ASBESTOS IN INDIANA
A car crash into an Indiana government building may have released toxic asbestos dust

November 3, 2009 - When a car crashed into the Lake County Government Center cafeteria in Crown Point, Indiana, last week, officials disclosed that asbestos may have been released into the air.

Airborne asbestos fibers would have emanated from damaged ceiling tiles, said John Dull, attorney for the County Commissioners in this Indiana town.

Dull said it is likely that the collision knocked the ceiling tiles loose. The asbestos in the tiles was considered safe unless disturbed, which it certainly was by the car crash accident, he said. The county has not yet conducted air quality tests.

After the incident occurred, crews reportedly hung plastic sheeting to seal off the south half of the lunchroom to prevent possible asbestos contamination.

Asbestos in Indiana

Used heavily as a building material until the 1980s, asbestos was hailed as a miracle mineral for its fire retardant properties. When added to construction materials, such as ceiling tiles, it made materials strong, durable, and resistant to heat, flame and chemicals.

Health agencies and U.S. courts recognize that inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can lead to asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, a cancer that takes decades to develop. Once symptoms have emerged, however, a person can die within months.

Mesothelioma kills approximately 3,000 persons every year in the United States, and thousands more worldwide. Most victims are retired workers who were exposed to the toxic element during employment activities.

The truth about asbestos

Despite the fatal diseases associated with asbestos exposure, asbestos is still imported and used in the United States for its insulation properties. The United States imported and used an estimated 1,820 tons of asbestos in 2007, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Government sources estimate that in the next decade more than 35,000 people nationwide will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most often the result of asbestos exposure on jobs – and usually contracted through employers’ preference for quick profits over the expense of maintaining a safe workplace.

Time to seek justice

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and seek a free case review, please notify us through the communication form on this page. We will pursue your claim with vigilance to help you pay for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.

Please know, the firm works on a contingency basis so there is no cost to you until we obtain a verdict or settlement in your favor.