Why Can Family Members Pursue Compensation for Mesothelioma?
Family members can pursue compensation for mesothelioma since asbestos exposure affects more than just the patient — it impacts everyone around them.
State and federal laws allow families to seek justice and financial relief when their loved one is harmed or passes away from an asbestos-related disease. Compensation helps cover the many expenses related to mesothelioma.
If your loved one has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to help them file a personal injury lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claims to pay for treatment, caregiving, and daily living costs. You may also qualify to file a wrongful death lawsuit if someone you love has passed away, helping cover funeral expenses and remaining medical bills.
“The results gave me enough financial security to provide for my children and grandchildren. Norris would be at peace knowing his efforts allowed for that.”
Losing a family member to mesothelioma is devastating, especially knowing it could have been prevented. Companies that use asbestos knowingly put people’s lives at risk — and you have the right to hold them accountable. Get a Free Case Review today to discuss your legal options with our partner law firm.
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3 Types of Mesothelioma Compensation for Family Members
If you or a family member is facing mesothelioma, asbestos lawsuit settlements, trust fund claims, and VA benefits all provide financial compensation that can help ease your financial stress and protect your future. Learn about each below.
1. Asbestos Lawsuit Settlements
Mesothelioma lawsuits target the companies that chose to use asbestos in their products even though they knew it could harm people. These lawsuits usually reach out-of-court settlements that award an average of $1 million to $1.4 million.
Money from a successful mesothelioma lawsuit can help you pay medical bills, compensate for loss of income, and cover your daily living expenses.
If your loved one has already passed away, you may instead pursue an asbestos lawsuit for family members through a wrongful death claim.
Some families have received much more than this, including:
- $15 million for the loved ones of a New York construction worker
- $4.4 million for the family of a secondhand asbestos exposure victim in Illinois
- $5.7 million for the loved ones of a Florida maintenance worker
- $3.9 million for the family of a Virginia auto mechanic and insulator’s helper
- $3.3 million for the loved ones of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in Ohio
- $6 million for the surviving family members of a Missouri laborer
With help from our partner law firm, many families have received their first settlement payouts within 90 days or less.
It’s important to act quickly, however, since statutes of limitations could prevent you from filing if you wait too long. You may have as little as 1 year to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, depending on the state.
2. Asbestos Trust Fund Payouts
Families affected by asbestos exposure may qualify for compensation through asbestos trust funds. These funds were created by companies that went bankrupt but were still responsible for exposing people to asbestos. Today, more than $30 billion remains available to help patients and their loved ones
Asbestos trust fund payouts typically range from $300,000 to $400,000 in total, and many families begin receiving money within just a few months. You can also pursue trust fund claims and lawsuits at the same time, which helps maximize your potential compensation.
The asbestos lawyers we work with can confirm if you qualify for trust fund compensation and file claims on your family’s behalf. Check your eligibility now.
3. Monthly VA Benefits
Different types of VA benefits may provide mesothelioma compensation for a family member of a U.S. veteran.
The VA usually gives mesothelioma patients a 100% disability rating, which means tax-free payments of $4,158.17 per month for married veterans with mesothelioma.
Other available VA benefits include:
- Aid & Attendance (A&A): Surviving spouses who are bedridden or require assistance with daily activities may qualify for payments of up to $33,548 per year.
- Burial Benefits: The VA will help cover funeral and burial expenses, including cemetery plots and headstones, for veterans who pass away from service-related mesothelioma.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Surviving family members may qualify for $1,653.07 a month in tax-free money.
- Survivors Pensions: Spouses and dependent children can receive up to $11,380 in 2026.
VA compensation can provide much-needed relief and honor your loved one’s sacrifice.
“As a VA-accredited attorney, I can help veterans like you understand which benefits you’re entitled to and assist you in accessing them. I can also work to maximize your VA benefits if you’ve recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma.”
Don’t leave these benefits unclaimed. Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide to get the support your family deserves.
How to Get Mesothelioma Compensation for Family Members
Mesothelioma affects not only patients but also their loved ones. Families impacted by this cancer face high medical expenses, lost income, and other financial challenges — and in cases of wrongful death, funeral costs as well. While compensation can’t erase the hardship, it can help provide financial stability.
Pursuing mesothelioma compensation for family members involves:
- Contact an Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney: If your family has been affected by mesothelioma, start by contacting a specialized asbestos attorney. These lawyers have the skills and experience needed to quickly build a case for you and pursue the highest payouts.
- Gather Medical and Exposure Records: Lawyers help collect your loved one’s medical history, work or military service records, and other documents to prove their asbestos exposure.
- Identify Responsible Companies: Using databases, past case evidence, and expert testimony, your legal team traces where and how the asbestos exposure occurred. You won’t have to do this yourself, saving you time and stress.
- File the Appropriate Claims: Your attorney quickly files a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, asbestos trust fund claim, or VA benefits application on your loved one’s behalf. It may be possible to file multiple mesothelioma claims depending on your situation.
- Settle or Go to Trial: Many mesothelioma lawsuits result in settlements with asbestos companies, with only a small percentage going to trial. Attorneys work to get as much money as possible while your family focuses on healing.
- Receive Compensation: Once the claims have been filed and resolved, your family will get compensation to cover medical bills, funeral costs, lost income, and other expenses.
By taking these steps, families like yours can pursue accountability after a mesothelioma diagnosis or loss of a loved one. The legal process helps ease financial pressure and ensures asbestos companies are held responsible for the harm their products caused.
The process may feel overwhelming, but experienced mesothelioma lawyers will handle the work for you, making it much less stressful and easier to pursue accountability.
“Simmons was amazing through the whole process. Obviously, it was a very emotional time, a trying time for our family. My daughter was 12 when her dad died. So everybody, above and beyond, went out of their way to help us make sure that we were doing okay, asking if we needed anything. I just can’t say enough good things about what they did for our family.”
Connect With Simmons Hanly Conroy, Top Mesothelioma Law Firm
At Mesothelioma Hope, we’re proud to recommend Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the best mesothelioma law firms in the country.
Why choose Simmons Hanly Conroy?
- Over 25 years of experience handling mesothelioma cases
- More than $10.3 billion in total results
- 300 employees on staff, including over 60 asbestos attorneys
- Registered nurses and a dedicated medical team
- Over $21 million given back to mesothelioma research and awareness
Call (866) 608-8933 or get a free case review now to find out if the firm can help with your case.
Mesothelioma Compensation for Family Member FAQs
Is mesothelioma compensation available for family members?
Yes, family members like spouses and adult children may be eligible for compensation if their parent or loved one passes away from mesothelioma.
Even if your family member is still living, you may be able to start the legal process on their behalf. You can also continue legal action if they pass away before the case is resolved.
How much does a family member get for mesothelioma compensation?
Mesothelioma compensation for family members awards over $1 million on average through lawsuits. Most mesothelioma lawsuits reach settlements worth $1 million to $1.4 million in compensation.
In the rare event a case goes to trial, a successful verdict is worth an average of $5 million to $11.4 million.
A mesothelioma attorney can help determine how much compensation your family could receive.
What if my father died of asbestos?
You may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if your father was diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma and passed away from his illness.
Wrongful death lawsuits give families like yours a way to pursue justice on behalf of their loved one who got sick from asbestos exposure. Asbestos companies knew the health risks for decades, but they didn’t warn the public.
Get a free case review with our legal partners to find out if you can pursue mesothelioma compensation after a loved one’s passing.
How long does it take to receive mesothelioma compensation for family members?
Most families start receiving compensation in 90 days or less after filing mesothelioma lawsuits or asbestos trust fund claims. Additional payouts typically come in for a couple of years after the initial filing. The exact asbestos payout timeline depends on the type of claim you file and the details of your case.
What do I do if my father died of mesothelioma?
If your father passed away from mesothelioma, you and your family may be eligible to file an asbestos claim after death. These claims can provide compensation for lingering medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, lost household income, and the emotional pain and suffering caused by your loss.
Filing a wrongful death claim also holds the responsible companies accountable for exposing your father to asbestos-containing products that caused his cancer.
When should I pursue mesothelioma compensation for family members?
It’s best to pursue mesothelioma compensation for family members as soon as possible after a diagnosis. Acting quickly ensures your family has access to financial support when you need it most and helps preserve your legal rights under strict filing deadlines.
The expenses related to mesothelioma can be overwhelming. Mesothelioma treatment costs can exceed $400,000, even for patients with insurance. Filing early allows your family to begin covering these bills right away.
Courts also prioritize cases when the patient is still living, which can speed up the process. If your loved one passes away during the filing process, it’s usually easier for the family to continue the case rather than start over.
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