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Mesothelioma Lawyer Wheeling

Situated in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia along the Ohio River between Pennsylvania and Ohio, Wheeling was founded in 1769 and was originally part of Virginia. Wheeling grew from the trade made possible by the Ohio River. When the National Road, the first wagon route between the east and the Ohio River, arrived in Wheeling in 1818, the city became and important point for both travel and trade between the east and west.

When Wheeling remained loyal to the Federal government during the Civil War, the state of West Virginia was born and Wheeling was initially made the new state's capital. After some back and forth during the 19th century, the state capital was moved to Charleston in 1885 where it remains today.

Supported in part by the transportation opportunities afforded by the Ohio River, National Road, and Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, iron and steel mills sprung up in Wheeling, as well as glass and cigar factories. Wheeling became known as the "Nail City" for it's domination in the production of nails. More nails have been created in Wheeling than any other city in the US or Europe.

This domination began in 1834 when Wheeling's first rolling iron mill, the Missouri Iron Works (also called "Top Mill" as a result of it's location at the "top" of Wheeling), was established. Six more rolling iron mills followed in the two subsequent decades, half of which were focused on nail production. In 1852, Bailey, Woodward & Co built the LaBelle plant in Wheeling, where LaBelle cut nails are still produced today.

In addition to iron and steel, aluminum, bronze, chemical products, garments, glass, metal stampings, plastics, and tin plate have all been important products to Wheeling. The coal and natural gas resources near Wheeling have provided power for many of these industries.

Wheeling Asbestos Injuries

Because of the industrial and constructions trades common in Wheeling's economy, asbestos injuries unfortunately followed. In industries like iron and steel, glassworks, and even bakeries, asbestos' insulating, fire-retardant, and cheap availability led the "miracle mineral's" benefits to be touted while its dangers were downplayed or ignored.

Asbestos was used in steel mills as an insulator and fire retardant. Covering boilers, ovens, and steam pipes, fireproof asbestos is a poor conductor of heat. Pipe-coverers and insulators in steel mills cut asbestos cloth and sawed stiff asbestos insulation to bring it down to size, and at the same time, creating a deadly dust that was easily inhaled by unprotected workers.

While protective masks may have been lacking, protective clothing was often used. Unfortunately, the gloves, overcoats, aprons and other clothing designed to protect workers from the intense heat of the coke ovens often utilized asbestos as an insulator and fire-retardant.

Whether through the abrasive action of hard wear or simply a design careless of asbestos' danger, protective garments often released asbestos fibres into the air. The dust released was not only easily inhaled, but clung to clothing and shoes, allowing Wheeling workers to track the deadly dust home.

Asbestos Attorney in Wheeling, WV - What should I look for?

After 30 years of representing thousands of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos victims, our asbestos attorneys know what is required to succeed, especially in mesothelioma cases. The long latency of asbestos diseases means decades may pass between the time of an injury and a diagnosis of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related disease. Over the years, companies change names, merge, and go bankrupt.

If a client worked at a Wheeling steel mill over 15 years, procedures and products may have changed from one year to the next; the structure itself may have changed in minor and major ways. The auto garage where a client changed break pads may have been razed decades ago. Our Wheeling asbestos lawyers are already familiar local companies, including the many changes they have undergone over the years.

A large arsenal of corporate documents, depositions, and medical articles dating back to the 1930's have been collected over time by our Wheeling asbestos attorneys. Our asbestos attorneys are supported by an experienced and dedicated support staff and work with world-renowned doctors who are experts in diagnosing and treating mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer caused by asbestos.

Our Wheeling asbestos lawyers are well-equipped to vigorously prosecute your asbestos case and our track record in asbestos litigation shows our experience; we have won jury verdicts in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan. In addition to our courtroom experience, we understand when to settle and how to achieve maximum asbestos compensation settlements.

WV Asbestos Lawyer Bruce E. Mattock

Asbestos Attorney Bruce E. Mattock is licensed to practice law by 5 US Bar associations in addition to the West Virginia Bar Association. A member of the West Virginia Bar since 1995, Mr. Mattock has experience in several areas of civil law, including Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawsuits, Occupational Disease, Product Liability Claims, and Toxic Torts/Harmful Chemical Exposures.

If you are looking for an experienced asbestos attorney in Wheeling, contact Asbestos Attorney Bruce E. Mattock or any of our West Virginia personal injury lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation. We are happy to answer any questions regarding your injuries and potential case. Click here to contact GPW now.

If you are looking for a Wheeling mesothelioma lawyer or asbestos attorney, we have the experience and knowledge to aggressively represent you. Your case is unique and we want to provide effective counsel based on your unique situation. There is no fee or obligation for to discuss your case evaluation with one of our attorneys.