwide, asbestos exposure is especially prevalent in Benton County because of the industries that have flourished here for so many years. Due to the nature of their work, employees in some of the area’s most common occupations and job sites have an elevated risk of developing illnesses related to asbestos.
Mechanics
Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently issued a final rule to ban most uses of asbestos, manufacturers used it as a component in automotive parts for most of the 20th century. As a result, many cars have brakes, gaskets, and other components that contain fibers of this hazardous mineral. Asbestos is also commonly found in components of other types of vehicles, including older trains.
As a result, many mechanics have spent decades experiencing frequent exposure to asbestos on the job. Some remain at risk if they work on vehicles with older parts because maintenance and repair can release the fibers into the air, where mechanics inhale or ingest them.
Pulp & Paper Mill Workers
In the past, paper mills relied heavily on products containing asbestos, including insulation and machinery. Because asbestos is fire resistant, the paper and lumber industries used it to insulate mill equipment against fire hazards. Substances used in paper production, including felt and talc, also contained asbestos.
With so much asbestos present in the environment, workers at mills like the Philomath Mill experienced high levels of exposure that sometimes led to mesothelioma. Georgia-Pacific Mill used asbestos in manufactured products for decades and faced multiple lawsuits related to employee exposure and illness.
Demolition and Construction Workers
In the past, construction and demolition workers were exposed to a variety of asbestos-containing materials during their work. Until the 1980s, a wide range of the building materials they used contained asbestos, including:
- Tiles and flooring
- Roofing materials
- Siding and shingles
- Joint compound
- Insulation
- Cement products
For years, workers often inhaled asbestos fibers through their day-to-day construction tasks. The reduced reliance on asbestos in modern manufacturing means workers are not as likely to experience exposure during new construction. Unfortunately, those who work on older buildings are still exposed to asbestos today. During repairs, renovation, and demolition of older buildings, the microscopic asbestos fibers are released into the air, and construction and demolition workers may inhale or ingest them.
Electricians
Electricians have long been at risk of developing mesothelioma because electrical wires often contain asbestos. In addition, in buildings constructed before 1980, wiring was often surrounded by asbestos-containing insulation. When installing new wires or removing materials to expose existing wiring, many workers displaced fibers into the air that then entered their bodies, creating long-term health problems like mesothelioma.
Although the danger isn’t as high, modern electricians can also disturb old items containing asbestos when repairing or replacing wires. Their historical and continuing work with asbestos-containing materials is why they are among the occupations with the highest risk for exposure.
Plumbers & Pipefitters
Plumbers and pipefitters were another group that experienced regular asbestos exposure. Their work frequently involved installing, repairing, and removing insulation, gaskets, and piping systems containing asbestos. The danger was especially concerning for workers who installed or worked on pipes in mills, refineries, power plants, and shipyards because these sites were known for significant asbestos exposure.
Like electricians, today’s plumbers and pipefitters may still experience asbestos exposure when working in older buildings.
Firefighters
Firefighters have always run into burning buildings, recognizing that the flames and smoke could hurt or even kill them. However, they may not have realized they might have faced another threat—asbestos fibers floating in the air. When buildings burn, asbestos-containing materials burn or break down, expelling particles that firefighters can inhale. Items that don’t typically pose a significant threat, such as vinyl flooring and home appliances, could pose risks for exposure during a fire.
In addition, protective equipment and clothing have historically contained asbestos. As those items aged, they release asbestos fibers, putting firefighters at risk.
While most products and construction materials produced now no longer contain asbestos, firefighters are still at risk when fighting fires in older buildings.
Insulators
Asbestos is an effective, non-flammable option for use in insulation, making it popular for many years before the industry acknowledged its risk. Many insulators before 1980 developed serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, because of the exposure that occurred when manipulating the material.
For today’s insulators, the risk generally isn’t from installing new insulation but from removing old insulation. A 2023 study underscored that insulators are among the occupations with the highest asbestos exposure risks.
HVAC Workers
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems require significant amounts of insulation to function properly. Asbestos was extensively used in insulation throughout the 1900s. In addition, other system components and objects around the HVAC system, including gaskets, cement pipes, and ceiling tiles, also contained asbestos. Thus, for the better part of the 20th century, HVAC workers faced exposure risks when installing and maintaining systems with these asbestos-containing elements. Today, workers who service and repair old systems can inhale particles from the remaining insulation.
Employees at Oregon State University
Although college and university workers aren’t generally associated with asbestos and mesothelioma, many worked in buildings that have historically contained significant levels of asbestos. The mineral is still found in older buildings and could still present a risk. Buildings at Oregon State University are no exception.
More specifically, asbestos may be present in the ceilings, floors, and insulation in university buildings constructed before 1981. Past employees who worked in and helped maintain these buildings sometimes experienced asbestos exposure. To address this concern, Oregon State now requires employees who might disturb asbestos particles during their jobs to complete training before beginning their duties.
Request Your Free Consultation With a Corvallis Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma symptoms and treatment cause physical harm, financial hardships, and traumatic loss for many residents of Corvallis and Benton County. Workers in the area have suffered simply for doing their jobs daily, and they and their families deserve justice.
If you have been diagnosed with asbestos-related mesothelioma or have lost a loved one to the disease, a Corvallis mesothelioma cancer attorney can help. By filing a claim, you can seek compensation for medical bills, lost or reduced wages, and other expenses.
Contact Bergman Oslund Udo Little for a free consultation. Call us at 503-447-6230 to speak with a Corvallis asbestos attorney and learn more about your mesothelioma compensation options.
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
