Welcome to 1Asbestos.com

Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable threads. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been used widely in many industries.  Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain atoms of silicon and oxygen in their molecular structure.

Types of Asbestos

Asbestos minerals are divided into two major groups: Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos.

  • Serpentine asbestos includes the mineral chrysotile, which has long, curly fibers that can be woven. Chrysotile asbestos is the form that has been used most widely in commercial applications.
  • Amphibole asbestos includes the minerals actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite. Amphibole asbestos has straight, needle-like fibers that are more brittle than those of serpentine asbestos and are more limited in their ability to be fabricated.

Importance of Working with Asbestos Lawyers & Attorneys

No Federal legislation has been enacted to compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases or to protect people from asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. However, a bill called the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act, or FAIR Act, has been introduced in Congress several times. This bill would create a national trust fund to compensate victims who have brought an asbestos lawsuit and are suffering from asbestos-related diseases. The proposed trust fund would be administered by the DOL, outside of the courts, through a claims process in which all individuals with certain medical symptoms and evidence of asbestos-related disease would be compensated. Funding for the trust would come from insurance companies and companies that mined, manufactured, and sold asbestos or asbestos products. Under the bill, individuals affected by asbestos exposure would no longer be able to pursue awards for damages in any Federal or state court.  Regardless, an asbestos lawyer will be necessary for a person who has been exposed to asbestos, and needs legal help in order to protect their rights fully.

Choosing a asbestos attorney or lawyer to represent you or the person you are representing is a very critical and serious decision. The last thing any one wants to have to worry about is that they choose the right asbestos lawyer to handle their asbestos lawsuit or case. A good asbestos attorney or lawyer will be well versed on the latest advancements in asbestos litigation as well as any related medical treatments. The experienced asbestos lawyers have practiced asbestos law for years if not decades and you should ask for several references, case samples similar to your own and any other questions you desire to have answered.

Most asbestos attorneys who handle asbestos lawsuits have practiced solely asbestos cases and litigation for their entire careers and do nothing else but work as an asbestos lawyer. A typical asbestos attorney eats, sleeps and breathes asbestos law and usually doesn’t have time for anything else besides all types of asbestos lawsuit claims. In that way, an asbestos lawyer who practices asbestos litigation is different than your typical lawyer based on many variables, such as the lawsuit particulars that are unique to each case such as where the asbestos exposure took place or where the plaintiff worked, what they did, what they wore while they worked, etc. A good asbestos lawyer will give you confidence so you can concentrate on your health or that of a loved one.

Types of Asbestos Lawsuit Cases

Many asbestos cases happen as a result of asbestos being used in the workplace in the manufacturing of certain types of products such as insulation, brake pads and fire proofing material. But even though a lot of cases originate in the workplace, some have originated from the repeated use of products that contain asbestos.