Mesothelioma Firefighters
The relationship between firefighters and mesothelioma is clear—firefighters face a higher risk of the deadly disease than non-firefighters. As firefighters continue to face exposure to dangerous carcinogens such as asbestos, they continue to file claims against manufacturers and asbestos trust funds. The experienced mesothelioma lawyers at The Gori Law Girm, supported by our extensive database of asbestos sites, jobs, and products, work tirelessly on behalf of these firefighters.
- Firefighters are exposed to asbestos when a fire damages construction materials containing asbestos, releasing the asbestos fibers into the air.
- Firefighters may also have been exposed to asbestos by using safety gear containing the material.
- Firefighters and other first responders to 9/11 were also exposed to high levels of asbestos.
- If you are a firefighter diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illness, you may file a mesothelioma claim against manufacturers of asbestos products or an asbestos trust fund.
Firefighters face danger whenever they run into a burning building, and not just from the flames. Many are exposed to toxic chemicals, including asbestos, while on the job. As a result, many firefighters are diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases each year.
If you’re a firefighter who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the skilled asbestos attorneys at the Gori Law Firm have the knowledge and resources to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Can Firefighters Recover For Asbestos-Related Illnesses?
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos while working as a firefighter, you may pursue compensation for asbestos-related illnesses. The exact settlement amount for your case may vary, but the average mesothelioma settlement is worth more than $1 million.
If you have received a mesothelioma diagnosis or a loved one has died from mesothelioma, you may be eligible to file a mesothelioma claim. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you identify which type of mesothelioma claim you may qualify for and pursue the maximum compensation available under the law.
You may be eligible for significant compensation that The Gori Law Firm can fight for on your behalf.
Personal Injury Claims
Firefighters may file a mesothelioma lawsuit against the companies responsible for your exposure to asbestos, such as manufacturers and distributors. For example, if a piece of your personal protection equipment, or PPE, contained asbestos, you could file a claim with the PPE’s manufacturer.
In this type of claim, you can seek compensation for the following:
- Economic damages: These are damages with a specific dollar amount, such as medical costs associated with your mesothelioma diagnosis or lost wages if you cannot work.
- Non-economic damages: These damages are non-monetary losses and include pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, and loss of normal life.
- Punitive damages: These aim to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct. You'd need to prove the manufacturer acted deliberately, fraudulently, or recklessly to win punitive damages.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Many manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials, such as fire resistant protective gear, have filed for bankruptcy protection, but courts ordered them to establish asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of asbestos-related illnesses. If the company responsible for your exposure has gone bankrupt, you may file a claim with their asbestos trust fund.
Wrongful Death Claims
- Funeral expenses
- Burial expenses
- Other losses, such as the lost income and support from the deceased
Why Choose The Gori Law Firm?
The Gori Law Firm has fought for those impacted by asbestos-related illnesses since 2008. With over 100 years of combined experience, our attorneys have extensive knowledge and resources, including a large database of asbestos sites, jobs, and products.
We have recovered hundreds of settlements and verdicts totaling over $4 billion in compensation for our clients. Whether you’ve been exposed on the job or in your home, we can help connect you to the resources you need while fighting for the compensation you deserve.
We believe our clients get the best outcome when we work as a team. Thus, we work together to provide each client with the personal support and resources they need throughout their cases. Someone will always be available to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Our nationwide offices provide high-quality, individualized services so you can focus on your health and your family, not legal paperwork.
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How Are Firefighters Exposed to Asbestos?
Firefighters are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma twice as often as the rest of the US population, likely due to increased asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral often found in soil and rock. For much of the 20th century, manufacturers used it as insulation and a fire-retardant in common building materials such as shingles, vinyl flooring, and pipe insulation.
Asbestos is not dangerous when left undisturbed, but it releases microscopic fibers into the air when damaged. When inhaled, these fibers may cause inflammation and damage to the lining of the lungs, causing mesothelioma to develop.
Firefighters are exposed to asbestos in a variety of ways. Flames can break down asbestos, releasing it through smoke and debris. Asbestos can also be released into the air from the force of cold water hitting hot asbestos-containing materials or when a building collapses during a fire. Firefighters can then breathe in these particles or carry them on their protective equipment.
Firefighters may also encounter asbestos exposure outside their firefighting duties, such as making repairs to the firehouse or conducting safety inspections of electric and HVAC systems.
Firefighting Products Containing Asbestos
Historically, common firefighting gear, called turnout gear, contained asbestos due to its heat and fire-resistant properties. Manufacturers often wove asbestos into the lining of several firefighting tools, including the following:
- Boots
- Fire blankets
- Gloves
- Helmets
- Hoods
- Jackets
- Pants
- Suits
Most modern turnout gear contains Kevlar and Nomex instead of asbestos, so the risk to current firefighters from turnout gear is minimal. However, older and retired firefighters may have been exposed to PPE with asbestos early in their careers.
Are Firefighters Still at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?
While asbestos is rarely used today, most firefighters still face legacy asbestos exposure from older buildings containing the toxic material.
Several safeguards can protect firefighters from asbestos exposure:
- Wear a self-contained breathing apparatus, or SCBA, at the site of a fire.
- Decontaminate skin at the site using wet wipes.
- Always clean PPE according to the National Fire Protection Association standards.
- Keep PPE separate from the station's living and sleeping areas.
- Shower at the station before returning home to avoid bringing asbestos fibers home, which could result in secondary asbestos exposure for your family.
- Get annual medical examinations to monitor for early detection of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos Exposure Among 9/11 First Responders
Immediately after 9/11, thousands of brave firefighters put out the fires and rescued survivors. While doing this dangerous work, firefighters and other first responders were exposed to more than 350 hazardous materials, including asbestos, in the dust and debris.
Experts estimate the North Tower alone contained 300-400 tons of asbestos materials, which the attack released into the air. Mesothelioma has a latency period of 10-50 years. We are only just now beginning to see the resulting diagnoses.
If you were a first responder on 9/11 and are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you deserve compensation. Contact our New York office to learn how the asbestos exposure lawyers at The Gori Law Firm can help.
FAQs
How many firefighters die from cancer each year?
While we don’t know the specific number of firefighters that die from cancer each year, cancer was responsible for 74 percent of firefighters’ line-of-duty deaths in 2022.
Do firefighters get lung cancer?
Many firefighters exposed to asbestos develop lung cancer and other lung diseases, including asbestosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mesothelioma, and pneumonitis.
Why do firefighters get cancer?
Many construction materials are synthetic and plastic, which release carcinogens into the air when burned. As firefighters battle the fire or when removing their turnout gear, they may inhale these carcinogens, which can later develop into cancer. Asbestos is one of the chief carcinogens that pose cancer risks for firefighters.
The connection between firefighters and cancer is so strong that the International Agency of Research on Cancer, a subgroup of the World Health Organization, identified the firefighting occupation as carcinogenic.
What percent of firefighters get cancer?
The exact percentage of firefighters who get cancer varies. We do, however, know that firefighters are at nearly 10 percent higher risk of cancer than non-firefighters.
7 Sources Cited On This Page
- Daniels, Robert D, et al. “Mortality and Cancer Incidence in a Pooled Cohort of US Firefighters from San Francisco, Chicago and Philadelphia (1950–2009).” Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 71, no. 6, 14 Oct. 2013, pp. 388–397, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499779/, https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2013-101662.
- “Firefighting and Asbestos Exposure | Fire Blog | the City of Portland, Oregon.” Www.portlandoregon.gov, www.portlandoregon.gov/fire/article/407162. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.
- “Firefighting Protection Technology | DuPontTM Nomex®.” Www.dupont.com, www.dupont.com/knowledge/dupont-technology-in-your-turnout-gear.html.
- “How to Manage PPE Asbestos Exposure.” FireRescue1, 23 July 2009, www.firerescue1.com/fire-products/personal-protective-equipment-ppe/articles/how-to-manage-ppe-asbestos-exposure-QpNzhvjbHYtSzzjT/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.
- “Learn about Mesothelioma.” Www.lung.org, www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mesothelioma/learn-about-mesothelioma.
- “Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma.” Www.cancer.org, www.cancer.org/cancer/types/malignant-mesothelioma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html.
- “Toxins and Health Impacts: Health Effects of 9/11 – WTC Health Program.” Www.cdc.gov, 24 Jan. 2023, www.cdc.gov/wtc/exhibition/toxins-and-health-impacts.html.
