Legal Options

For over a decade, our firm has stood by thousands of families nationwide, guiding them through the pursuit of justice after an asbestos-related diagnosis. We know the profound toll that diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis can take—physically, emotionally, and financially. Since 2014, we’ve made it our mission to ease that burden, fighting tirelessly for the compensation and closure you deserve.

Our consultations are always free, and we never charge any out-of-pocket fees. We have successfully recovered several hundred million dollars for families across the country using the legal options described below.

What Kind of Legal Options Are Available?

An asbestos-related diagnosis can unlock multiple paths to compensation, each tailored to your unique situation. Often, you may be eligible for more than one type of claim, allowing you to pursue justice from different angles. Our experienced legal team is here to guide you through three primary options: lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims, asbestos bankruptcy trust claims, and disability benefits through the Social Security Administration or Veterans Administration. We’ll carefully assess your case to identify all available options and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos lawsuits began in the 1920s when workers at a Johns-Manville factory in New Jersey sued after developing asbestosis, a severe lung disease. Those early cases were quietly settled with secretive agreements—now illegal—that prevented the injured workers and their lawyer from revealing the dangers of asbestos exposure. Today, modern lawsuits empower victims to seek financial compensation and hold negligent companies accountable for decades of misconduct. Depending on how you were exposed, several types of lawsuits may apply:

• Product Liability Lawsuits
  Filed against companies that manufactured, sold, or supplied asbestos-containing products without warning users of the dangers.
  Example: A retired mechanic develops mesothelioma from handling asbestos-laden brake pads. He sues the brake manufacturer for neglecting to disclose dangers. Learn more about product liability lawsuits

• Premises Liability Lawsuits
  Brought against property owners (like factories, refineries, or shipyards) who failed to protect workers or visitors from known asbestos hazards on their premises.
  Example: A welder exposed to asbestos dust at a chemical plant develops mesothelioma and sues the facility’s owner for ignoring known risks and failing to provide safety gear. Learn more about premises liability lawsuits

• Wrongful Death Lawsuits
  Filed by surviving family members when a loved one dies from an asbestos-related illness due to negligence by a company or employer.
  Example: A woman succumbs to peritoneal mesothelioma from secondhand exposure via her husband’s work clothes. Her children file a wrongful death suit against his employer. Learn more about wrongful death lawsuits

All fifty states have laws that cover product liability, premises liability, and wrongful death lawsuits. However, lawsuits brought on behalf of railroad workers or maritime workers must be brought under specific federal laws:

• Railroad Worker Lawsuits
  Railroad workers exposed to asbestos can file lawsuits under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)—a special law that allows them to recover damages outside of traditional workers’ comp systems.
  Example: A retired railroad conductor diagnosed with mesothelioma sues his employer under FELA for failing to provide a safe work environment. Learn more about railroad worker lawsuits

• Maritime Worker Lawsuits (Jones Act Claims)
  Seamen and shipbuilders exposed to asbestos while working aboard ships can file claims under the Jones Act, a federal law that protects maritime workers injured on the job.
  Example: A merchant marine who served in the engine room of asbestos-insulated ships during the 1970s files a lawsuit under the Jones Act after developing lung cancer. Learn more about maritime worker lawsuits

If you’ve developed an asbestos-related disease from workplace exposure, your options depend on your state’s laws and the specific condition you’re facing. In some states, you may be able to sue your employer directly for certain diseases, like mesothelioma or lung cancer, to seek compensation for your injuries. For other conditions, such as asbestosis or pleural thickening, those same states may limit you to filing a workers’ compensation claim. Each state has its own unique set of rules.

• Workers' Compensation Claims
  Many states do not allow workers to sue their direct employer for injuries sustained on-the-job. These claims are typically handled through a state administrative system.
  Example: A maintenance technician in California is diagnosed with asbestosis. He files a workers’ compensation claim instead of suing his employer. Learn more about asbestos workers’ compensation claims

Disability Benefits for Asbestos-Related Diseases

When an asbestos-related disease disrupts your ability to work and live fully, disability benefits can provide critical financial support. These benefits, offered through programs like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Veterans Administration (VA) benefits, are designed to help ease the burden of medical costs and lost income. For those facing conditions like mesothelioma or asbestosis, our team can guide you through the process to secure the benefits you’re entitled to, ensuring you have the resources to focus on your health and family.

• Social Security Disability Claims (SSDI)
  Mesothelioma and certain lung cancers qualify for expedited approval under the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program, allowing eligible individuals to receive Social Security Disability benefits quickly.
  Example: A former construction worker diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma applies for SSDI and is approved within weeks due to the aggressive nature of the disease. Learn more about SSDI for asbestos-related diseases

• VA Disability Benefits for Veterans
  Veterans exposed to asbestos during their military service may be eligible for disability compensation, healthcare, and survivor benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Example: A Navy veteran who worked in boiler rooms aboard ships develops mesothelioma decades later. He files for VA disability benefits based on service-related asbestos exposure. Learn more about VA claims for asbestos exposure

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Claims

When an asbestos-related disease upends your life, bankruptcy trust funds can offer a vital source of compensation without the need for a courtroom battle. Established by companies that used or manufactured asbestos before filing for bankruptcy, these trusts are designed to support those harmed by exposure—whether directly on the job or secondarily through a loved one. With roughly $30 billion set aside across dozens of trusts, these funds provide substantial financial relief for medical costs, lost wages, and more. Our experienced team will navigate the administrative process to secure every dollar you’re entitled to from each trust, ensuring justice for you and your family.

• Who Qualifies: Both primarily exposed individuals (e.g., workers in industries like construction, shipbuilding, or manufacturing) and secondarily exposed individuals (e.g., family members exposed through a worker’s clothing) are eligible to file claims.

• Why Trusts Matter: Over 60 companies, including Johns-Manville and Owens Corning, have created trusts to compensate victims, collectively holding approximately $30 billion. These funds ensure that even if a company no longer exists, victims can still receive significant payments—often ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars—based on their exposure and illness.

• How Trusts Operate: Unlike lawsuits, trust claims are handled through a streamlined administrative process, requiring detailed documentation of exposure and medical diagnosis. No court appearances are necessary to file a claim.

Example: A shipyard worker with pleural mesothelioma secures compensation from trusts like Johns-Manville and Owens Corning, while his wife, exposed secondarily through his work clothes, also receives trust payments when she develops asbestosis. Learn more about asbestos trust fund claims

Who Is Eligible to Seek Compensation?

An asbestos-related diagnosis can open the door to financial relief for you and your loved ones, whether through lawsuits, trust fund claims, or government benefits. Eligible individuals typically include those diagnosed with diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, as well as family members who may pursue wrongful death or loss of consortium claims. Wrongful death suits allow surviving spouses, children, or estates to seek compensation when a loved one dies from an asbestos-related illness, addressing losses like income and companionship. Loss of consortium claims, often filed by spouses, seek damages for the loss of emotional support, intimacy, or partnership caused by the disease’s impact. Our compassionate team will help clarify your options and guide every eligible family member toward justice.

Below are the most commonly recognized asbestos-related conditions, each with a story of a family navigating their path to compensation:

Mesothelioma

A rare, aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos, affecting the linings of the lungs (pleural), abdomen (peritoneal), heart (pericardial), or testicles (testicular).

Hypothetical Example: The Martinez family’s world turned upside down when Juan, a process operator at a chemical plant in Deer Park, Texas for over 30 years, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Our firm stepped in, pursuing a product liability lawsuit against manufacturers of asbestos-insulated control room equipment he worked with daily, securing substantial funds for his treatment and the family’s future. Juan was also eligible for substantial settlements from asbestos trust funds. We also tested Juan’s wife, Elena, and their children for asbestos exposure. While their kids were thankfully unaffected, Elena was diagnosed with asbestosis from secondhand exposure through Juan’s work clothes. We filed asbestos trust claims on her behalf to ensure she received compensation for her care.

Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure significantly raises lung cancer risk, particularly for smokers, and is often linked to occupational exposure.

Hypothetical Example: Linda, a harbor pilot navigating ships through New Orleans’ bustling ports for over 25 years, was shattered to learn she had lung cancer tied to asbestos dust from insulation, piping, and equipment on the boats she boarded. Our firm fought for her, filing a Jones Act lawsuit against her employer for neglecting safe working conditions, securing vital funds for her treatment and family’s future. We also tested her husband, Tom, uncovering asbestosis from take-home exposure through Linda’s work gear. Since Tom wasn’t eligible for a Jones Act suit, our team filed bankruptcy trust claims with funds like Johns-Manville and Owens Corning, obtaining compensation for his care and lost income.

Throat Cancer (Laryngeal or Pharyngeal Cancer)

Inhaled asbestos fibers can damage throat tissues, leading to laryngeal or pharyngeal cancer, recognized as asbestos-related by health authorities.

Hypothetical Example: The Thompson family faced a tough road when Mike, a retired Navy veteran in Norfolk, was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer linked to years of sleeping under asbestos-insulated pipes aboard ships. For personal reasons, Mike opted against pursuing a lawsuit, but our firm stepped in to secure his future. We filed bankruptcy trust claims with funds like Johns-Manville and Celotex, VA disability claims for his service-related exposure, and Social Security Disability claims for fast-tracked support, together easing the burden of medical costs and lost income for Mike and his loved ones. Unlike many law firms, our firm will not pressure you or your family into filing a lawsuit if you'd prefer not to.

Stomach Cancer

Swallowed asbestos fibers can inflame the stomach lining, potentially causing cancer over time.

Hypothetical Example: Hiroshi, a Navy veteran who repaired ships at Mare Island Naval Shipyard for decades, passed away from stomach cancer, leaving his daughter, Aiko, in grief. Two and a half years later, Aiko learned his cancer was linked to asbestos exposure from ship materials. With California’s two-year statute of limitations barring a lawsuit, our firm acted swiftly, filing bankruptcy trust claims on behalf of Hiroshi’s estate with funds like Johns-Manville and Fibreboard. As his sole surviving heir, Aiko received all proceeds, providing financial relief for her future. Even after a loved one’s passing, we can uncover options—but acting quickly is critical to avoid time limits.

Colon and Colorectal Cancer

Long-term asbestos exposure is linked to higher risks of colon and colorectal cancer, especially in heavily exposed workers.

Hypothetical Example: Maria’s father, Javier, a union worker who moved across Corpus Christi jobsites through the 1970s and 80s, succumbed to colorectal cancer tied to asbestos from construction materials. After his passing, Maria turned to our firm, and we tapped our extensive database and research skills to track down Javier’s 1980s coworkers, whose testimony proved his exposure at multiple sites. This evidence fueled successful bankruptcy trust claims with funds like Johns-Manville and Raybestos-Manhattan, securing funds to honor Javier’s legacy. Inspired to act, Maria had us give a free asbestos health test to her mother, Carmen. We discovered that Carmen developed asbestosis from laundering Javier’s work clothes. We filed asbestosis claims for Carmen, easing her medical burdens.

Ovarian Cancer

Asbestos-contaminated talc products, like certain powders, have been tied to ovarian cancer in women with prolonged use.

Hypothetical Example: Keisha, a loving wife and mother of two, was just in her late thirties when ovarian cancer upended her life, linked to years of using talcum powder after showering. Our firm dove into action, uncovering records and enlisting experts to prove the powder was contaminated with tremolite asbestos from its source mine. Through relentless detective work—tracking supplier chains and testing samples—we built a rock-solid case, positioning us to file lawsuits against the powder’s manufacturer and the mine’s owner to fight for Keisha’s family.

Asbestosis & Pleural Plaques

A chronic, non-cancerous lung disease caused by inhaled asbestos fibers, leading to severe breathing issues that often qualify for compensation.

Hypothetical Example: For decades, Earl, a lifelong refinery worker in Lake Charles, carried asbestos dust home on his clothes, unaware of the dangers to his wife Betty who laundered his clothing. When breathing troubles led our firm to test him, we found mild asbestosis and filed bankruptcy trust claims with funds like Johns-Manville and Pittsburgh Corning, securing funds for his care. Earl mentioned to us that Betty struggled even more with breathing. Our tests revealed she had extremely severe asbestosis, traced to washing his work clothes. Her critical condition qualified her for fast-tracked Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. She was also entitled to file her own trust claims, and a lawsuit against the refinery for allowing Earl to go home in asbestos-contaminated clothing. Together, these claims eased the couple’s medical and financial burdens.

What’s the Right Path for Your Family?

An asbestos-related diagnosis can feel like an overwhelming burden, but you don’t have to navigate your options alone. Whether it’s pursuing a lawsuit, filing a trust fund claim, or securing government benefits, our dedicated team is here to light the way. With over a decade of experience helping thousands of families, we’ll guide you step-by-step to find the justice and compensation you deserve.

We’ll work with you to:

• Identify every claim you’re eligible for

• Gather the documentation needed to build a strong case

• Maximize your compensation from all possible sources

To learn more about asbestos-related claims, explore our Asbestos Lexicon for clear definitions of key terms or dive into our Asbestos Encyclopedia for in-depth insights on diseases, legal processes, and more. These resources are designed to empower you with knowledge at every stage.

Call us today at 833-4-ASBESTOS or to discover your options. You’ve carried enough—let us take it from here.