Union: UAW / IAM

How Auto & Brake Mechanics Were Exposed to Asbestos

During normal duties, Auto & Brake Mechanics were routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials in Minnesota industrial, commercial, and public construction work from the 1930s through the 1980s. Documented exposure pathways drawn from public litigation records and industrial hygiene literature include:

  • Blowing out brake drums with compressed air during brake jobs
  • Grinding and arc-grinding asbestos brake linings to size
  • Replacing asbestos clutch facings in cars and trucks
  • Handling asbestos-containing brake parts supplied to auto dealerships and fleet shops
  • Working with asbestos-containing gaskets on engines and manifolds

Why This Matters for Minnesota Workers

If you worked as a auto & brake mechanics in Minnesota during the asbestos era and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or pleural disease, you may have a legal claim — even if your employer is no longer in business. Many asbestos product manufacturers have established bankruptcy trust funds that continue to pay qualified claimants based on documented exposure history.

Minnesota Filing Deadlines — Two Separate Clocks

Minnesota keeps the personal-injury clock (Minn. Stat. § 541.051(1)(a) — 2 years from diagnosis) and the wrongful-death clock (Minn. Stat. § 573.02 — 3 years from date of death) on separate, independent tracks. Preserving one does not extend the other. An experienced Minnesota asbestos attorney can keep both options open as your situation evolves.

Talk to an Experienced Minnesota Asbestos Attorney

A free, confidential consultation with O’Brien Law Firm in St. Louis can evaluate your specific exposure history and filing-deadline situation. No fee unless they pursue a legal claim.

☎ (314) 237-7046

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