Oregon Mesothelioma Lawyer

When you need a mesothelioma lawyer in Oregon, you need a law firm with experience, compassion, and dedication. At Bergman Oslund Udo Little, asbestos litigation is all we do, allowing us to provide you with highly specialized attention, support, and advocacy. Our award-winning attorneys have been helping asbestos-exposure victims since 1995 and we have recovered more than a billion dollars on their behalf.

A mesothelioma diagnosis brings about expensive medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and lost quality time with loved ones. This cancer is almost always the result of asbestos exposure decades earlier. This devastating illness could have been prevented if asbestos product manufacturers and users had warned about the harmful effects of asbestos.

You shouldn’t have to bear the costs. These companies profited greatly from knowingly exposing you to a toxic carcinogenic product.

Our talented Oregon mesothelioma attorneys at Bergman Oslund Udo Little know firsthand the toll a mesothelioma diagnosis takes on an individual and a family, and we are passionate about holding these companies accountable.

Our law firm devotes all our time and resources to helping clients in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest recover the maximum compensation available for asbestos diseases. Call us today at 206-957-9510 to start your mesothelioma claim.

Why Choose Bergman Oslund Udo Little to Handle Your Mesothelioma Claim

When you hire the skilled Oregon mesothelioma lawyers at Bergman Oslund Udo Little, we treat you like family and provide comprehensive advocacy, support, and legal representation. Our law firm offers individualized care and has the resources to wage an effective fight against asbestos defendants.

Asbestos exposure claims are complex because large manufacturers invest considerable resources into fighting against severely ill workers rather than paying the compensation they deserve. We know what it takes to hold them accountable. Our successful case results include the following:

$30 million verdict in the case of a 67-year-old Oregon man with mesothelioma
$11.2 million for a 75-year-old former shipyard worker with mesothelioma
$10 million for a 79-year-old with mesothelioma and his wife, who was exposed to asbestos through his work clothing
$8.3 million for a former Navy electrician and shipyard worker diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 79
$6.8 million for a woman diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 61 as a result of take-home asbestos on her father’s work clothes

Our founding attorney Matthew Bergman has represented over 850 mesothelioma clients and is actively involved in legislative efforts to shape asbestos litigation law.

Where in Oregon Are People Exposed to Asbestos?

Most asbestos exposures occurred in the past, but some Oregonians may continue to be exposed through legacy asbestos, which has remained in place since asbestos was in common use. The most common sources of asbestos exposure include the following:

The workplace – This is by far the most common source of asbestos exposure.
The home – Workers have unwittingly brought asbestos fibers home on work clothes, and older homes may contain asbestos in numerous components.
Schools – Asbestos was widely used in the construction of public schools and colleges until approximately 1980, and these buildings may still contain asbestos.

After the harmful effects of asbestos became publicly known in the late 1970s, it largely fell out of use. However, residences, public buildings, and industrial machinery containing asbestos are still in service. Consequently, workers in the following occupations continue to face high risks of asbestos exposure:

Construction workers
Skilled labor, including pipefitters, boilermakers, and electricians
Factory workers
Firefighters
Shipyard workers
Schoolteachers

Asbestos becomes dangerous when the material containing it becomes damaged or wears down, allowing the toxic fibers to become airborne. The industries with the highest concentration of asbestos at job sites are discussed below.

Timber Products

As a logging state, Oregon is a major producer of wood and paper products, including paper and paperboard. 

Pulp mills and paper mills are significant sources of asbestos exposure, with asbestos found in the following areas:

Pipe and equipment insulation
Drying machines
Boilers, pumps, valves, and other industrial equipment

Boilers, piping and other steam equipment used to power paper and wood product mills were often insulated with asbestos-containing products.

Asbestos was commonly used in some wood products. It was used in adhesives to make them more spreadable, stronger, and fire-resistant. It was sometimes used in dryer felts for paper making or added to pulp to for pitch control. Industrial talc, which often contained asbestos, was also used in the paper-making process.

Factories

Factories commonly used industrial equipment prone to high heat and fire risk. Asbestos was useful for insulation and fire prevention. It also added strength and flexibility to industrial adhesives, gaskets, and textiles. It was used in electrical wiring, high-pressure pipes, insulation around hot water pipes, and in boiler insulation.

Metals

Steel mills used spray-on asbestos insulation to line steel beams to increase fire resistance in commercial buildings. Sprayed fireproofing often contained asbestos until the 1970s and, even after, contained a mineral called vermiculite known to be contaminated with asbestos fibers. This form of asbestos often degrades and becomes friable as it ages. It is easily damaged, making it especially dangerous due to the ease with which it can become airborne.

Foundries and metal fabrication companies that rely on high heat to shape metals used asbestos as insulation and to prevent fires. It could be found on pipe lagging, fan housing insulation, sand mold insulation, and even in protective gloves and clothing.

Food Processing Facilities

Agriculture is big business throughout the state, and machinery used in food and drink processing, including breweries, has historically contained asbestos in valves, flanges, gaskets, electrical wiring, and components prone to heat or fire. Commercial filters used in brewing and distilling contained asbestos, as did some types of fiberglass piping used to transport liquids in food processing facilities. It was commonly used in hot pads and stove insulation.

Railroads

Oregon is home to nearly 2,500 miles of railroad, with an all-time high of 3,300 miles. The two major railroads in Oregon are BNSF Railway Company and Union Pacific. Numerous short lines also run through the state.

Railroad workers may be exposed to asbestos in the following areas:

Engine components that produce heat or steam
Brakes
Steam pipes
Insulation throughout the trains
Residual asbestos in cars that transported asbestos products
Railroad ties
Plumbing
Electrical wiring
Heating and cooling systems

Shipyards

Oregon is home to numerous shipyards, including Swan Island shipyards and the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation along the Willamette River in Portland. Asbestos was used in nearly every component of ships, especially during wartime, exposing shipbuilders, maintenance workers, and military personnel serving aboard sea vessels. Ship dismantling and repair work in shipyards and naval facilities along the Columbia River also exposed workers to asbestos.

Asbestos was valued on ships because it was lightweight and provided fire prevention and waterproofing benefits. Asbestos-containing components in ships include the following:

Hull insulation
Pipe insulation
Boiler insulation
Electrical wiring
Engine components
Wall insulation
Adhesives

Power Plants and Utility Companies

Oregon’s power plants and utility companies used asbestos extensively in electrical wiring, steam pipes, turbines, and boilers. 

Aerospace and Transportation

In the aerospace and transportation industries, asbestos was used in brakes, clutches, hard metals, electrical wiring, adhesives, gaskets, and other engine components. Aerospace and transportation companies in Oregon include the following:

The Boeing Company, a manufacturer of hard metal airplane parts
PCC Structurals Inc., a manufacturer of aerospace and automotive products
Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a manufacturer of semis and buses

Construction Sites

Asbestos becomes dangerous when it is airborne. It becomes airborne when the material containing asbestos is disturbed. Renovation or demolition of older buildings and infrastructure can cause asbestos exposure. Building components known to contain asbestos include the following:

Insulation
Cement pipes
Roofing felt
Roofing shingles
Flooring
Plaster
Drywall
Popcorn ceilings

When buildings are destroyed by fire, a large amount of asbestos can be disturbed, exposing firefighters and first responders to the toxic mineral. Construction workers who clean up buildings damaged by fires or other natural disasters also have a heightened exposure risk.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis in Oregon

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Oregon, it is important to take fast action. Because of the cancer’s aggressiveness, you will need medical treatment as soon as possible. You will also need the assistance of a seasoned mesothelioma lawyer to help you seek justice against the company that wrongfully exposed you to asbestos.

It is important to contact an attorney immediately after your diagnosis. State law sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit at just two years from your diagnosis date.

Where to Seek Treatment for Mesothelioma in Oregon

Mesothelioma is a rare disease, and most oncologists lack experience treating it. You will get the best results at a facility specializing in mesothelioma treatment. The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in Portland has a mesothelioma program with experienced doctors.

This facility offers a team approach with innovative treatment options and supportive services for patients and families. If you are from out-of-town, you can lodge for free at the Red Roof Pavilion near the facility.

Legal Options for Oregon Residents

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our mesothelioma lawyers in Oregon can help you file a lawsuit to pursue damages for the following:

Past and future medical expenses
Past and future lost wages, if applicable
Pain and suffering
Loss of society
Wrongful death damages

We can help you discover where and how you were exposed to asbestos, and we can use this information to determine what manufacturers are responsible. In some cases, multiple parties may be liable.

A mesothelioma lawsuit is only one option. We can also help you explore other methods of obtaining compensation, including the following:

Asbestos trust fund claims
Workers’ compensation
VA claims

The asbestos trust funds currently have approximately $30 billion available for asbestos-exposure victims. Asbestos product manufacturers that declared bankruptcy due to the large number of asbestos-exposure lawsuits against them established these funds.

We Are Here for You

When you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, our compassionate and experienced Oregon mesothelioma lawyers will be there for you. We will work closely with you so we can understand your needs and goals, fully tell the story of how mesothelioma has impacted you and your family, negotiate settlements, and handle all of your legal details for you. 

Don’t let the statute of limitations expire before you get the justice you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.