According to a recent study, Charleston County has a higher rate of asbestos-related deaths than the rest of South Carolina. The number in Charleston County is double the amount of any other county. Many of the doctors and researchers believe that the Charleston Naval Shipyard that closed in 1996 may be a major cause of the amount of people with asbestos.
The study shows that the state’s rate is 4.3 asbestos related deaths in every 100,000 people. The rate in the county is 9 in every 100,000. This is roughly 29 deaths each year in Charleston County.
Charleston County has a long history of shipyards and a number of ships contained asbestos. As individuals take apart older ships and buildings that may have asbestos, they become exposed to the fibers. When this happens, anyone who breathes in the fibers faces the risk of developing mesothelioma, a serious cancer. Aerospace and defense employers, textile companies, and the automobile and rail manufacturing industry also relied on asbestos.
Between 1999 and 2013, the study estimates that roughly 450 people in Charleston County died from asbestos-related causes.
New bills could make it more difficult for mesothelioma patients to obtain compensation as well. This is because they would allow corporations to delay the trial. As a result, victims of asbestos exposure would need to disclose private information and the stall could result in the patient passing away before the trial even begins.
If you or someone you love developed mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure, call Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC. Our mesothelioma attorneys are dedicated to protecting patients who are struggling with financial, physical, and emotional hardships. You may have the right to file a claim for compensation. Speak with us in a free consultation to learn more.
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