A Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer is an ally for people exposed to asbestos. They provide legal advice, guide lawsuits, and help start claims with an asbestos trust fund. For decades, Rhode Island industries like shipbuilding and textile production put many residents at risk of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.
How Has Asbestos Affected Rhode Island?
Between 1999 and 2017, more than 1,300 people died from illnesses associated with asbestos exposure in Rhode Island. The fatalities include 996 people who died from lung cancer, 249 from mesothelioma, and 121 from asbestosis.[1]
How to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Rhode Island
To file a claim, you need the assistance of an experienced asbestos attorney. Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyers work with clients in Providence, Cranston, Warwick, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Woonsocket, Newport, Davisville, Westerly, and all other areas of the state.
If you have mesothelioma or another asbestos illness, you likely experienced negligent asbestos exposure in the past. Your lawyer will explain your options and help you file a lawsuit or claim to seek compensation:
- Personal Injury Claim. Once your lawyer determines the companies responsible for exposing you to asbestos, you might choose to file a personal injury lawsuit. This can help you recover damages for medical expenses and other costs.
- Wrongful Death Lawsuit. If it is a loved one who had mesothelioma and has now passed, you can also sue the responsible companies to recover damages.
- Asbestos Trust Fund Claim. The companies that exposed you to asbestos might be bankrupt now. If so, your lawyer can find the appropriate trust to file a claim for compensation.
- Veterans Administration Claim. If your exposure came during active military service, you can file a claim with the VA for benefits, including disability compensation. The VA rates mesothelioma as 100% disabling.
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Rhode Island?
An experienced Rhode Island asbestos attorney can use your job history to track down your past exposure. Most people were exposed in the workplace.
The tiny state has one documented site of natural asbestos in the northeast corner.[2] The site has not posed a huge risk for residents, but any natural asbestos could contaminate air and soil if stirred up during construction projects.
Most cases of asbestos exposure and subsequent illness occurred on the job. Nearly every industrial workplace in the state has used asbestos at some point, putting workers at risk. In Rhode Island, textile mills and shipbuilding have historically been important industries.
Unfortunately, these two industries are also sources of asbestos exposure. Another source of exposure is older buildings. These older structures were commonly constructed using materials that contained asbestos. Now, it poses risks to anyone living or working in buildings built before the 1980s.
Textile Mills
As far back as the 1800s, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was known as “Textile City.” The Blackstone River, with cascading rapids, made the perfect site for early mills, as the falling water could be used for power.
Textiles became one of the most important industries in the state. Some of the textiles produced in these mills contained asbestos. Workers used machinery to spin out asbestos, weaving it into fabrics for fire protection.[3]
While the industry has reduced in the last century, textile mills never left Rhode Island. Over the years, workers were exposed to asbestos through textiles, machinery, and buildings.
Shipyards
As a coastal state, shipping and shipbuilding have been an essential part of Rhode Island’s history. Although the state only has a short coast, it has been a big player in ports, shipping, and the making and repairing of ships.
Especially around World War II, shipbuilding typically involved asbestos materials. For a long time, asbestos was used in most components of ships, primarily to provide fireproofing and insulation but also for strength and durability without adding much weight.
U.S. Navy veterans have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma, mainly due to working with and around asbestos on naval vessels. Shipyard workers in Rhode Island, both military and civilian, were exposed to asbestos for years.
The result has been high numbers of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diagnoses, sometimes not occurring until decades after initial exposure.
Other Sites in Rhode Island with Asbestos
In addition to these specific industries, there have been many other sources of asbestos exposure in Rhode Island. A few known to have put workers and others in harm’s way are:
- Narragansett Electric Lighting Company, Narragansett and Providence
- Union Railroad Company, Providence
- S. Naval Air Station, Quonset Point
- Allied Chemical, Providence
- Armstrong Contracting and Supply Corporation, Cranston
- Quincy Dye Works, Woonsocket
- Newport Naval Base, Newport
- Owens Corning, Aston
- Eastern Supply Co., Pawtucket
- Marvin Corp, Pawtucket
- Camp Endicott, Davisville
- Davisville Naval Construction Batallion, Davisville
- Brand Insulation Co., Providence
- Modern Fabricating Corp., Providence
Rhode Island Residents Are Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was also heavily used in construction, and many older buildings are still laced with this dangerous mineral. However, asbestos is not always hazardous. As long as it remains contained and undisturbed, it will not release dangerous fibers into the air.
Unfortunately, there have been incidents of public buildings, including schools, with inadequate asbestos maintenance. As a result, both children and adults were at risk of getting sick.[4]
Asbestos in the Department of Public Education
One such incident occurred at a Department of Education building. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health addressed asbestos concerns reported there. Inspectors found friable asbestos around the boilers, insulating furnaces, and pipes inside the building.
There were also asbestos fibers in the air. In 1990, it was discovered that three schools put teachers and students at risk of asbestos exposure for over a year. Old tiles had been ripped up without consideration for asbestos, causing the schools to shut down for cleanup.
Asbestos in Providence Elementary School
Providence is beginning renovations on Windmill Street Elementary School, which has been abandoned for over ten years. Part of the work will involve safely removing asbestos.
While that building sat unused, deteriorating materials that contained asbestos could have put nearby residents at risk of exposure.[5]
Asbestos in Pipes
Many of the old pipes in Rhode Island contain asbestos. Asbestos cement was once a common material for constructing pipes for water and sewage. Some areas of the state are working to replace these. Bristol recently received over $1 million to rehabilitate damaged and deteriorating asbestos pipes that put workers at risk.[6]
What Are Rhode Island’s Asbestos Laws?
Asbestos laws help protect Rhode Island residents and workers from ongoing exposure. Negligence laws affect how past exposure victims seek justice now.
Asbestos Safety Regulations
The Department of Health in Rhode Island is responsible for administering laws, both state and federal, to manage the handling and disposal of asbestos. The state’s Asbestos Control Program is responsible for approving contractors for certification as asbestos abatement professionals. Only these certified contractors can work on asbestos projects.
They must also notify the state at least ten days before beginning an asbestos project. Strict rules govern the removal of asbestos from a worksite, including filters, protective gear, and wetting asbestos. They are also responsible for finding and removing asbestos from schools and other public buildings.
Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations on asbestos-related lawsuits in Rhode Island is only three years. That means if you were exposed to asbestos and became sick as a result, you only have three years from the time of diagnosis to file a lawsuit against those you believe responsible.
While this may seem like a lot of time, it can go by faster than you think; therefore, it is important to act as soon as possible after receiving a diagnosis. The statute of limitations on wrongful death cases related to asbestos is also three years.
Get a Free Consultation with a Rhode Island Mesothelioma Lawyer
The most important step is to find a good Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer to represent you. Without this professional knowledge and experience, the path to justice will be complex and confusing.
Reputable asbestos firms offer new clients free initial consultations. This is your chance to have your case reviewed, get some initial advice, and interview a lawyer to potentially take your case.
To find the right legal team, look for recommendations from your doctors or others in the mesothelioma community. Look for a lawyer who has successfully won settlements for other clients. This person will be your best chance of getting justice and recovering damages.
