What Is the Average Settlement for an Asbestos Claim?
The average compensation depends on whether the claim ends in a mesothelioma settlement or a trial verdict.
However, some families have received much more than this. Our legal partners at Simmons Hanly Conroy secured $250 million for an Indiana steelworker who was exposed to asbestos on the job. This is the largest mesothelioma verdict on record.
Nearly all mesothelioma lawsuits end in a settlement. Each side’s attorneys go through negotiations to determine the total settlement amount.
Whether you’re facing mesothelioma now or lost a loved one to this cancer, you may be eligible for compensation through a settlement or asbestos verdict.
Get a Free Case Review with Simmons Hanly Conroy to learn more about getting financial compensation.
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Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlement Amounts & Verdict Awards
Our partner law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy has recovered over $9.8 billion in mesothelioma compensation for patients and families around the country.
They have secured some of the largest mesothelioma settlements and verdicts in history, holding asbestos companies accountable for the harm they caused.
Some of the firm’s results include:
- $60 million for a New York laborer
- $24.4 million for a Chicago janitor
- $13.1 million for a carpenter
- $12 million for an Illinois laborer
- $10 million for a boiler tender
- $8 million for a Texas plumber and pipefitter
- $4 million for a union laborer in Illinois
- $3.9 million for the family of a Virginia auto mechanic
- $3.75 million for the heirs of a Pennsylvania laborer
- $3.64 million for an Arizona delivery worker
- $3.4 million for a U.S. Navy veteran in Florida
- $1.88 million for a New York laborer and U.S. Army veteran
- $1.36 million for a brick loader and tanker driver in Virginia
- $40 million for a Washington U.S. Navy veteran
“Anybody who’s had cancer or lives with a deadly disease knows it can be astronomical. Especially when something’s so rare that you have to travel to get treatment, the costs add up very quickly. The money helped us not have to worry about that as much.”
Mesothelioma Settlements vs. Mesothelioma Verdicts
Compensation for mesothelioma may be awarded as either settlements and/or verdicts.
| Mesothelioma Settlement | Mesothelioma Verdict |
|---|---|
| Can be reached before, during, or after a trial | Only occurs at the end of a trial |
| Victim can accept, counter, or reject any settlement offer | Judge or jury decides the amount of money (if any) awarded |
| Guaranteed payout if an agreement is reached | Payout is usually higher but isn't guaranteed and can be appealed |
An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will help you determine your best route to compensation, whether through a settlement or trial verdict.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Mesothelioma Settlement?
Many families start getting payments from mesothelioma lawsuit settlements in fewer than 90 days.
The exact payout timeline depends on how quickly the asbestos product manufacturers named in your claim reach mesothelioma settlements with your attorney.
Since most lawsuits involve multiple manufacturers, you may receive payments from some asbestos companies sooner than others.
“One check showed up, and then another check showed up, and then another, and they’re still coming in now. It’s been very satisfying, and what I know is that my wife will be taken care of for the rest of her life after I’m gone.”
Benefits of Mesothelioma Settlements
Many people who’ve received mesothelioma lawsuit settlements had never worked with law firms before. If that sounds like your situation, know that the legal process can be easy with the right law firm.
One of the benefits of getting a mesothelioma settlement is that you can continue treatment and spend time with your loved ones while your lawyer fights on your behalf.
Other benefits of mesothelioma settlements include:
- Helping cover treatment costs. In addition to medical expenses – which can be extremely high – mesothelioma patients may need to pay for travel, transportation, lodging, and home care while getting treated.
- Holding negligent manufacturers accountable. Asbestos companies knew their products were dangerous but continued selling them to make money. Mesothelioma settlements force these product makers to pay for the harm they’ve caused.
- Ensuring compensation is awarded quickly. Most clients start receiving their first payouts in about 90 days, allowing them to cover medical bills and keep their families financially secure.
- Offering financial support after the loss of a loved one. Wrongful death settlements provide compensation to surviving spouses and children to ease their pain and suffering and reduce financial strain.
Mesothelioma lawsuit settlements provide patients and their families with the financial support they need while ensuring asbestos companies are held accountable.
If you’re considering legal action and trying to find a lawyer, knowing the right questions to ask can make all the difference. Download our Free Checklist of Questions to Ask Your Attorney to help with your search.
4 Factors Affecting Asbestos Settlement Amounts
There are many possible outcomes when it comes to asbestos cancer settlements. Your legal team will look at several facts to negotiate the largest payout for your mesothelioma claim.
1. Age and Health
Your age and overall health at the time you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma can affect how much you receive in an asbestos settlement. Younger patients may receive higher payouts since they face long-term medical expenses and lost wages.
If your cancer is advanced, you may need more intensive treatments like chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or palliative care — costs that mesothelioma settlements often take into account.
Your asbestos lawyer will consider these factors when negotiating mesothelioma lawsuit settlements.
2. Asbestos Exposure
The amount of compensation in an asbestos lawsuit often depends on how long, how often, and in what ways you were exposed to asbestos.
Those with long-term occupational exposure — such as factory workers and insulators — tend to receive higher mesothelioma settlements because their cases usually have clear-cut liability.
That said, even brief asbestos exposure can lead to a successful legal claim. Just one asbestos fiber is enough to cause mesothelioma, and courts have recognized that any level of exposure can be dangerous.
People who were exposed from family members bringing asbestos fibers home on their clothing (secondary exposure) may also qualify for mesothelioma lawsuit settlements.
3. Liability
Mesothelioma settlements are directly impacted by the number of liable companies identified.
Asbestos exposure typically occurs through multiple products made by different manufacturers, so patients can pursue separate mesothelioma settlements from each responsible party.
For example, if a patient was exposed to asbestos-containing insulation, auto parts, and construction materials from different manufacturers, they could potentially receive mesothelioma settlements from each company.
“I ran and put the settlement check in the bank immediately. It was overwhelming. I could hardly believe it. And then the next thing I did was pay off our medical loan. It was an amazing experience.”
4. Medical Expenses
Mesothelioma treatment can cost over $400,000 each year. Most patients can’t afford to pay for everything on their own, which is why a mesothelioma settlement should cover all necessary medical expenses.
A skilled attorney will consider every cost you may face, including:
- Hospital stays
- Medications
- Ongoing care
- Surgeries
Their goal is to secure enough compensation so you and your family don’t have to worry about how to afford treatment.
Our legal partners at Simmons Hanly Conroy are familiar with these factors and will fight to secure the highest settlement possible for your family. Get a Free Case Review to connect with them today.
Other Mesothelioma Payout Options
Mesothelioma lawsuit settlements aren’t your only option for financial help. Even if you’re not ready to take legal action, you still deserve support as you navigate this difficult and preventable cancer.
Asbestos Trust Funds
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, you may also be able to get money from asbestos trust funds. These funds were created when companies that made asbestos products went bankrupt.
Courts ordered them to set aside over $30 billion to help people who got sick from their asbestos-containing products.
Many people can get money from multiple funds since they were exposed to asbestos through different companies’ products.
The lawyers we work with specialize in these cases and can help determine which mesothelioma settlement funds you qualify for and file claims on your behalf. Reach out now to see if you can access trust fund compensation.
Veterans Compensation
All U.S. military branches used asbestos from the 1930s until the early 1980s. Today, more than 30% of all mesothelioma victims are veterans.
For this reason, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has established a number of benefit programs to compensate veterans with mesothelioma and their family members.
Examples of VA benefits for mesothelioma include:
- Disability compensation: Married veterans with mesothelioma usually qualify for tax-free disability payments of $4,044.91 a month.
- Medical care: Veterans may be able to get free or low-cost mesothelioma treatments from top doctors through the VA health care system.
- Other VA benefits: Some veterans may qualify for Aid & Attendance (A&A), burial compensation, pensions, and other compensation.
Veterans and their loved ones can apply for VA compensation with help from one of our VA-accredited mesothelioma lawyers. Contact us now to get started.
Dr. Bonnie Snyder was exposed to asbestos while studying chemistry as a student. Decades later, she developed mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Dr. Snyder worked with Simmons Hanly Conroy — the legal partner of Mesothelioma Hope — to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for her medical expenses. Learn if you qualify for compensation by calling (866) 608-8933 now or by visiting https://www.mesotheliomahope.com. View Transcript.
Duration: 4 min 16 sec
I married a man with mules, and the first thing I was told was that I would learn to drive mules. So, I learned to drive mules. We’ve been married for 40 years now, and I have been riding and driving mules for 40 years.
I am not strong enough to even lift my body into the saddle anymore, and I’m not strong enough to handle a mule. That is all a result of mesothelioma.
My name is Dr. Bonnie Snider. My connection to mesothelioma is that I am a mesothelioma patient and survivor.
My exposure happened when I was 16 years old. That was my first exposure. Because I wanted to go to veterinary school, I was told to get a chemistry degree, and the chemistry labs involved using heat-protective equipment. All of those things were laden with asbestos. I had no idea, as a 16-year-old, that there was any relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos.
I was exposed for four years as a chemistry major in college, and then I became a medical laboratory technician. Altogether, it was about eight years—from the ages of 16 to about 24—that I was exposed to asbestos.
I found out I had mesothelioma kind of inadvertently. I had undergone a double mastectomy as a result of breast cancer, and my doctor wanted me to have an MRI to make sure there was no recurring breast cancer. At the time, I was also being treated for thyroid cancer. During the MRI, they found a little fluid in my lungs.
The doctor thought I should have a biopsy of the lung fluid because it’s unusual to have that much fluid in the lungs. I started having breathing problems, and my husband had to take me to the emergency room twice to have fluid drained from my chest. He finally said, “That’s it. You’re going to do what the doctor said, and you’re going to go talk to the surgeon about finding out what’s going on in your chest.”
That was the first time the fluid was actually analyzed. I underwent surgery and was officially diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Everybody’s case is different, but until you talk to someone who is knowledgeable about mesothelioma and its repercussions, I don’t think you’ve done your due diligence as a patient. I would say that Susanne Conboy is a good place to start if you have mesothelioma.
I am not a litigious person. As veterinarians, we are aware of veterinarians being sued. The more I realized how often veterinarians are sued, the less I liked the idea of suing someone else.
It wasn’t until I met Brett, our lawyer, who flew out to Scottsdale and sat with me and my sister while I was going through chemotherapy, that my perspective changed. Brett was so patient, kind, understanding, thoughtful, and courteous. He was just a genuinely nice person.
He said, “Dr. Snider, you do realize that the companies that made the products you worked with as a 16-year-old knew that asbestos caused mesothelioma?”
I said, “No, I didn’t realize that. Where’s the literature to document it?”
He said, “Well, I can show you the literature.” And he did.
I was essentially exposed with their knowledge. I think it’s important for other people to realize that too—that they have options and may be able to get some financial help as they go through their mesothelioma journey.
There is no way to make filing a lawsuit easy. There is no way to make mesothelioma easy. But I think Brett and Simmons made it as easy as humanly possible, and I truly appreciate Brett. I will always appreciate Brett.
Mesothelioma Settlement Process
Pursuing mesothelioma settlements may seem complex, but experienced asbestos attorneys make it straightforward for their clients.
Here’s how the settlement process typically works:
- Find a lawyer. Choose a mesothelioma law firm with experience handling asbestos cases. They will guide you through the process and make sure your health and well-being are put first.
- Share your story. Your lawyer will gather information about your work history, medical records, and asbestos exposure. You only need to share what you remember — they will handle the rest.
- Attorney files your lawsuit. Once enough evidence is collected, your attorney will file a personal injury lawsuit against the asbestos companies responsible for your exposure.
- Settlement negotiations begin. Most companies prefer to settle out of court, which means you could receive compensation without going to trial. If a fair settlement can’t be negotiated, your lawyer may take your case to court to fight for more compensation.
- Receive compensation. If a settlement is reached, you will start receiving payouts in 90 days or less. If your case goes to trial and wins, a jury may award additional compensation. Either way, your attorney will work to secure the best possible outcome.
Our legal partners at Simmons Hanly Conroy will work to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Get Help Pursuing Mesothelioma Settlement Compensation
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the last thing you should be worrying about is how to pay your bills.
Compensation from mesothelioma settlements or verdicts can be used for anything from treatment costs to daily living expenses. You can also gain much-needed peace of mind and ensure your family’s financial security well into the future.
Working with a trusted mesothelioma law firm gives you the best chance of securing mesothelioma settlements in your case. Call our team at (866) 608-8933 or Get a Free Case Review with our legal partners to start the settlement process today.
The average mesothelioma settlement ranges from $1 million to $1.4 million. However, the word “average” can be misleading since every case is unique. For example, our legal partners at Simmons Hanly Conroy have secured several notable mesothelioma settlements and trial verdicts, including: The most significant case on record resulted in a $250 million jury verdict for an Indiana steelworker who was exposed to asbestos for over 30 years while working at U.S. Steel. The exact time frame for settling an asbestos case depends on several factors such as how quickly the defendant agrees to the settlement, the number of manufacturers being sued, and where the lawsuit is filed. Most settlements from asbestos claims are paid out within one year — with the first settlement checks often arriving in 90 days or less. Contacting an experienced mesothelioma attorney is the best way to get an accurate estimate of the amount of time your claim may take. Call (866) 608-8933 today to connect with our trusted legal partners. If your case is successful, you may get more than your initial mesothelioma settlement. This is because you may qualify for money from multiple sources. For instance, your case might involve: The exact amount will depend on factors such as your exposure history and the specifics of your claim.Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit Settlements FAQs
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