West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer

West Virginia mines and other job sites put workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure remains the only known cause of the deadly cancer mesothelioma. Victims can work with West Virginia mesothelioma lawyers to get justice and compensation.

Legally reviewed Melissa Crowe Schopfer

on April 3, 2025

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Working With a West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer

Any West Virginia resident who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to access compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos-based products. These manufacturers knew asbestos could cause deadly illnesses but hid the facts for decades in order to keep making money.

People exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma between 10 and 50 years or more after their initial exposure.

Over 500 West Virginia citizens died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2017, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Thankfully, West Virginia mesothelioma lawyers can help victims get money and justice by filing lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos-laced products.

West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawsuits

A West Virginia mesothelioma lawsuit allows families to take action following a medical diagnosis. A mesothelioma lawsuit seeks financial payouts from the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.

Mesothelioma lawsuits award between $1 million and $11.4 million on average.

Mesothelioma lawyers in West Virginia handle most of the legal work that a lawsuit brings — with no burden to you or your loved ones. Most lawsuit payments are processed in 90 days or less.

Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements in West Virginia

Mesothelioma lawsuits reach out-of-court settlements in more than 95% of cases. Mesothelioma settlements award victims with money in less time than a trial verdict.

Mesothelioma settlements award $1 million on average.

When settlements do not occur, the lawsuit may go to trial. In some cases, victims may receive more money through a mesothelioma trial verdict than a settlement.

One of the world’s largest chemical companies paid a $6.4 million verdict to the family of a West Virginia man who died from mesothelioma. As a child, the victim had been exposed to asbestos fibers in his father’s work clothes.

Several companies in Charleston paid millions to settle claims made by thousands of plaintiffs who said they developed asbestos-related illnesses while working in various company plants. Victims can learn more about lawsuits, settlements, and trial verdicts by contacting a West Virginia mesothelioma lawyer.

West Virginia Mesothelioma Settlements Recovered by Simmons Hanly Conroy

$3.9 millionAuto Mechanic
$3.4 millionNavy Veteran
$2.73 millionAir Force Veteran
$1.6 millionElectrician

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Statute of Limitations in West Virginia

The amount of time to file a lawsuit is limited through laws called statutes of limitations.

Statutes of limitations vary greatly depending on the state and other factors. These issues make it very hard for victims to file lawsuits within the statutes without help from a lawyer. Lawsuits cannot be filed once the statute of limitations has passed.

In West Virginia, the mesothelioma statute of limitations is generally 2 years from the date of a patient’s diagnosis or death.

A West Virginia mesothelioma attorney can help victims file within the statutes of limitations. Learn more by contacting a West Virginia asbestos attorney right away.

West Virginia Asbestos Trust Funds and Statutes of Limitations

Even if a mesothelioma lawsuit cannot be filed due to an expired statute of limitations, compensation may still be available through an asbestos trust fund.

Asbestos trust funds were established by bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-based products. The courts forced these manufacturers to set aside money for mesothelioma victims if they wanted to stay in business.

Today, more than $30 billion is available in asbestos trust funds.

A West Virginia mesothelioma attorney can help file an asbestos trust fund claim and access compensation.

Asbestos Sites in West Virginia

Many West Virginia jobs and work sites relied on asbestos for decades. West Virginia residents who worked with or around asbestos could develop mesothelioma.

West Virginia is located in the Appalachian region, where there were nearly 30,000 coal-mining jobs in 2018. Mining was one of the many ways West Virginians were exposed to asbestos.

Other high-risk jobs for asbestos exposure in West Virginia include:

Carpentry
Construction
Manufacturing steel
Oil refinement
Power plant work
Vehicle manufacturing and repair

A skilled West Virginia mesothelioma attorney will maintain databases of sites linked to asbestos exposure in the state and across the country.

Asbestos sites in West Virginia include:

Ace Industries, Huntington
Allied Chemical Corporation, Moundsville
Carbide Carbon Chemical Company, multiple locations across the state
Charleston General Hospital, Charleston
Clarksburg Baptist Church, Clarksburg
Federal Building, Parkersburg
Federal Coal and Coke Company, Grant Town
Huntington Coal and Mining Company, Thurmond
Parkersburg High School, Parkersburg
Post Office Federal Office Building, Morgantown
University of West Virginia Medical Center, Morgantown
Virginia Electric Power Company, Mount Storm
West Elementary School Teamsters Building, Charleston
Westvaco Food Machinery Company, Charleston

Asbestos exposure took place at many other locations not listed above. Contact a West Virginia mesothelioma lawyer to see if a site you worked at used asbestos. You may be entitled to financial benefits for treatment expenses and other costs.

Did You Know?

A lawsuit filed against Fairmont State University in October 2024 alleges that the school’s refusal to perform asbestos abatement for decades caused a student to develop lung cancer.

Asbestos Rules and Regulations in West Virginia

West Virginia follows the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) to protect its citizens from asbestos.

The state also follows the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), which requires schools to monitor asbestos-containing materials and forces workplaces to follow strict asbestos exposure standards.

Local and federal agencies regarding asbestos use in West Virginia include:

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Division of Air Quality
Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Bureau of Public Health Office of Environmental Health Service Radiation, Toxic, and Indoor Air Quality Division
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region 3
West Virginia Division of Labor (DOL)

Victims can learn how these laws may affect their case by working with a West Virginia mesothelioma lawyer.

West Virginia VA Information for Mesothelioma Veterans

Veterans run a high risk of mesothelioma since the military relied on asbestos-containing products for decades. West Virginia is home to many military bases and former shipyards where asbestos could have been used.

The military also used asbestos in:

Aircraft
Building materials
Ships
Vehicles

West Virginia veterans with mesothelioma may work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to access benefits after connecting with an asbestos attorney. The VA is well-equipped to help veterans with mesothelioma.

VA benefits include:

Aid & Attendance benefits
Burial and funeral honors
Disability compensation
Pensions for victims and spouses

Veterans can learn more about their health care options by contacting regional VA offices. Explore these offices in the list below.

Veterans Benefits Administration

Huntington Regional Office, Huntington

VA Medical Centers

Beckley VA Medical Center
Clarksburg – Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center
Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center (Huntington)
Martinsburg VA Medical Center

Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

Baton Rouge VA Clinic
Braxton County VA Clinic
Charleston VA Clinic
Clarksburg Rural Mobile Unit
Franklin VA Clinic
Greenbrier County VA Clinic
Monongalia County VA Clinic
Petersburg VA Clinic
Princeton VA Clinic
Tucker County VA Clinic
Wood County VA Clinic

Veterans Centers

Beckley Veterans Center
Charleston Veterans Center
Huntington Veterans Center
Logan Veterans Center Outstation
Martinsburg Veterans Center
Parkersburg Veterans Center Outstation
Princeton Veterans Center
Wheeling Veterans Center

Veterans can find telephone numbers for each office through the official VA website (va.gov).

Veterans interested in VA benefits can start the process by talking to a West Virginia mesothelioma law firm.

Attorneys at these law firms can help veterans gather the information needed to file a VA claim, such as how, when, and where asbestos exposure occurred.

Veterans organizations such as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion (AML) can help file VA claims.

AML and VFW Service Officers in West Virginia

Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) with organizations like the AML and the VFW are trained by the VA and other organizations to help veterans and families receive VA benefits.

Local VSOs can be found in offices specific to:

County courthouses
Local VA offices
Organization headquarters

West Virginia is home to more than 300 VA-related offices, including:

American Legion
American Red Cross
Disabled American Veterans
Fleet Reserve Association
Marine Corps League
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma can learn more about VA benefits and other compensation options by contacting a West Virginia asbestos attorney.

Working With a West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer

After a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s crucial to seek legal help. Work with a West Virginia asbestos lawyer to get the compensation you may deserve.

A West Virginia mesothelioma lawyer can help you:

Determine where and when you may have been exposed to asbestos
Gather the needed information to file a mesothelioma lawsuit
File the lawsuit within West Virginia’s statute of limitations

Contact our team to learn more about working with a West Virginia mesothelioma lawyer.

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:Laura Wright

Lead Editor

Laura Wright is a journalist and content strategist with more than 17 years of professional experience. She attended college at the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008. Her writing has been featured in The Gainesville Sun and other regional publications throughout Florida.

ReferencesLast modified: 3 Apr 2025

Asbestos Nation. “Asbestos-Related Deaths in West Virginia.” Retrieved from: http://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/wv/. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality – United States, 1999–2015.” Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
eBenefits. “Manage Your Representative for VA Claims.” Retrieved from: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vso-search. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
Environmental Protection Agency. “EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos.” Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
Los Angeles Times. “Union Carbide Liable for Asbestos Illnesses.” Retrieved from: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-25-fi-asbestos25-story.html. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
MetroNews. (2024, October 15). Fairmont State University named in asbestos-related lawsuitFairmont State University named in asbestos-related lawsuit. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://wvmetronews.com/2024/10/15/fairmont-state-university-named-in-asbestos-related-lawsuit/
MilitaryBases.com. “West Virginia Military Bases.” Retrieved from: https://militarybases.com/west-virginia/. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
Reuters. “Special Report: The long, lethal shadow of asbestos.” Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asbestos-lawsuits/special-report-the-long-lethal-shadow-of-asbestos-idUSBRE84A0J920120511. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
United States Census Bureau. “QuickFacts.” Retrieved from: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/WV. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Locations.” Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?dnum=ALL&STATE=WV. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Asbestos Injury Compensation: The Role and Administration of Asbestos Trusts.” Retrieved from: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-11-819. Accessed on April 3, 2025.
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. “Asbestos Removal and Demolition.” Retrieved from: https://dep.wv.gov/daq/CandE/Pages/AsbestosRemovalandDemolition.aspx. Accessed on April 3, 2025.