Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer

Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Pennsylvania

Each year, over 100 Pennsylvanians are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma lawyers can help victims secure money for medical treatments and other expenses after a diagnosis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pennsylvania saw 180 new cases of mesothelioma in 2016. More than 150 people died as a result of mesothelioma that same year.

Further, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that more than 17,000 Pennsylvanians died from asbestos-related conditions between 1999 and 2017.

This included:

• 3,257 deaths from mesothelioma
• 1,505 deaths from asbestosis
• 13,028 estimated deaths from asbestos lung cancer

The manufacturers of asbestos-based products knew how deadly asbestos was back in the 1930s. Instead of alerting the public, they hid the dangers to keep making money.

While the disease has no cure, Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers can help victims pursue financial assistance from these manufacturers, easing some of the burden this cancer brings.

When looking for a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer, it’s important to select a firm with the experience, reputation, and resources to advocate for you. Thankfully, Mesothelioma Hope has partnered with an experienced law firm that can help mesothelioma patients like you: Simmons Hanly Conroy.

Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Law Firm

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

The attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy have centuries of combined experience, and they aim to provide their clients with first-class legal services.

Our sponsor firm has recovered over $120 million on behalf of those with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases in Pennsylvania alone. A few of the firm’s recent mesothelioma settlement amounts are highlighted below.

Asbestos Exposure Sites in Pennsylvania

Nearly every blue-collar work site in Pennsylvania relied on asbestos for decades, exposing those who worked in these areas to this toxic mineral on a regular basis.

Work sites with a high risk of asbestos exposure included:

• Construction sites
• Shipyards
• Steel mills

Pennsylvania miners had a particularly high risk of exposure. Four Pennsylvania mines unearthed this toxic mineral until the health risks became widely known. Anyone working in these mines was exposed all day, every day, for months or years at a time.

Yet the risks of asbestos exposure did not stop with workers. For decades, thousands of asbestos-containing products helped build Pennsylvania towns and cities.

In 2019, several Pennsylvania schools shut down after damaged asbestos was found. Some teachers at these schools now suffer from mesothelioma — and hundreds of children may develop the cancer later in life.

Some of the companies responsible for the asbestos at these exposure sites, like U.S. Steel and Alcoa, had multiple locations in Pennsylvania.

Ambler Superfund Sites

The town of Ambler, Pennsylvania, contained two highly dangerous asbestos sites. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated these locations as Superfund sites — meaning they were among the most dangerous waste sites in the country.

These sites include:

• Ambler Asbestos Piles Superfund Site: This site contained about 1.5 million cubic yards of asbestos-contaminated waste. The EPA finished cleaning the site in 1993 but still monitors it today.
• BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site: The EPA found a 2.5-acre pile of asbestos waste on this site. Immediate cleanup was completed in 2017 and long-term cleanup plans are ongoing.

Despite these cleanup efforts, residents continue to suffer. A review by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health found that the rate of mesothelioma in Ambler was 3.1 times higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania.

Victims can learn how, when, and where they were exposed to asbestos during a free consultation with a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer.

With this information, lawyers can help victims get money to cover treatment expenses and other financial benefits.

Pennsylvania Counties With the Highest Number of Asbestos-Related Deaths

Asbestos affects families and communities in every state and county in the U.S. Along with mesothelioma, asbestos exposure has caused thousands of deaths in Pennsylvania from related diseases like asbestosis and lung cancer. Five counties were hit particularly hard in recent years.

Know Your Rights: Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawsuits

A Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can help victims secure money by filing a mesothelioma lawsuit. These lawsuits demand that manufacturers of asbestos-containing products pay for putting innocent people at risk.

Compensation is very important since mesothelioma treatment can cost $400,000 or more.

Funds secured through a mesothelioma lawsuit can help pay for:

• Lost wages
• Travel
• Treatment costs
• And more

With the help of a mesothelioma lawyer, Pennsylvania asbestos victims can see if they’re eligible to receive compensation through a lawsuit.

Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Pennsylvania?

In addition to Pennsylvania residents, mesothelioma patients who may have been exposed to asbestos while working in, living in, or visiting the state might qualify to file a claim for financial compensation.

Additionally, anyone who’s been diagnosed with other serious asbestos-related diseases — such as lung cancer or asbestosis — may also qualify to file a claim with the help of a Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorney. Surviving family members may also be able to file a claim on behalf of a mesothelioma victim.

A Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can explain how the state’s laws and regulations impact someone’s eligibility for different types of asbestos claims.

Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in Pennsylvania

Most mesothelioma lawsuits are settled out of court. A mesothelioma settlement is an agreement between the victim and the defendants (those being sued) that allows the lawsuit to quickly end without going to trial.

In 2020, a teacher with mesothelioma reached a settlement with a Philadelphia school district for $850,000. She had swept up asbestos dust that flaked off insulation in her classroom but was never warned of the risks.

In the rare case that a lawsuit is not settled out of court, it may go to trial. A judge or jury then decides the case with a verdict.

Most Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers try to reach settlements since families start to see the first payments in 90 days. Still, lawyers will always prepare their claims as if they will go to trial just in case.

Asbestos Laws and Regulations in Pennsylvania

While not totally banned, asbestos use has been heavily restricted in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country since the 1980s through local, state, and federal laws.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and its Department of Labor and Industry enforce asbestos laws and regulations.

These groups make sure that all contractors and workers know how to safely remove or seal asbestos-based products. All workers must also develop plans to account for possible dangers before they can start working.

Contact a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer to learn more about asbestos laws and how they might affect your case.

Statutes of Limitations in Pennsylvania

Those looking to file a lawsuit need to contact an asbestos attorney as soon as possible. Pennsylvania (and every other state) limits the time an individual has to file their case through laws called statutes of limitations (SOLs).

Once an SOL has passed, you can no longer file a lawsuit.

These statutes vary from state to state and depend on the nature of the case.

The two main mesothelioma case types include:

• Personal injury lawsuit: A living person must file a personal mesothelioma injury lawsuit within a specific time after the date of their cancer diagnosis.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: If a family chooses to file a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit, their time to act is based on the date their loved one passed away.

A Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can help you understand how the statutes of limitations apply to your case. You should contact a lawyer even if you think the statute of limitations has passed — there may be other ways to access compensation.

Asbestos Trust Funds in Pennsylvania

Other than mesothelioma lawsuits, victims can also access money through asbestos trust funds.

Trust funds were created by manufacturers of asbestos-based products that filed for bankruptcy but wanted to stay in business. Victims cannot sue bankrupt companies, so the U.S. government forced manufacturers to set aside money in asbestos trust funds for mesothelioma victims.

Asbestos trust funds follow different statutes of limitations than lawsuits. This means you may still be able to receive money through an asbestos trust fund claim if you can’t file a lawsuit.

Pennsylvania VA Information for Mesothelioma Victims

Both current and former members of the military are at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used by all branches of the military until the early 1980s.

It was used in everything from construction materials for military bases to tank insulation. Asbestos may still remain in older military bases, ships, and vehicles still in use today.

Examples of military bases in Pennsylvania that used asbestos include:

• Benton Air Force Station, Colley Township
• Carlisle Barracks
• Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg
• New Cumberland Army Depot
• Olmsted Air Force Base (AKA Harrisburg Air National Guard Base), Middletown
• Tobyhanna Army Depot

Pennsylvania VA Benefits

Thankfully, if you are a veteran with mesothelioma, you may be eligible for benefits through the VA.

VA benefits include:

• Compensation for survivors
• Funeral costs
• Health care and treatment
• In-home care
• VA disability compensation

The VA also works with some of the world’s best mesothelioma doctors to give mesothelioma patients like you the best health care possible.

Two VA mesothelioma doctors include: 

• Dr. Daniel Wiener
• Dr. Robert Cameron

Veterans looking to file for VA benefits should start with a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can gather the right information needed to file VA claims (such as how, when, and where asbestos exposure occurred).

From there, veterans can work with a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to file their claim.

AML and VFW Service Officers in Pennsylvania

A VSO is accredited by the VA to guide veterans through the entire claims process.  Organizations like American Legion (AML) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) have VSOs on call to help veterans file VA benefit claims throughout Pennsylvania.

A VSO can:

• Help you assemble service-related documents
• Educate and advise you of VA policies
• Request a VA appeal hearing

Pennsylvania provides special funding to the VFW to extend its outreach in rural areas.

No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, you can connect with a VSO for expert service at no cost. You can also connect with a mesothelioma lawyer to file a lawsuit and access compensation.

Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide today to learn if and how you can access financial assistance for an asbestos-related illness.

Connect With a Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer

Asbestos victims do not bear any responsibility for their mesothelioma diagnosis. Because of the heartless decisions made by manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, thousands of Americans are diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma each year.

Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers know how this disease can devastate families and are here to help. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is in your best interest to work with a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer.

A qualified Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorney can help you:

1. Identify the work sites or locations where you were exposed to asbestos
2. Obtain medical and military records
3. Build an asbestos claim that maximizes your chances of securing compensation
4. File your claim within the proper Pennsylvania statute of limitations

To learn more about your options, contact our team for a free, no-obligation consultation. Our asbestos lawyers never charge upfront or out-of-pocket fees, and they get paid only if your case results in compensation. Get started with a free legal consultation.