If you or a loved one worked for A-Best Products Company and has since been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for financial compensation. The A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust pays victims and their families for injuries caused by its asbestos-containing products. Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP to find out if you are entitled to file a claim. We offer free case consultations.
A-Best Products That Contain Asbestos
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that are connected to serious illnesses. A-Best Products Company is one of many manufacturers that relied on asbestos as a main ingredient in its products until the 1980s. A-Best included asbestos in products and materials that it distributed worldwide – mainly, textiles used for safety clothing and protective gear. This gear was used widely by factory, industrial and emergency workers. The company was founded in 1947 and began manufacturing asbestos materials starting around 1970.
Asbestos-containing products manufactured by A-Best include:
- Aprons
- Blankets
- Canvas
- Carpeting
- Coats
- Drapes
- Drop cloths
- Fire blankets
- Gloves
- Leggings
- Mittens
- Overalls
Some of these products were made from 100 percent asbestos, while others had asbestos fibers woven into other materials, such as cotton and rayon, for added protection. If these items became ripped, torn, worn down or damaged in any way, they could release asbestos particles into the air and put the wearer and anyone in the vicinity at risk of asbestos exposure.
According to information released by the National Cancer Institute, there is no “safe” level of asbestos exposure; contact with even a small amount of asbestos can be enough to cause mesothelioma – an aggressive and terminal form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Other illnesses connected to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural conditions.
Who Is Most at Risk of Exposure to Asbestos From A-Best Products?
Many occupations relied on A-Best’s asbestos-containing fabrics, clothing and gear to protect workers from dangerous job conditions. The most common were jobs that involved high heat settings, as asbestos was frequently used for its heat-resistant properties.
Any worker who used products from A-Best – as well as the worker’s family members due to the risk of secondary exposure – could be at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases and injuries. Secondary exposure can occur from asbestos-containing gear and clothing entering the worker’s home and exposing his or her loved ones.
The workers with the highest risk of asbestos exposure from A-Best products include:
- Electricians
- Emergency personnel
- Factory workers
- Firefighters
- First responders
- Foundry workers
- Glassworkers
- Industrial workers
- Manufacturing facility workers
- Plant workers
- Shipyard workers
- Steel mill workers
- Textile mill workers
The average latency period for the development of mesothelioma ranges from 20-60+ years from the date of asbestos exposure. This means workers may not realize they were exposed to asbestos from A-Best products until many years later. No matter how long ago an individual was exposed to asbestos, however, he or she may qualify for compensation from the A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust.
What Is the A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust?
A-Best ceased its production of asbestos-containing products in 1984. Three years later, in 1987, the International Agency for Research on Cancer confirmed that all six types of asbestos were carcinogenic, meaning they could cause cancer in humans. In the following years, A-Best faced more than 50,000 legal claims as a result of using asbestos in its products despite known health risks.
By 2002, A-Best Products Company had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the number of lawsuits against it for occupational asbestos exposure. The A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust was established in 2004 as part of the company’s restructuring for bankruptcy. Asbestos trust funds are sources of compensation available for mesothelioma victims after a company goes bankrupt.
Here are the basic facts about the A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust:
- Assets at the time of founding: $18 million
- Assets as of 2022: approximately $9 million
- Number of claims paid: over 9,000
- Payment percentage as of 2020: 18 percent
Unlike a mesothelioma lawsuit, an asbestos trust fund claim can provide automatic compensation for eligible claimants. Qualifying for compensation from the A-Best Asbestos Trust requires completing and filing the Claim Form, submitted along with evidence of asbestos exposure connected to the company and a related diagnosis.
Steps to Take to File an A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust Claim
The A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust offers financial compensation to victims who suffer from both malignant and nonmalignant asbestos-related diseases. Eligible parties can receive payments for related medical bills, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, and death benefits for a deceased loved one. The A-Best trust establishes four disease levels, with different settlement values for each. These values range from Nonmalignant Asbestos-Related Disease at $1,100 to Mesothelioma (Level IV) at $30,500.
Take the following steps to file a claim with the A-Best Asbestos Trust:
- Contact a mesothelioma attorney – call Bailey & Glasser, LLP to learn more about this asbestos trust fund and how to access compensation for your losses before you begin. Hiring an attorney can make the claims process easier for you and your family during this difficult time.
- Gather information – obtain copies of all important documents related to your case, including the injured party’s information, medical records from the diagnosing physician, a death certificate (if applicable) and information regarding your exposure to A-Best asbestos products.
- File the claim form – complete and submit the required claim form to the A-Best Asbestos Trust. If accepted, your claim will be paid using the current payment percentage.
While there is no statute of limitations (filing deadline) on asbestos trust fund claims, these claims are paid on a first-in, first-out basis. If multiple claims are filed on the same day, the trust will organize them based on the claimant’s date of diagnosis. Joining the queue as soon as possible after discovering an injury connected to A-Best asbestos products can protect your ability to obtain financial compensation from the trust and lead to a faster payout.
Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, find out if you are eligible for compensation from the A-Best Asbestos Settlement Trust. Request a free initial case consultation with an attorney at Bailey & Glasser, LLP. Call (866) 871-7971 or contact us online to speak to an asbestos attorney today.
