Goodyear Workers in Madisonville, KY: Get Legal Compensation for Asbestos-Related Illnesses

(Employee ironing self-sealing gas tanks for Goodyear, circa 1940s)

If you were part of the Goodyear workforce in Madisonville, KY, you may have been exposed to asbestos. The automotive industry used asbestos in many of its products, and exposure to asbestos leads to terrible illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other diseases. The family members of Goodyear employees and consumers of its products may have also been exposed.

If you’ve developed an asbestos-related disease related to asbestos exposure from Goodyear products, you should seek legal counsel right away. A qualified team of asbestos lawyers can help you get justice and compensation for your suffering. To learn more, contact us at Satterley & Kelley, PLLC today.

The Use of Asbestos at Goodyear in Madisonville, KY

Goodyear is a household name for manufacturing tires and rubber, but the company actually made a lot of other products as well. They also made and sold adhesives, floor tiles, gaskets, brakes, and much more – and most (if not all) of these products contained asbestos.

Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, a rare terminal cancer of the chest and abdominal linings. Exposure can also lead to asbestosis as well as lung, larynx, gastrointestinal, and ovarian cancers.

The company stopped using asbestos-containing products in the 1980s, and due to the long latency period of mesothelioma, we’re currently seeing cases in people who were exposed 30 or 40 years ago.

Goodyear Workers at Risk of Asbestos-Related Diseases

At the Goodyear facility in Madisonville, KY, people who worked in the manufacturing department were exposed to asbestos. However, people who worked in the administrative and managerial departments may also have been exposed when they walked through the production areas. Additionally, the manufacturing process created a lot of asbestos-filled dust that could easily travel through the facility.

Your Rights When You Develop an Asbestos-Related Illness

Goodyear knew about the risks of asbestos, but like many other companies, it put its bottom line in front of the needs of its employees and their families. If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease as a result of exposure related to Goodyear, you have a right to compensation. Filing a lawsuit can help you get compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, you cannot bring a lawsuit against Goodyear if you worked there — Kentucky’s worker’s compensation laws prevent people from suing former employers. However, you may be able to hold suppliers of the asbestos-containing materials that you used at Goodyear liable for your injuries. Note that if you are still working for the company when you receive your diagnosis, you may be able to pursue a workers’ comp claim.

Family members who contracted mesothelioma from secondary exposure can bring a lawsuit against Goodyear. Kentucky’s laws allow you to do so because they state that employers are responsible for protecting their employees’ families from known harm. Although Goodyear knew about the risks, the company didn’t require its employees to change their clothing before they left work. As a result, workers unknowingly carried the fibers home on their clothing, creating secondary exposure.

What to Do After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you’ve developed mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illness after working at Goodyear, you should take action quickly. In Kentucky, you have one year from the date of diagnosis (also known as the date of discovery) to file a lawsuit.

Once you find a doctor to guide your medical care, the very next step is to contact a personal injury lawyer who has experience with mesothelioma cases. They can help determine the best course of action and what the next steps should be.

Get the Legal Team You Need to Guide Your Case

You don’t have to fight this battle alone. If you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos and developed a life-threatening disease as a result, you deserve justice. The companies responsible for your exposure should be held accountable.

To get help now, turn to the experienced asbestos attorneys at Satterley and Kelley, PLLC. Backed with over 30 years of collective experience, our firm has a proven track record of advocating for asbestos victims. To learn more, contact us or call us at 855-385-9532 to schedule a free consultation and explore the options.