Serving in the U.S. military is an incredible sacrifice. Members of the military face the possibility of long deployments, strained family relationships and threats to their safety overseas.
Unfortunately, U.S. service members also face the threat of exposure to harmful and toxic substances during their time in the military. In fact, if you work or worked in certain military occupations, there is a very real chance that you were exposed to asbestos.
While in military service, a person can be exposed to asbestos in, on or around:
- Shipyards
- Military vessels
- Demolished buildings in other countries
- Construction projects
- Railways
- Product manufacturing
- Automotive repair
As you may see, not every exposure source stems from jobs specifically reserved for military workers. There are many, like working with friction products in car repairs, that any person can be exposed to. On the other hand, others, like living on a military vessel or being around demolished buildings in other countries, are more specific to military service.
In other words, members of the military who work in construction, transportation and mining can be at an even higher risk of exposure than civilians in a similar occupation are.
Military veterans already face enormous challenges when they return to civilian life. Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness decades later is just one, and it can be exceptionally upsetting. However, there is compensation available to those affected by these situations through service-connected benefits and potentially third-party negligence claims.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness as a result of military service, it can be crucial that you assess your options to maximize the compensation you may receive with the help of an attorney. Money cannot turn back time and undo the damage, but it can help to make it a little easier to cope in the present and future.
