Alabama Mesothelioma Lawyers

Key Facts: What an Alabama Mesothelioma Lawyer Does for You

• Who can file: People diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer from Alabama exposure and their families.
• Where exposure happened: Shipyards in Mobile, steel mills in Birmingham, power plants, paper mills and military bases including Fort McClellan, Fort Rucker and Maxwell Air Force Base.
• Who represents you: National asbestos law firms represent Alabama residents and travel to you for a free initial consultation.
• Compensation: Lawsuits, settlements and asbestos bankruptcy trust funds.

How to Find and Choose an Alabama Mesothelioma Lawyer

A law firm that specializes in mesothelioma and asbestos cases can help you understand your legal options in Alabama and the state’s filing requirements. It’s important to choose an experienced legal team with a good reputation for helping mesothelioma survivors in Alabama. 

Leading U.S. law firms, such as Simmons Hanly Conroy and Weitz & Luxenberg, worked with more than 650 mesothelioma patients or their families in 2024. If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, you’re not alone. According to the CDC, there were more than 160 new cases in Alabama between 2018 and 2022, and 21 patients died from asbestos-related illnesses in 2023.

National law firms have extensive resources and experience opposing large corporations. They can help hold companies accountable for negligence that exposed you to asbestos and can also look for compensation options from asbestos trust funds. These firms will travel to you for your initial consultation at no cost to you.

Attorneys at national firms understand their clients can’t always travel. Top firms usually won’t charge for travel to the initial meeting. 

National firms have experience opposing large corporations. They also have extensive resources. They can help hold companies accountable for negligence that exposed you to asbestos and can also assess if you can file claims with asbestos trust funds.

Compensation From Asbestos Filings in Alabama

There have been many major asbestos settlements and verdicts in Alabama. Asbestos litigation reflects the state’s industrial past. Past cases have resulted in significant mesothelioma compensation awards. 

The average compensation in a mesothelioma settlement varies between cases. Many settlements range from $1 million to $2 million. Mesothelioma jury verdicts average higher. According to Mealey’s latest data, the national average asbestos lawsuit trial verdict is $20.7 million.

Notable Alabama Settlements, Verdicts or Trust Fund Payouts

How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in Alabama?

Asbestos law firms represent clients across Alabama, from big cities like Huntsville and Mobile to Clarke and Russell counties. Mesothelioma attorneys travel to your home to help you understand your legal options and the next steps.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

1. Case evaluation: A mesothelioma lawyer evaluates the strength of your case and current evidence. Lawyers can also answer your questions about the process.
2. Options overview: Your lawyer helps you understand your options, such as filing a lawsuit or applying for a bankruptcy trust fund payment.
3. File a claim: Your legal team handles the filing process, letting you focus on rest and time with family. This includes helping to gather necessary evidence, such as medical records, employment records and lists of high-risk exposure sites.
4. Investigate exposure history: Your legal team investigates Alabama asbestos exposure sites, including shipyards and steel mills. For example, the Mobile shipyards used asbestos insulation on pipes and boilers during World War II.

5. Evidence gathering: In court cases, the discovery process involves finding witnesses and additional evidence in preparation for the trial. Your lawyer handles any legal correspondence for you, so you can avoid the stress of dealing with opposing attorneys.
6. Court representation: Most mesothelioma cases settle. The law firm handles negotiations to help you get fair compensation. But your lawyer will prepare for trial if a settlement can’t be reached.

​An experienced asbestos lawyer in Alabama can help you file your mesothelioma claim. They can also determine if you should file in another state. This could be the case if you live in Alabama but were exposed somewhere else, or if the company responsible for your exposure operates in another state.

$30B+ IN TRUST FUNDS AVAILABLE

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Asbestos Exposure in Alabama

The majority of Alabama residents were exposed to asbestos at work. Many industries heavily relied on asbestos for its heat-resistant properties. Higher-risk worksites included power plants, shipyards, manufacturing plants and paper mills. Military personnel also faced exposure on Alabama’s bases.

Sites in Alabama Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Alabama Drydock & Shipping Company: Several legal claims have been filed against the Mobile shipyard.
• Alabama Power Plant: The Facility in Birmingham is a jobsite confirmed to contain asbestos.
• Fort McClellan: The U.S. Army training installation near Anniston was where soldiers were trained in chemical warfare.
• Fort Rucker: Veterans were exposed to asbestos at this military base in Dale County.
• Gulf States Paper Mill: The machinery at the Tuscaloosa facility is confirmed to have exposed workers to asbestos.
• Maxwell Air Force Base: Veterans were also exposed to asbestos at this military base in Montgomery.
• Rock Wool Manufacturing: This wool insulation manufacturer in Leeds exposed workers to asbestos-containing products.

Alabama is one of the states that holds companies responsible for secondhand asbestos exposure, sometimes also called “take-home duty.” Alabama courts have held companies liable when families were exposed to asbestos on workers’ clothes.

Cement Asbestos Products Company

The Cement Asbestos Products Company in Ragland, AL, exposed workers directly to asbestos during its manufacturing operations. Ragland plant workers routinely handled raw asbestos without adequate protection and were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers. 

CAPCO produced cement-asbestos pipes, using approximately 6,000 tons of asbestos every year. CAPCO was a subsidiary of the American Smelting and Refining Company, the owner of one of the largest asbestos mines in North America. ASARCO filed for bankruptcy in August 2005 and established the ASARCO Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust in 2009.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Alabama

In the 1960s and 1970s, companies in Alabama frequently used materials and parts containing asbestos fibers. Many workers faced daily risks of asbestos exposure. These days, asbestos exposure mainly occurs in older buildings that contain asbestos insulation or other building materials.

Higher-Risk Jobs in Alabama

• Aerospace worker
• Construction worker
• Government worker
• Industrial worker
• Metal worker
• Military personnel
• Paper and textile mill worker
• Power plant worker
• Shipyard worker
• Teacher

Patricia Stevens is a travel enthusiast who has lived her entire life in Huntsville, AL. She received a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2021, but didn’t recall how she may have been exposed to asbestos. Patricia has an inherited mutation of the BAP1 gene, a genetic risk factor for mesothelioma that makes people more likely to develop this cancer when exposed to asbestos.

How Your Lawyer Supports You in Alabama’s Changing Asbestos Litigation

The 1980 Alabama case ruling, Golden v. McCurry, defined the state’s contributory negligence doctrine. This rule can limit recovery if the court finds even partial fault in mesothelioma patients for asbestos exposure. There are exceptions, like when an employer purposely doesn’t tell workers about asbestos.

Alabama Legislative Changes 

• AL Code § 6-2-30 (2024) starts the statute of limitations for asbestos claims from the date the injured person should have reasonably discovered the illness.
• AL Code § 6-2-38 (2024) gives plaintiffs two years to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit.
• AL Code § 6-5-410 (2024) allows family members to seek damages if a patient dies before filing a personal injury claim.
• AL Code § 6-5-692 (2024) requires plaintiffs to submit a complete list of asbestos exposure events, timelines, witnesses and evidence within 45 days of bringing a claim.
• Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 8(c) allows defendants to use contributory negligence as an affirmative defense.

Alabama’s contributory negligence standards and strong evidence requirements can be confusing for mesothelioma patients. Some proposed bills in the legislature may make it even harder to file claims. An asbestos lawyer helps you understand current Alabama requirements so you can avoid mistakes and increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.

Do I need an Alabama-based law firm to file a mesothelioma claim?

No. National asbestos law firms represent Alabama residents and travel to you for a free initial consultation. These firms have the resources and multi-state experience to handle claims against large corporations and to pursue asbestos trust funds.

Where were people most often exposed to asbestos in Alabama?

High-risk sites include the Mobile shipyards, steel mills in Birmingham, power plants and paper mills. They also include military bases such as Fort McClellan, Fort Rucker and Maxwell Air Force Base. Many Alabama residents were exposed to asbestos at work.

Can a family member file a claim if the person with mesothelioma has died?

Yes. Alabama law allows a family member or the estate to bring a wrongful death claim when the legal requirements are met. A mesothelioma law firm can explain if you are eligible, what evidence you need and how the claim applies to your family’s circumstances.

How are mesothelioma settlements and verdicts decided in Alabama?

Amounts vary by case and depend on the exposure history and evidence. Alabama mesothelioma cases have seen significant results, including a $115.6 million jury verdict for 21 U.S. Steel steelworkers in Birmingham and a $3.5 million judgment in the Barbara Bobo take-home exposure case.

What is the deadline to file a mesothelioma lawsuit in Alabama?

Alabama generally gives plaintiffs two years to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit. Filing rules can depend on the facts of a case, so patients and families should talk to an attorney immediately.

What compensation options are available to Alabama mesothelioma patients?

Compensation options include filing a lawsuit, negotiating a settlement and applying to asbestos bankruptcy trust funds. More than 60 active asbestos trust funds currently hold more than $30 billion. A lawyer can assess which options fit your exposure history.

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