Mesothelioma & Asbestos Litigation for GM – Company may face billions in Mesothelioma Claims

A recent hearing has given permission for claimants to pursue General Motors (GM) for asbestos-related recoveries. This could end up costing GM billions of dollars not counting future claims which will end up costing GM even more. GM is said to have used asbestos in the manufacturing of brake lining in the past but due to the latency period workers are now showing signs of asbestos-related illnesses.

GM Asbestos Litigation Under Review

U.S. bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber gave his permission this week for creditors to have access to GM’s records and other documents to gather information about their claimants’ age, diagnosis and work history in addition to determine how much the company will have to pay out in asbestos claims due to mesothelioma cancer. Motors Liquidation Co. will settle liability claims from GM’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to set aside a trust for claims that may appear down the road.

Overview of Asbestos Exposure

In general, workers who are exposure to asbestos have worked directly with asbestos or have repaired or handled something that has asbestos in it. Workers at GM transmission plants and mechanics who worked on clutch parts and brake pads that had asbestos fibers are at an increased risk of being exposed to the dust particles that caused mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer of the lungs that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. Studies have also shown that lung cancer and asbestosis are also caused by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure Risks

Asbestos particles that are inhaled stays in the lung causing devastating effects decades later. Due to the latency period after being exposed to asbestos, symptoms of asbestos-related sickness may not present itself for 30 years or more. Once mesothelioma is detected the average life expectancy is around one year. Currently there is no cure for mesothelioma, but if this aggressive and deadly cancer is detected early and treated aggressively, it can increase the life expectancy for those affected.

Asbestos Claims on the Rise

Recently the number of asbestos claims has increased. Approximately 1,500 new cases of asbestos-related illnesses are diagnosed annually and over 720,000 people in the United States have filed claims for asbestos-related illnesses.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is extremely difficult to diagnose because symptoms that appear are very similar to people suffering from influenza or less severe illnesses. Once mesothelioma is detected some of these symptoms will emerge:

• Shortness of breath
• Pain in the chest area
• Coughing up blood
• Fever
• Weight loss
• Difficulty swallowing
• Persistent dry cough
• Excessive fatigue

Take Action

If you are an ex-employee of GM or have worked as an auto mechanic and repaired clutches and brakes or if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos at some point, you should contact a mesothelioma law firm who is experienced in handling asbestos related litigations. The companies should be held responsible for the pain and suffering caused by their neglect and the manufacturing of products made with asbestos minerals.