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Asbestos lawsuit cancer claims

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered health issues linked to asbestos exposure, you may have legal options to seek compensation. Your journey toward justice starts here.

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You may qualify to file an asbestos exposure lawsuit if your situation meets these criteria:

Find out who may qualify for an asbestos lawsuit.
  • You must be able to show that you or your loved one was exposed to asbestos.
  • You or your loved one must also have been diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos.
  • You need to be able to link asbestos exposure to the mesothelioma diagnosis.
  • You need to determine who was responsible for the exposure to asbestos—typically an employer, landlord, or product manufacturer—and prove that they failed in their duty to protect you or your loved one from asbestos exposure.
  • You must file your asbestos claim before any legal deadlines have passed.

It isn’t always easy to know if your case qualifies. Talking to an experienced asbestos lawyer will help you better know if you might have a claim that could be successful.

The process of gathering documents and medical records can be just as tricky as figuring out if your situation qualifies in the first place. Again, an asbestos attorney can walk you through the process to help you build your case and seek compensation.

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Find out who may qualify for an asbestos lawsuit.

How to start your asbestos claim:

  1. 1

    Fill out the form to see if your case qualifies.

    Fill out the form or call us at (855) LIA-5555.

    Start by completing our online form or giving us a call to share basic details about your asbestos claim.

  2. 2

    The Legal Injury Advocates team will help you with the next steps.

    Share your story with our team.

    Our team will listen to your story, answer questions and assess whether your asbestos exposure claim may qualify for legal action.

  3. 3

    Submit your medical records and history for an evaluation of your case.

    Let our legal team review your claim.

    An experienced asbestos lawyer or other legal team member will review your claim and discuss next steps.

  4. 4

    An experienced attorney will review your case and discuss the next steps if you qualify.

    Prepare for your case.

    You may need to submit medical records or important documents to help us and our co-counsel evaluate the extent of harm caused by your asbestos exposure. We’ll discuss this with you.

  5. 5

    If you’re qualified, your lawsuit or litigation will begin on your journey to justice.

    Start your journey to justice.

    If your asbestos claim qualifies, our legal team, together with our co-counsel, will guide you through the legal process to seek compensation and accountability.

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Health risks allegedly linked to asbestos exposure

Health issues allegedly linked to asbestos exposure

Asbestos is a name given to six different types of minerals that have stringy, fluffy or wooly textures. Asbestos minerals are found naturally in rock and soil.

Asbestos was often used in construction because it is strong and can handle very high temperatures. It was also used as insulation and in flame-retardant materials.

As people became aware of the health risks from asbestos exposure, regulators limited its use. Federal bans on asbestos use began as early as 1973 with spray-on fireproofing and insulation containing asbestos. However, it wasn’t until March of 2024 that the US Environmental Protection Agency finally banned it completely.

Scientists and doctors now agree that exposure to asbestos is dangerous. Many agencies and organizations, including the WHO, CDC and EPA, have issued warnings about using asbestos. They now say that any level of asbestos exposure has health risks.

If you believe you or a loved one have had any asbestos exposure, you should immediately contact your healthcare provider.

Health issues allegedly linked to asbestos exposure
How do you get exposed to asbestos?

How do people get exposed to asbestos?

Asbestos can break down into dust and microscopic particles that easily travel through air. You can breathe in these toxic particles or even eat them if they fall on food or dishes. The asbestos fibers can stick inside your lungs or other parts of your body and eventually lead to serious health problems.

After discovering the dangers of asbestos, its use was heavily regulated and is now finally banned. Owners of buildings containing asbestos have been removing it. That said, you may still be at risk of asbestos exposure if you work in certain industries:

  • Shipbuilding
  • Construction
  • Mining
  • Automotive brake repair
How does asbestos exposure affect the human body?

How does asbestos affect the human body?

When asbestos particles are stirred up in the air, you can breathe them in. They can get stuck in your lungs and, over time, cause many kinds of diseases that often take decades to show up. These include:

  • Mesothelioma
  • Lung cancer
  • Throat cancer (Esophageal, Pharyngeal, Laryngeal)
  • Gastrointestinal cancer (Stomach, Colon, Rectal, Anal, Intestinal)
  • Asbestosis
  • Pleural plaques
  • Pleural thickening
  • Asbestos on the lungs

Companies involved in asbestos lawsuits

Companies involved in asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits

The history of asbestos lawsuits marks one of the longest-running civil actions ever. Because asbestos was used in so many ways for such a long time, many different companies and manufacturers have been named in lawsuits. Some notable examples include:

  • Johns-Manville Corporation: Large manufacturer alleged to use asbestos in construction materials such as insulation, roofing, etc.
  • W.R. Grace & Co.: Mining company responsible for mining vermiculite, which could be contaminated with asbestos.
  • Halliburton (through Dresser Industries): Through their inheritance of Dresser Industries, Haliburton took on liability of Dresser Industries’ asbestos-containing products, which included gaskets and other industrial equipment.

You and your family may be owed compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and the suffering caused by potential asbestos exposure due to these and other companies. An asbestos lawsuit also raises awareness and gives more power to the push for stricter regulations on using harmful chemicals in products.

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Companies involved in asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits

Asbestos lawsuit history and key events

The danger to people from asbestos exposure has been known for a very long time. People with cancer and other asbestos-caused diseases started fighting the large and influential companies making asbestos-containing products as early as the 1930s. However, it took years for workers and other individuals to begin finding justice. It has taken even longer to regulate and remove this toxic material from our homes, businesses, cars and products.

If you believe you and your family have suffered due to asbestos exposure, it’s important to stay up-to-date on legal changes and developments. Here is a short history of this long-running fight to hold companies responsible for the harm they have done to people.

  1. Early asbestos lawsuits (1930s–1950s)

    The dangers of asbestos exposure were known at least as far back as 1898 when factory inspectors documented the health issues it caused. By 1918, insurers were refusing to insure asbestos workers because of the high risk of them suffering costly and deadly diseases. The first asbestos lawsuit was filed in 1929 by Anna Pirskowski and 15 other workers from the Johns-Manville plant in Newark, NJ.

    In the middle of the 1930s, several large asbestos companies funded a study of asbestos health risks. The evidence of asbestos hazards were obvious, yet the companies refused to publicize the findings or protect workers. The details of the research and the cover-up were discovered in the papers of Raybestos-Manhattan president Sumner Simpson. The so-called "Sumner Simpson Papers" became the cornerstone of future lawsuits.

  2. Groundbreaking case: Borel v. Fibreboard (1973)

    It took decades for the first person to win an asbestos lawsuit. Clarence Borel won his asbestos exposure lawsuit against Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation, Johns-Manville Products Corporation and nine other asbestos insulation manufacturers in 1973. This was the first case where the court said manufacturers were responsible for asbestos injuries caused by their products.

    This opened the door for hundreds of thousands of asbestos lawsuits, with an estimated 27 million workers exposed to high levels of asbestos dust between the years 1940 and 1979—with even more since then.

  3. Expansion of asbestos claims (1970s–1980s)

    Following the first successful asbestos lawsuit, the courts were flooded by new filings against asbestos products manufacturers and users of asbestos products, including shipyards, construction and manufacturing companies.

    Johns-Manville, one of the world’s largest asbestos product manufacturers, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982 due to overwhelming court judgments. From 1982 to 2004, 72 other major companies also filed for bankruptcy, with more companies joining the list in the following decade.

  4. Bankruptcy trust funds (1980s–1990s)

    As more firms failed under the financial costs of asbestos lawsuits, many went out of business and some reorganized in bankruptcy. To compensate victims, they created and put money into asbestos trust funds. By 2011, there were over 60 such trust funds. The asbestos trust funds give people suffering the health impacts of asbestos exposure some compensation, even if the responsible companies no longer exist.

  5. Continued asbestos litigation in the 2000s

    Despite more regulations limiting asbestos use, people continued to file lawsuits into the 2000s, as it often takes decades after exposure to asbestos to suffer from disease. New claims often involve secondary exposure, like family members exposed through workers’ clothing or exposure from older buildings undergoing renovation.

  6. Current status of asbestos lawsuits

    Thousands of companies, large and small, have been sued over the harm their asbestos products or use of asbestos products have caused. Many have either established or are associated with asbestos trust funds. The emphasis today is on administering claims on these trusts. Some companies that are still solvent and actively in business also continue to face new lawsuits.

Reasons to work with an asbestos lawyer

Gathering medical records about your asbestos-related health issues, documenting your exposure to asbestos and putting together other information needed to build a strong case can be a complicated process. It helps to have the right asbestos lawyer at your side to guide you through the legal process, from filing your claim to seeking compensation for damages.

Your asbestos lawsuit isn’t just about seeking compensation and justice for yourself. You can hold manufacturers accountable for their actions and their products, and that helps protect others in the future.

Legal Injury Advocates, along with our co-counsel, can help you figure out if you have a strong claim. If you qualify, we will guide you through the legal process and work to get you the compensation you may deserve.

We are fully dedicated to providing you with the legal support you need and helping you stand up for your rights. Contact us for a free initial claim evaluation to explore your options and take the first step toward justice.

Why asbestos victims trust Legal Injury Advocates

Why asbestos victims trust Legal Injury Advocates

Why asbestos victims trust Legal Injury Advocates

Free Initial Case Review

We’ll review your claim for free—no upfront costs, no risk.

Clear, Honest Communication

We, along with our co-counsel, will keep you informed every step of the way with straightforward, honest updates.

Legal Help Anywhere in the U.S.

Our team is ready to fight for you no matter where you live, if you qualify.

No Fee Unless You Win

You don’t pay anything unless we win your case—no risk, no obligation.

Quick Initial Eligibility Check

Call us at (855) LIA-5555 or fill out the form to see if you qualify.

Proven Results

We have relationships with experienced co-counsel firms that have spent decades winning cases like yours.

You may have a strong asbestos claim, but time may be limited to file. Contact us to see if you qualify:

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Pay Only If We Win

FAQs

  • Why are people filing asbestos lawsuits?

    You might file a mesothelioma lawsuit if you have mesothelioma caused by your exposure to asbestos. People seek financial compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering and more.

    Holding companies responsible for the harm their products have caused is crucial, especially since they likely knew of the danger for decades and hid the facts from workers. Even after decades of lawsuits and proven dangers, some companies still expose workers to deadly levels of asbestos, such as in the OxyChem plant that didn’t close until 2021.

  • How do I know if I have been exposed to asbestos?

    There are many factors that can lead to dangerous levels of asbestos exposure, including but not limited to:

    • Occupational History: Many exposures occurred in industries like shipbuilding, construction, auto repair (especially brake and clutch work), and industrial manufacturing.
    • Residential/Environmental: Older homes (built before the 1980s) may contain asbestos in insulation, flooring, or roofing. Disturbing these materials during renovations can cause exposure.
    • Documentation: Employment records, military service records, or product information can help pinpoint where and when exposure likely occurred.

    How can you know if you have been exposed to asbestos? There are several factors to consider, including:

    • Work history: Your risk of exposure may be higher if you worked in shipbuilding, construction, auto repair (especially brake and clutch work) and industrial manufacturing.
    • Residential and environmental factors:strong> Older homes built before the 1980s may contain asbestos in insulation, flooring or roofing. If you disturb these materials and kick up dust during renovations, you may cause exposure.
    • Documentation:strong> Employment records, military service records or product information can help pinpoint where and when exposure likely occurred.
    • Health screening:strong> Ask your doctor to screen for the effects of asbestos exposure with x-rays and CT scans, pulmonary function tests, blood tests and more.

  • Can I still file a claim if my asbestos exposure happened decades ago?

    Health issues and diseases from asbestos exposure can take years, if not decades, to show up. Many states’ statutes of limitations begin after a diagnosis is made or after the discovery of an asbestos-related condition, rather than at the time of exposure. A lawyer experienced in asbestos lawsuits will be able to reliably check and interpret local laws and can confirm any filing deadlines.

  • What is the average asbestos injury lawsuit compensation?

    Compensation in mass tort cases is heavily dependent on a number of factors, so it’s difficult to pinpoint actual asbestos settlement amounts. These factors include:

    • The severity of the diagnosis
    • The extent of asbestos exposure
    • The amount of damages suffered

  • Why should I file an asbestos lawsuit claim?

    Aside from potential compensation to cover things like medical bills or physical or mental hardships as a result of asbestos exposure, you are contributing to the ever-growing number of claimants who are speaking up about the injustices that these companies are committing. Your choice to speak out and be involved could fuel the courage for others to speak out and seek justice, too.

Contact Legal Injury Advocates

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