If you or a loved one suffers from mesothelioma, you know how tough it is. So do we.
Exposure to asbestos does not happen by accident. Here’s what you need to know.
This page refers to Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure law in North Carolina.
Since laws differ between states, if you are located in South Carolina, please click here.
Exposed to Asbestos? A North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Take the Fight to Them
An estimated 3,000 people annually are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the U.S. Now, the doctor says you or your loved one has mesothelioma. Things may be confusing and hard, and you have every right to be angry. Can we help? Let’s address some questions you may have, one by one:
What Is Asbestos?
A naturally-occurring mineral. It is small, light, odorless, and colorless. Because of its fire retardant nature, resiliency, and versatility, it used to be widely used in hundreds of products – from insulation to car brakes to certain types of clothing.
Does Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma?
It’s the primary cause. Mesothelioma comes from exposure to asbestos fibers and dust. Asbestos can stay in the air a long time before being unknowingly inhaled or ingested. Due to its long latency period (20–50 years), many people exposed as early as the 1970s are just now being diagnosed.
Where Do People Get Exposed to Asbestos?
From about the 40s to the 80s, manufacturing of asbestos-containing products proliferated, particularly in naval shipbuilding and repair. Many people who served in the military, as well as miners, industrial workers, and construction workers have also reported very high rates of mesothelioma. Even the families of these soldiers and workers may have been exposed to asbestos from fibers loved ones brought home on their clothing.
Can You Sue for Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma?
Many lawsuits are already ongoing. Some have already concluded successfully, including a $4.69 billion verdict in 2018 to more than 20 women who blamed their cancer on asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder. Did baby powder play a role in you developing cancer?
You may also opt to pursue workers’ compensation benefits following your mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma is considered by many to be the number one occupational killer in the world.
How Much Compensation Might You Get for Mesothelioma?
More than $30 billion has already been set aside in trust funds for victims of mesothelioma. And 3.3 million trust cases equaling at least $17.5 billion were paid from 1988 through 2010.1 You may be eligible for compensation for medical expenses, physical and mental distress, lost wages, and other expenses and bills related to your disease.
How Long Does a Mesothelioma Lawsuit Take?
If you can get sufficient compensation from a trust fund claim or workers’ compensation settlement, you may be able to resolve your case without a long lawsuit. If you need to file a lawsuit, it’s no surprise that the courts can move slowly. Talk to a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney in NC about your options and what resources and technology they have to try and expedite the process.
Who Can File a Mesothelioma Claim?
Here are some sites in North Carolina where asbestos exposure has been alleged. You can see from this sampling that exposure can and has happened at sites of all kinds:
- Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
- DuPont chemical plants throughout North Carolina
- Fort Bragg
- Metrolina Warehouse
- Some dorms at Appalachian State University
- Carolina Power and Light Company
- Champion Paper Mill
- Duke power plants across NC
- American Tobacco Plant
- J. Reynolds tobacco plants across the state
- Gaylord Container Corporation facilities
- Acme Mills
- Owens-Corning
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos at these sites or anywhere else, consult with a North Carolina mesothelioma law firm right away.
How Can You Prove Where You Or Your Loved One Were Exposed?
You probably have an idea of where you were exposed to asbestos. But how can you prove it? Establishing that asbestos caused your mesothelioma means showing that you were close by or in a place where exposure happened, but also establishing the extent of the exposure or that the exposure happened regularly over an extended period of time. Everything may hinge on the business and construction records your attorney can retrieve from the defendant after filing a lawsuit.
Is It Too Late to Sue?
You generally have three years from the time you were diagnosed to file a personal injury claim in North Carolina. Notice that’s generally from the date of diagnosis, not exposure. There has likely been a decades-long gap between when you were exposed to asbestos and when you were diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you’re filing a wrongful death claim on behalf of a family member, you typically have two years.
What Do You Do If the Victim of Mesothelioma Has Already Passed?
A wrongful death suit in North Carolina is brought, not on behalf of the victim who died, but to seek compensation for the survivors’ harms and losses. These can include medical expenses incurred while caring for the dying victim, as well as funeral expenses, loss of the victim’s income and companionship, and pain and suffering. A mesothelioma lawyer in North Carolina can help you identify the ways in which your family and livelihood have been impacted and pursue the maximum compensation you may be entitled.
Affording Your Attorney
Imagine you walk into a store to buy a metal detector. The clerk hands it to you and holds out his hand for payment. “Not right now,” you say. “First, I want to see if I turn up any money. If I do, I’ll pay you from whatever I find.”
It may sound far-fetched, but that’s exactly how the James Scott Farrin contingency fee arrangement works.2 You only pay an attorney’s fee if we get compensation for you. Why are we willing to bear all the risk? Two reasons:
- Victims deserve justice. Cost should never be a barrier to holding wrongdoers accountable.
- We believe in our award-winning team — and their more than 850 years of combined experience.
Why a James Scott Farrin Attorney?
Experience matters. Our Personal Injury Team has hundreds of years of combined experience in fighting to hold the reckless accountable. We recovered over $225 million in total compensation for more than 5,000 clients in 2023.1 And speed matters, particularly right now.
No-Commitment Case Review
Mesothelioma is a defective product that causes immense suffering. By 2075, estimates are that 10 million people in the world will have died because of asbestos. Let us help you fight for a measure of justice against those who decided their profits were more important than people’s lives. For a free case evaluation, a live representative can help you right now.
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The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin consults with a national network of attorneys on product liability, defective drugs, and defective products cases in an attempt to provide the best representation we can for our clients. Depending on the details of your case, our firm will likely refer your matter to another law firm with which we associate. We will only do this if we believe it is in your best interests and if you agree.