Legal Options for Mesothelioma Victims
You or a loved one can get compensation for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases through a few different options. The two main ones are lawsuits and trust fund claims.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
You may be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit for compensation from the makers of asbestos-containing products, who knew the risks but hid them to make money.
Mesothelioma lawsuits often award $1 million or more, and nearly all of them settle before anyone has to enter a courtroom.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Some asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy to avoid getting sued. However, many were forced to set aside money in trust funds to pay people who were harmed. Asbestos trust funds contain over $30 billion as of September 2024.
Quick Facts on Mesothelioma Legal Help
- An asbestos lawyer can help you file lawsuits with multiple asbestos companies and trust funds.
- According to Mealey’s® Litigation Reports, mesothelioma lawsuits settle for an average of $1 million to $1.4 million.
- Mesothelioma trial verdicts typically award $5 million to $11.4 million on average.
- Veterans can file for VA benefits with mesothelioma attorney assistance if their cancer was caused by military asbestos exposure to get benefits worth $4,044.91 a month in most cases.
If you’re looking for an experienced mesothelioma attorney, get help preparing for your meeting. Download our Free Attorney Checklist for questions to ask as you decide who to choose.
Top 3 Benefits of Getting Mesothelioma Attorney Assistance
Qualified mesothelioma lawyers have decades of experience filing legal claims and know how to build strong cases on behalf of their clients.
Learn about the benefits for you and your loved ones when getting mesothelioma attorney assistance.
1. Pursue Compensation for Mesothelioma Treatment
On average, it can cost over $400,000 to treat mesothelioma. This doesn’t include costs like travel to and from hospitals, prescription co-pays, diagnostic testing, and other medical expenses.
Money should never keep you from pursuing treatment. With mesothelioma legal help, you and your loved ones are able to seek financial compensation to pay for life-changing care.
2. Provide Financial Security for Loved Ones
In addition to covering treatment costs, mesothelioma legal help can secure financial stability for your family. This peace of mind can help ensure your loved ones are taken care of, both now and in the future.
Many mesothelioma patients experience debt, lost wages, and unexpected costs. Lawsuit and trust fund payouts can reduce your financial stress so you can spend more quality time with family.
3. Hold Negligent Asbestos Companies Accountable
For decades, asbestos companies knew this mineral caused mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. But because they prioritized profits over people, they did nothing to protect or inform workers and their families.
Decades later, about 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. Filing a legal claim sends a clear message: Asbestos manufacturers cannot get away with the harm they caused.
“While there is a lot of gray in the world, I also know that there is right and there is wrong. And corporations that are responsible for asbestos use making a profit off of people’s pain and lives is wrong.”
Ready to pursue compensation for treatment and hold asbestos companies accountable? Get a Free Case Review now to protect your legal rights.
Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review
Lawsuits for Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma legal help often means filing a lawsuit. Learn more about the different types of mesothelioma lawsuits below.
Mesothelioma Personal Injury Lawsuits
Personal injury lawsuits are filed directly against the companies that exposed a mesothelioma victim to asbestos. These lawsuits are filed by the person who was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma attorneys can help you with a personal injury lawsuit by:
- Determining when, where, and how you were exposed to asbestos
- Finding out which asbestos companies may be responsible
- Gathering evidence proving your exposure
- Making sure your claim is filed by the proper deadline
- Fighting to get the highest lawsuit settlement payout for you
Your asbestos attorney will walk you through every aspect of the lawsuit process. Nearly all mesothelioma lawsuits end in a settlement — which means you and your family may never have to step foot in court.
Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuits
If an asbestos victim passes away from mesothelioma, their family members or estate representatives may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
In wrongful death lawsuits, your asbestos attorney will show how asbestos-containing products made by manufacturers caused or contributed to the person’s death.
From there, your attorney can demand compensation from the asbestos companies responsible.
“It’s my job to carry the worry and the anxiety and the fear that you have in this process. That’s our responsibility at Simmons Hanly Conroy, not the client’s. We want to be a part of their support, and a part of their care team, but on the legal side.”
Mesothelioma Class Action Lawsuits
In the 1990s, one of the most popular forms of mesothelioma legal help was a class-action lawsuit.
These lawsuits allowed groups of victims to file one collective lawsuit against a company. In return, each victim received the same amount of money. However, victims of asbestos exposure often did not receive a fair amount of money back from class-action lawsuits.
For this reason, mesothelioma class-action lawsuits are rarely filed today. Personal injury lawsuits, wrongful death lawsuits, and asbestos trust fund claims are much more popular options for those affected by mesothelioma.
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Asbestos Trust Fund Compensation
People with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses can use mesothelioma legal help to seek asbestos trust fund compensation. Many companies had to set up asbestos trust funds when they filed for bankruptcy to dodge mounting lawsuits.
Here’s how the asbestos trust funds process works:
- Your lawyer will determine which trust funds you can file claims with.
- Your lawyer files the trust fund claims, outlining how, when, and where the asbestos exposure occurred and how this caused mesothelioma.
- The board of trustees (those operating the trust fund) reviews the claim.
- Compensation is awarded, and you start receiving payments.
Many people start to see payments within 90 days or less. More than 60 trusts are active today, and mesothelioma victims typically qualify to file claims with multiple trusts.
Are you owed money from asbestos trust funds? Access Asbestos Trust Funds now to find out and start filing a claim.
Mesothelioma Case Values
Each lawsuit has a case value, which is how much money the victim can expect to receive. The average mesothelioma case value depends on whether or not the case is settled out of court or goes to trial, along with other factors.
Our trusted legal partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy, has extensive experience securing the highest compensation possible for their clients. See some of the firm’s top results below.
- $30 billion has been set aside in asbestos trust funds to pay mesothelioma victims
- $1 million to $1.4 million average settlement amount
- $9.6+ billion recovered for families by Simmons Hanly Conroy
- $5 million to $11.4 million average verdict amount
Simmons Hanly Conroy, Mealey’s® Litigation Report: Asbestos, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office
Mesothelioma Settlements
The average mesothelioma settlement awards between $1 million and 1.4 million. Your potential payout depends on several factors, including how many companies are sued.
Notable settlements recovered by our legal partners include:
- $13.1 million for a carpenter with pleural mesothelioma
- $12 million to a former laborer with pleural mesothelioma
- $10.5 million to a former pipefitter and maintenance worker
- $8 million for a plumber and pipefitter with pleural mesothelioma
- $6.5 million to a man who worked as a boilermaker and in other high-risk asbestos jobs
- $4.1 million to a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former carpenter
- $3.64 million for a delivery worker with peritoneal mesothelioma
You may qualify for settlements from dozens of manufacturers, depending on which asbestos-based products you were exposed to.
Our partner law firm works on a contingency basis, meaning they only get paid if your family does. It costs nothing to get started.
Mesothelioma Verdicts
Only about 1% of the mesothelioma lawsuits our partner law firm handles go to trial. If a mesothelioma case goes to trial, a judge or jury decides if and how much money you’ll receive.
Mesothelioma verdicts secured by our partner law firm include:
- $250 million to a former steelworker from Indiana
- $40 million to a veteran exposed to asbestos on Navy ships
- $30 million to a former construction supervisor from California
- $10 million for the family of an insulator in Missouri
- $7.1 million to the loved ones of a nurse with secondhand asbestos exposure
After his diagnosis, retired auto mechanic Arthur “Art” Putt sought mesothelioma legal help to cover his treatment and make sure his family would be taken care of. His lawyer filed a claim against Ford Motor Company for exposing him to asbestos products that made him sick.
The case went to court, where a jury ruled in Art’s favor, resulting in a multimillion-dollar verdict.
Find an asbestos law firm that will work to get the highest payouts in your case. Download our Free Attorney Checklist to help you choose the right lawyer.
How Long Does a Mesothelioma Lawsuit Last?
Payout timelines for mesothelioma lawsuits vary with each case.
That said, many clients who have worked with our partner law firm have started seeing their first settlement checks in 90 days or less.
Dee and John Stahl reached out to Simmons Hanly Conroy, a mesothelioma law firm, to pursue justice after John’s stage 4 mesothelioma diagnosis. View Transcript.
Duration: 4 min 40 sec
Dee Stahl:
The day started out fine. We got up and John, which is unusual for him, just came out of the bedroom
and just sat down and he said, “I just don’t feel good,” and I knew something was wrong because John
doesn’t complain. I said, “Well, I think we should probably go to the ER.”
They found out that there was over two liters of fluid on his left lung and they were amazed that he was
even able to breathe, period. They did a CAT scan then that’s when he just said, “You have stage four
mesothelioma, John.”
John Stahl:
I was kind of blank. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t realize that my job had exposed me to this.
Dee Stahl:
We’re the Stahls. I’m Dee, and this is my husband, John.
John Stahl:
My name is John Stahl. I was first exposed to asbestos poisoning through the construction business,
through Sheetrock, through gaskets and piping all through my career, and I worked 43 years in construction business. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid. The first treatment was with chemotherapy and I went every two weeks. It didn’t take long, an hour or so, but it’d take me seven to 10 days to recover. That was hard for me because I’m a pretty active person.
Dee Stahl:
Asbestos is poison and it’s a prescription for death.
John Stahl:
Yeah.
Dee Stahl:
I don’t know …
John Stahl:
It’s not curable.
Dee Stahl:
Right.
John Stahl:
Well, at first it didn’t really sink in. The longer and longer I thought about it, it’s going to end my life
eventually, but I’m going to live it as well as I can.
Dee Stahl:
It made me mad and sad to think that these manufacturers could continue knowing that there was
asbestos that could hurt people, continued to make these products for how many years, years and years, and look what it’s done to the love of my life.
It’s heartbreaking. We filed a mesothelioma lawsuit because John deserves it. We found out about
Simmons Hanly Conroy when we received a letter introducing us to Todd, and within days, couple of
days, Todd called and we just clicked.
John Stahl:
Filing the lawsuit was easy because Todd made it easy. He explained what was going to happen. It was
pretty simple.
Dee Stahl:
It’s been fantastic. I can’t put into words because anytime Todd would call, it was, “How’s John doing?
How’s my buddy John doing and how are you doing?” He just made you comfortable. It was a great
experience.
John Stahl:
My kids are gonna be taken care of, Dee’s gonna be taken care of, so it’s a peace of mind knowing that I
don’t have to worry about them going down the road.
Dee Stahl:
I want people out there to realize that there is help and they can get assistance and get a settlement
from these manufacturers that continue to use this and know that it was dangerous for people.
John Stahl:
We filed a mesothelioma lawsuit to hold companies accountable. It’s important people understand that
there’s help and there’s people there willing to help them go through this process of making these
companies liable for what they’ve caused.
Get Mesothelioma Legal Advice Today
If your family is feeling overwhelmed by the financial impacts of mesothelioma, you aren’t alone. Mesothelioma Hope is standing by with free resources and support to help you manage this journey with less stress.
Our team can provide mesothelioma legal aid by:
- Answering your questions about lawsuits
- Connecting you with a reputable asbestos attorney
- Determining which trust funds you may be eligible for
- Helping you file a mesothelioma claim
To get personalized mesothelioma legal advice, call us at (866) 608-8933 or set up a free consultation today. Our team can determine which legal options may be available to you.
Mesothelioma Legal Information FAQs
Why do people sue for mesothelioma?
People sue for mesothelioma to get compensation for the harm caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Manufacturers knew their products caused health issues as early as the 1930s, but hid the truth from workers and consumers.
An asbestos lawyer can provide mesothelioma legal help by determining how you were exposed and which asbestos manufacturers may be responsible.
Where can I find more information on mesothelioma and legal options?
You can get mesothelioma legal information from lawyers and law firms that have knowledge of asbestos litigation. They can tell you about your options and file lawsuits or asbestos trust fund claims on your behalf.
An experienced mesothelioma legal professional can also help you learn about other ways to get compensation, like Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and VA disability benefits.
How long do I have to file a mesothelioma lawsuit?
You typically need to file a lawsuit within 2-3 years after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Each state has different laws, known as statutes of limitations, that restrict the time you have to file a lawsuit. Once the statute of limitations passes, you may no longer be able to take legal action.
An asbestos lawyer can help you understand the statute that applies to your claim. Don’t wait: Contact us to get help filing right now.
Will I have to go to court for a mesothelioma legal case?
In most cases, no. Nearly every case our partner mesothelioma law firm handles is settled out of court.
Most lawyers want to avoid going to trial since trials take longer and there’s no guarantee of getting mesothelioma compensation. Your lawyers will prepare your case in the event a trial is needed but will do all they can to get a fair settlement for you out of court.
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