Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit: Your Rights and How To File
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may have the right to file an asbestos exposure lawsuit. This type of legal action allows victims and their families to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other Illness-related losses.
The Gori Law Firm can help you begin the legal process with a free consultation about your rights and options. From there, our attorneys can handle every step of your claim while you focus on your health. With over 20 years of experience and $4 billion recovered for our clients, we’re the team you want on your side when facing a life-altering diagnosis.
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- Why Should I File an Asbestos or Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
- Why Choose the Gori Law Firm for Your Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit?
- Who Can File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
- How to File an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit
- Types of Asbestos Lawsuits & Claims
- What Is the Deadline to File a Mesothelioma Claim?
- Get Help Filing an Asbestos Lawsuit in All 50 States
- Mesothelioma Asbestos Claims FAQs
- A personal injury lawsuit may allow you to recover compensation after you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or another qualifying illness.
- You may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit if a loved one died from an asbestos-related disease.
- Generally, you have one to six years from the diagnosis date or your loved one’s death to file an asbestos lawsuit.
- Our nationwide asbestos exposure law firm is ready to guide you through every step of the legal process, from investigating your exposure to representing you at trial.
What Is an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit?
An asbestos exposure lawsuit is a legal action that allows people affected by asbestos-related diseases to pursue compensation from the companies responsible for their exposure. Mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer are the diseases most commonly involved in asbestos lawsuits. Depending on the circumstances, liable parties may include asbestos manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, contractors, and property owners who exposed workers or consumers to asbestos.
Most asbestos lawsuits are product liability claims. They often rely on strict liability, which holds companies responsible for victims’ damages when their products cause harm, regardless of whether they were negligent.
Other cases are based on negligence when there’s evidence that a company failed to use reasonable care to protect others from asbestos exposure. This type of claim may arise when a company knew of asbestos’s risks yet exposed workers or consumers to asbestos without adequate safety measures or warnings.
Who Can File an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit?
People diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases may qualify to file a lawsuit for asbestos exposure. Sometimes, surviving family members may also have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one to an asbestos-related illness.
Many people worry that they cannot file a claim because they do not know exactly when or where their exposure happened. This concern is extremely common because asbestos-related diseases often develop decades after a person inhales asbestos fibers. Our firm has an extensive proprietary database of asbestos products, manufacturers, and job sites to help identify the source of your exposure. Even if you’re unsure how your exposure occurred, we can potentially identify the source and use additional evidence, such as occupational records and witness testimony, to support your case.
Most asbestos lawsuits are product liability claims. They often rely on strict liability, which holds companies responsible for victims’ damages when their products cause harm, regardless of whether they were negligent.
Other cases are based on negligence when there’s evidence that a company failed to use reasonable care to protect others from asbestos exposure. This type of claim may arise when a company knew of asbestos’s risks yet exposed workers or consumers to asbestos without adequate safety measures or warnings.
High-Risk Occupations for Asbestos Exposure
Certain industries and occupations have a particularly strong history of using asbestos. Thus, a large number of asbestos claims involve occupational exposure in high-risk industries. We represent people who developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses who’ve worked in these types of jobs and more:
- Electricians
- Aircraft mechanics
- Roofers
- Carpenters
- Auto mechanics
- Painters
- Iron workers
- Sheet metal workers
- Maintenance and construction workers
- Factory workers
- Chemical plant workers
- Tile setters
- Drywallers
- Glaziers
- Railroad workers
- Machinists
- Steamfitters
- Millwrights
- Welders
- Insulation installers
Some of these workers brought asbestos fibers home on their hair, equipment, or clothing, exposing their spouses or children to the toxic substance. If a household member of a worker with an occupational history of asbestos exposure, they may have a secondary exposure claim.
Veterans and Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits
The U.S. military widely used asbestos in ships, aircraft, vehicles, and facilities throughout the 20th century. As a result, veterans face one of the highest risks of asbestos-related illness. The risk is especially high in Navy veterans and former shipyard workers, who comprise about a third of all mesothelioma patients.
Veterans cannot sue the federal government or the military for asbestos exposure that occurred during their service. However, they may pursue compensation from the private manufacturers and suppliers that produced the asbestos-containing products they encountered. Many veterans diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases also qualify for VA disability benefits, and filing a private lawsuit does not affect that eligibility.
How Filing an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit Works: Step by Step
Filing an asbestos lawsuit may sound overwhelming when you’re already encountering the effects of a life-altering illness. When you turn to our team, we’ll handle every aspect of the legal process on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your health and your family. Here’s what you might expect:
- Free case review: Our attorneys will review your diagnosis and history to determine your eligibility for an asbestos exposure lawsuit and explain your options.
- Investigation: Next, we’ll identify the asbestos products or job sites connected to your exposure to identify the companies liable for your illness.
- Filing: Once we’ve built a compelling case, our team will prepare your lawsuit and file it in the appropriate court.
- Discovery: Both sides will exchange evidence and sworn testimony in a court-supervised process.
- Negotiations: We’ll meet with the liable party and attempt to settle your claim before it goes to trial.
- Trial: If we don’t reach a fair settlement agreement, our team will present your case in court and seek a jury verdict.
Why Choose The Gori Law Firm for Your Asbestos Lawsuit?
Our firm combines deep knowledge and resources with client-focused advocacy to pursue meaningful results for people affected by asbestos-related diseases. Here’s what we have to offer:
Proven Track Record
Strong Leadership
Industry-Leading Resources
No Upfront Costs, Ever
Statute of Limitations: Don't Wait To File
Every asbestos exposure lawsuit is subject to a statute of limitations. This law limits the amount of time you have to take legal action. If you miss your state’s filing deadline, you may permanently lose your right to seek compensation. The statute of limitations varies significantly by state and typically ranges from one to six years. Because many asbestos-related illnesses take several decades to develop after exposure, the clock usually starts ticking when you receive a diagnosis. For wrongful death lawsuits, the timer starts running on the date of death. Even if you believe you have plenty of time to file, we still encourage you to contact us as soon as possible. A call to our firm costs nothing, and acting promptly puts us in the best possible position to protect your rights. Important: Deadlines vary by state and by the specific facts of each case. Consult with an attorney as soon as possible after a diagnosis.
Get Your Free Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit Evaluation Today
An asbestos-related diagnosis can turn your world upside down, affecting your health, finances, and peace of mind. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may have the right to pursue compensation for these losses. Gori Law is here to seek the results you and your family deserve, starting with a free, confidential consultation about your options. Contact us online or call 618-659-9833 for a free consultation with a trusted member of our team.