Automotive Hoodliner - Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

Hoodliners are meant to serve a number of crucial safety functions. Without an automotive hoodliner, it is very likely the hood of the car would quickly overheat and become warped, or the paint would melt. A good hoodliner keeps the hood cool and can also protect the car's engine from overheating by drawing heat away from the engine and into the core of the hoodliner material. Possibly the most important function, a hoodliner is designed to protect drivers and passengers in the event of an engine fire. When an engine catches fire, a set of bolts underneath the hood are designed to melt quickly, which releases the hoodliner onto the source of the fire. A fire-retardant hoodliner can smother a fire, giving a passenger more time to exit the vehicle.

An automobile headliner is supposed to protect people from the worst-case scenario. So what happens when the hoodliner becomes the worst-case scenario?

Over the past few decades, millions of vehicles have been manufactured with automotive hoodliners constructed from asbestos fibers. While asbestos is remarkably fire-resistant, it is also the leading cause of mesothelioma, an extremely deadly form of cancer. Many automotive mechanics and auto enthusiasts have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses as the result of working near asbestos-containing products. Asbestos fibers in the hoodliner can be disturbed during the manufature, installation, removal, and repair of the hoodliner. Even changing the oil is risky when asbestos lurks under the hood of a car. Cars manufactured with asbestos-containing automotive hoodliners, as well as other asbestos-containing auto parts, place people at risk of developing a dangerous asbestos-related illness. Because of this risk, the companies that designed and manufactured these compromised vehicles are held responsible for the pain and suffering experiened by those with asbestos-related diseases.

How many of us purchase a particular vehicle because it has extra safety features? Everyone wants to keep their family safe. When a car company manufactures vehicles with an asbestos-containing automotive hoodliner, they are undermining your right as a consumer to protect your family with the best and safest products available. If you've spent time working on your car, or chosen a career as a mechanic, you could be at risk for asbestos exposure. Those with asbestos-related disease can take action by seeking the advice of a mesothelioma attorney.

Although mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses are deadly, it can take many years for symptoms of these diseases to arise after exposure occurs, which can run anywhere between 15 and 50 years. However, this fact does not mean exposure to asbestos is safe! This gross misconception has compromised the health of countless mechanics whose employers would not follow mandatory work and safety practices.

If you or someone you love is an auto mechanic who has developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer as the result of exposure to asbestos, justice and deserved compensation can be achieved. The federal government has mandated safety procedures meant to protect mechanics from exposure to asbestos-containing hoodliners. To get the protection you need and deserve, please seek the counsel of an attorney experienced in asbestos-related litigation, so you and your family can once again feel at ease. For more information, please fill out the form on the right to receive a comprehensive packet.

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