Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Highest-Risk Occupations

Goodyear began using asbestos as early as 1913, with some branches of the company continuing to use it until the mid 1980s.

Because Goodyear had such diverse interests—manufacturing everything from flooring to industrial and aircraft brake linings—and such a long history of asbestos use, its asbestos exposure footprint is very broad, impacting workers across multiple industries and professions.   

Who Is at Highest Risk for Exposure?

Anyone who worked in a Goodyear manufacturing facility was likely exposed to asbestos through the products they made, the facilities where they worked, or the machinery they used. Others were exposed through the use of Goodyear’s asbestos-containing products. 

Although there is no safe amount of asbestos exposure, those exposed to asbestos daily through their work face the highest risks for later developing an asbestos-related illness.    

Factory Workers

Workers at Goodyear manufacturing plants were exposed to asbestos from insulation on pipes and boilers, as well as from equipment components like valves and gaskets.

Over time, routine wear and tear released asbestos fibers into the air, creating exposure risks even for employees who did not handle these materials directly. 

Boiler Technicians

Boiler workers encountered high levels of asbestos when repairing and servicing boilers at Goodyear facilities. Tasks like cutting and applying asbestos materials, such as gaskets or insulation, released fibers into the air.

This work often occurred in confined spaces, and many workers did not wear protective gear because they were unaware of the dangers. 

Mechanics

Goodyear used asbestos-containing brake components in its industrial machinery and also produced aircraft brake linings made with asbestos.

Mechanics who installed, repaired, or maintained these systems were at elevated risk of exposure, increasing their chances of developing serious asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Family Members Exposed to Secondhand Asbestos

Family members harmed by secondhand exposure during chores like laundering asbestos-contaminated work clothes may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits.

Surviving dependents may qualify for compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Asbestos Products

Asbestos was widely used in manufacturing because it increased durability, reduced conductivity, and improved resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals. These properties made it a common industrial additive throughout much of the 20th century across a wide range of industries.

Goodyear used asbestos in its facilities and products for more than 70 years, from 1913 to 1984. While the company no longer uses asbestos, legacy materials—such as gaskets and insulation—may still remain in older facilities, continuing to pose potential exposure risks today.

Top Asbestos-Containing Products

• Adhesives
• Aircraft brakes
• Burn shields
• Cranite
• Durabla
• Gaskets
• Industrial brakes
• Insulation
• Insulating cement
• Mastic
• Seals
• Sheet packing
• Vinyl tiles

Securing Compensation From Goodyear Tire

Goodyear Tire & Rubber put countless workers and consumers at risk by recklessly incorporating asbestos into its manufacturing plants and products.

If you or a family member worked with Goodyear products or in one of its factories, you may be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit.

Claimants with a valid case against Goodyear may also qualify for payments from other solvent asbestos companies or asbestos trust funds. Some claimants may have additional compensation options, including VA benefits or workers’ compensation.

We can help you determine your eligibility for free. Contact us today to learn more about your options and the potential value of your claim.

It’s critical to act quickly when filing claims against companies like Goodyear. In most states, you have an average of only two to three years to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim following diagnosis or death. Once the eligibility window closes, options for securing compensation are limited. Working with an asbestos litigation specialist ensures your claim meets legal deadlines, so you can secure the maximum compensation you’re owed.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Filing a Lawsuit

Unlike many former asbestos manufacturers, Goodyear is still solvent and has never filed for bankruptcy or established an asbestos trust fund. Instead, the company handles claims through the civil court system. 

Victims of Goodyear asbestos exposure may be eligible to file lawsuits to recover compensation.

There are two primary types of lawsuits victims and their family members use when seeking justice:

• Personal injury lawsuit: This allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: This allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

While some claims go all the way to trial, it’s actually relatively rare.

Most asbestos claims end in out-of-court settlements, which are negotiated payments agreed upon by the claimant and the defendant. Settlements offer claimants a relatively quick route to compensation without the stress of going to trial.

Key Requirements to File

• Diagnosis: Claimants must have a diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness (such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis) OR proof of a wrongful death from an asbestos-related illness. 
• Proof of exposure: Claimants must have documentation linking the victim’s illness to asbestos exposure from Goodyear through employment or use of their products. 
• Statute of limitations: Potential claimants have a limited time to file a claim. Deadlines vary by state, with most averaging just two to three years, so it’s critical to move quickly.

Notable Lawsuits Against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Public awareness of asbestos-related health risks grew significantly in the 1960s. By the 1970s, increasing numbers of affected individuals began filing lawsuits against companies such as Goodyear.

Since then, Goodyear has faced more than 62,000 asbestos claims and paid over $500 million in settlements and verdicts. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness linked to Goodyear products or operations, you may have options for seeking compensation.

Contact us for a free case evaluation to learn more.

Goodyear Tire’s Involvement With Asbestos

Charles and Frank Seiberling founded the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 1898. Although the company still makes tires, it has also expanded into other fields, manufacturing gaskets, flooring, and aircraft components, growing into a recognizable global brand. 

However, some of this growth came at the expense of workers and consumers, many of whom were exposed to asbestos through the company’s operations. Goodyear used asbestos for more than 70 years, incorporating it into its facilities and including it in a range of products beginning as early as 1913.

Several Goodyear subsidiaries, such as the Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., also used asbestos in their operations, further expanding the company’s asbestos footprint. Although Goodyear stopped using asbestos in 1984, it had already injured tens of thousands of workers. 

Contact Us for a Free Case Assessment

Trial records show that Goodyear knew about the dangers asbestos posed to workers’ health as early as 1939. However, the company continued using asbestos in its plants and products for another 46 years. During this time, it consistently failed to warn employees and end users about the dangers of asbestos. 

If you or a family member has been exposed to asbestos by Goodyear and been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma, you may be eligible for compensation. Our legal partners, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, are experts in asbestos litigation. Their experienced team has secured over $500 million in compensation for victims and their families.   

You don’t have to handle the filing process alone. We can help you determine your eligibility for compensation and learn more about your case for free.

Contact us for a complimentary case evaluation.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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