New Mexico Mesothelioma Lawyer

Natural deposits of asbestos in New Mexico put miners and other workers at risk of deadly asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Asbestos victims can work with New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers to access justice and compensation today.

Legally reviewed Melissa Crowe Schopfer

on March 18, 2024

Recommended New Mexico Lawyer Simmons Hanly Conroy

Get Connected

Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in New Mexico

Anyone with mesothelioma cancer deserves compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. These manufacturers knew asbestos exposure could cause deadly illnesses like mesothelioma but hid the facts for decades.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma: Get a Free Legal Case Review Now

Nearly 300 New Mexico residents died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2017, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

You may be eligible to file a lawsuit to seek compensation from manufacturers if you developed mesothelioma. Work with an experienced New Mexico mesothelioma lawyer to get the most compensation possible.

New Mexico Mesothelioma Law Firm

Simmons Hanly Conroy is one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms. Their team of experienced attorneys is dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma and other personal injuries find justice and hope.

Asbestos companies knew of the dangers of their products and chose to say nothing while they continued to profit. Thousands of New Mexicans were exposed.

Our sponsor firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for those who were exposed to asbestos and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.

Asbestos Exposure Sites in New Mexico

Naturally, occurring asbestos has been reported in at least sixteen New Mexican mining districts. Asbestos is often present in mines and in the air when coal is extracted. This puts New Mexican coal miners at risk of exposure and mesothelioma.

Mines are not the only places in New Mexico where asbestos is still lurking. Construction workers used asbestos to make thousands of buildings before the 1980s. Renovating or demolishing these older buildings could disturb the asbestos inside.

Asbestos-containing products like insulation were also used in the Four Corners Power Plant near Fruitland, New Mexico, and other power plants across the state.

Other examples of asbestos sites in New Mexico include:

Burn Construction, Las Cruces
Chevron/Gulf Oil, Hobbs
Federal Building, Albuquerque
Kennicott Copper Mines, Hurley
National Mine, Carlsbad
Socorro Mines, Silver City
Shell Oil Company, Gallup
Marathon Oil Company, Carlsbad
Municipal Power Plant, Tucumcari
Kerr McGee Potash Mine, Carlsbad
New Mexico State Hospital, Las Vegas
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Columbia Asbestos Company, Albuquerque
Texas-Louisiana Power Company, Alamogordo
Stearns-Roger Manufacturing Company, Gallup
Albuquerque Gas Electric, Bernalillo, Albuquerque
Albuquerque Cerrillos Coal Company, Albuquerque
New Mexico Light, Heat and Power Company, Silver City
United States of America Cantonment Construction, Deming
Four Corners Power Plant, Fruitland, Farmington, Four Corners

If you developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at one of the above job sites or another site, contact a New Mexico mesothelioma attorney today.

These attorneys can help determine where you were exposed to asbestos. Lawyers can also see if you qualify for financial benefits to cover medical expenses.

Know Your Rights: New Mexico Mesothelioma Lawsuits

A mesothelioma lawsuit offers the best opportunity for victims to access compensation for their injuries. Successful lawsuits force manufacturers to pay for causing a victim’s mesothelioma.

Victims and their families can recover millions of dollars in compensation through mesothelioma lawsuits.

When you work with a New Mexico mesothelioma lawyer, it costs you nothing to file these lawsuits. These attorneys also take on most of the legal burdens that come with filing and pursuing a lawsuit.

Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in New Mexico

More than 95% of all mesothelioma lawsuits reach settlements before the case goes to trial. Mesothelioma settlements typically average between $1 million and $1.4 million.

Settlements are preferred because otherwise, the case may go to trial. Trials add time and risk to a lawsuit.

During a trial, a jury will hear all the facts of a case and hand down a verdict. There is no way to guarantee that a jury will find that a mesothelioma victim deserves any compensation.

Yet some mesothelioma verdicts award more than settlements.

A jury recently awarded the widow of a New Mexico auto mechanic $9.1 million. The mechanic died from mesothelioma after spending years repairing asbestos-laden brakes and clutches.

New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers can negotiate settlements and prepare cases to go to trial if needed.

New Mexico Mesothelioma Settlements Recovered by Simmons Hanly Conroy

$3.3 millionNavy Veteran
$1.5 millionMechanic
$2.73 millionAir Force Veteran
$1.6 millionUnion Electrician

Get Connected

Asbestos Laws and Regulations in New Mexico

The state of New Mexico follows several federal asbestos laws to keep residents safe.

These asbestos laws include:

Federal Clean Air Act (CAA)
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA)
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act (ASHARA)
National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Asbestos

Violators of these asbestos rules face penalties of up to $15,000 per violation and for each day of noncompliance.

Reach out to a New Mexico mesothelioma lawyer to see how these laws may impact your case.

Statutes of Limitations in New Mexico

Mesothelioma lawsuits must be filed within legal time frames called statutes of limitations. Yet these laws vary by state and case type (personal injury, wrongful death, etc.), making them difficult to understand.

Mesothelioma lawsuits cannot be filed after the statute of limitations passes.

Thankfully, New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers can file your case within the statute of limitations.

Asbestos Trust Funds

If you can’t file a mesothelioma lawsuit due to the statutes of limitations, you could still get compensation through an asbestos trust fund.

Bankrupt manufacturers established asbestos trust funds to pay mesothelioma victims and avoid constant lawsuits. Since the manufacturers manage these trusts, they also set the deadlines to file claims.

Manufacturers have set aside $30 billion in asbestos trust funds.

New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers can help you or a loved one file an asbestos trust fund claim or a mesothelioma lawsuit within set deadlines. Learn more with a free case review.

New Mexico VA Information for Mesothelioma Victims

New Mexico veterans also can develop mesothelioma since the U.S. military used asbestos in bases, ships, and vehicles until the 1980s. In fact, veterans make up 33% of all mesothelioma cases today.

Fortunately, federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can help veterans with mesothelioma access disability compensation and other benefits.

Key VA benefits include:

Aid & Attendance
Burial & funeral services
Health care
Pension plans

The VA also works with top mesothelioma doctors to treat veterans with this rare cancer.

These VA mesothelioma doctors include:

Disclaimer

Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Robert B. Cameron. The contact information above is listed for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Cameron directly. Visit the UCLA Health website to learn more about Dr. Robert Cameron.

Disclaimer

There are many VA offices and healthcare centers in New Mexico. Contact those on the list below by going to the VA’s official website (va.gov).

Veterans Benefits Administration

Albuquerque Regional Office, Albuquerque

VA Medical Centers

New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque

Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

Baton Rouge Outpatient Clinic (North Clinic, South Clinic)
Alamogordo CCBOC
Artesia Clinic
Clovis CBOC
Espanola CCBOC
Farmington CBOC
Gallup CBOC
Hobbs CBOC
Las Cruces CBOC
Las Vegas CCBOC
Raton CBOC
Northwest Metro (Rio Rancho)
Santa Fe CBOC
Silver City Clinic
Taos CCBOC
Truth or Consequences CCBOC

Veterans Centers

Albuquerque Veterans Center
Farmington Veterans Center
Las Cruces Veterans Center
Santa Fe Veterans Center

Veterans with mesothelioma can file a VA benefits claim with help from New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers. These lawyers can determine when, where, and how a veteran was exposed to asbestos during their service.

Veterans can then take this information and file for VA benefits with help from a Veterans Service Officer (VSO).

AML and VFW Service Officers in New Mexico

VSOs with organizations such as the American Legion (AML) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) are trained by the VA to help veterans access military benefits.

The AML, VFW, and other veteran organizations have offices throughout New Mexico.

These offices include:

Albuquerque

American Ex-Prisoners of War
American Legion
American Veterans
Disabled American Veterans
National Association of County Veterans Service
New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Santa Fe

New Mexico Department of Veterans Services

Reach out to these offices to get in touch with a VSO near you. You can also contact a New Mexico mesothelioma law firm to see if you qualify for legal compensation.

Connecting With Mesothelioma Lawyers in New Mexico

If you have mesothelioma, you deserve the best legal help available. Let a New Mexico mesothelioma attorney handle your lawsuit today.

New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers can help you:

Establish where and when you may have been exposed to asbestos
Understand the statute of limitations in New Mexico
File mesothelioma lawsuits and secure compensation

See all the ways New Mexico mesothelioma lawyers can help you with a free case review.

Melissa Crowe Schopfer, Simmons Hanly Conroy Attorney

Reviewed by:Melissa Crowe Schopfer

Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

Fact-Checked
Legal Editor

Melissa Crowe Schopfer is a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. Over the past 10 years, Melissa has worked on over 500 cases and recovered more than $100 million in settlements and trial verdicts on behalf of her clients. She has represented families impacted by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases in almost every state.

Asbestos Trial Team Leader
Practicing Attorney for 15+ Years
Has Recovered Over $100 Million

Written by:Jenna Tozzi, RN

Director of Patient Advocacy

Jenna Tozzi, RN, is the Director of Patient Advocacy at Mesothelioma Hope. With more than 15 years of experience as an adult and pediatric oncology nurse navigator, Jenna provides exceptional guidance and support to mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Jenna has been featured in Oncology Nursing News and is a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators & the American Nurses Association.

ReferencesLast modified: 18 Mar 2024

49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. (2020, March 31). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493023.htm#st
ADMIN, FCI. (2018, July 13). A History of Asbestos Civil Litigation in the US. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://fibercontrolinc.com/a-history-of-asbestos-civil-litigation-in-the-us
Asbestos. (n.d.) Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/environmental/environmental-health-topics/eht/asbestos.html
Asbestos: Think Again: Deaths Due to Asbestos Related Diseases by State. (2004, March 4).
Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.ewg.org/research/maps/deaths-due-asbestos-related-diseases
Berkowitz, B. (2012, May 11). Special Report: The long, lethal shadow of asbestos. Retrieved March 29, 2022, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asbestos-lawsuits/special-report-the-long-lethal-shadow-of-asbestos-idUSBRE84A0J920120511
Buffie, N., & McInnis, T. (2017, April 10). Highest to Lowest Share of Blue Collar Jobs By State. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://bluecollarjobs.us/2017/04/10/highest-to-lowest-share-of-blue-collar-jobs-by-state/
Catron County NM – Cities, Towns, Neighborhoods, & Subdivisions. (2020, April). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://newmexico.hometownlocator.com/counties/cities,cfips,003,c,catron.cfm
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vso-search
EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos. (2020, March 20). Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos
Find a Service Officer. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.legion.org/serviceofficers/NM
Ford Denied New Trial In $9M Asbestos Death Verdict. (2019, February 1). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.law360.com/articles/1124880?utm_source=LexisNexis&utm_medium=LegalNewsRoom&utm_campaign=articles_search
Four Corners Power Plant, New Mexico. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2020, from https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/four-corners-power-plant-new-mexico/
Grant County NM – Cities, Towns, Neighborhoods, & Subdivisions. (2020, April). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://newmexico.hometownlocator.com/counties/cities,cfips,017,c,grant.cfm
Majaski, C. Statute of Limitations. (2019, August 30). Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/statute-of-limitations.asp
Malignant mesothelioma (all sites): Number of deaths by state, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 2001–2010. (2014, September 11). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://wwwn.cdc.gov/eworld/Data/Malignant_mesothelioma_all_sites_Number_of_deaths_by_state_US_residents_age_15_and_over_20012010/803
Mazurek, J. M., Syamlal, G., & Wood, J. M. (2017, August 1). Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality – United States, 1999–2015. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm
McLemore, V. T. (2020, January 14). Asbestos Minerals in New Mexico. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/resources/minerals/industrial/asbestos/home.html
New Mexico Environment Department: Asbestos. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/asbestos-2/
New Mexico Art Tells its History. (2010). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from http://online.nmartmuseum.org/nmhistory/growing-new-mexico/mining/history-mining.html
New Mexico Asbestos: What you need to know. (2020). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.blr.com/Workplace-Safety/Hazardous-Substances-and-Materials/Asbestos-in-New Mexico
New Mexico Environment Department: Asbestos. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.env.nm.gov/air-quality/asbestos-2/
New Mexico: 10 Largest Cities. (n.d.) Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.geonames.org/US/NM/largest-cities-in-New Mexico.html
Office, U. S. G. A. (2011, October 19). Asbestos Injury Compensation: The Role and Administration of Asbestos Trusts. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-819
Press, T. A. (2020, January 24). Coal industry on Navajo Nation could end with plant closure. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/coal-industry-on-navajo-nation-could-end-with-plant-closure/5622023/
Ricolite district (Record #764) occurrence of asbestos in Grant county, NM. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://mrdata.usgs.gov/asbestos/show-asbestos.php?rec_id=764
Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma. (2020). Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.htm
Solutions, V. A. W. (2000, June 21). Veterans Affairs. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?dnum=ALL&STATE=NM
Torrance County NM – Cities, Towns, Neighborhoods, & Subdivisions. (2020, April). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://newmexico.hometownlocator.com/counties/cities,cfips,057,c,torrance.cfm
Thomas, Lee M. (1985). Asbestos Fact Book. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/nscep
U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts: New Mexico. (2019, July 1). Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/NM
What Is Pleural Mesothelioma? (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.slidellmemorial.org/blog/what-is-pleural-mesothelioma