Arkansas Mesothelioma Lawyers

How to Find and Choose an Arkansas Mesothelioma Lawyer

One of the most important factors to look for in an attorney is experience. Several well-known mesothelioma law firms have been helping survivors in Arkansas for decades. For example, Simmons Hanly Conroy has helped families recover more than $115 million in mesothelioma cases, from utility workers to mechanics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 111 new cases of mesothelioma in Arkansas between 2018 and 2022, or an average of 22 people per year. For those families, fair compensation can make an enormous difference, covering medical costs or providing for loved ones. 

One advantage of working with a national mesothelioma law firm is the extensive experience the legal team has with asbestos lawsuits throughout the country. This can help you file your claim in the right location based on the details of your case. Industry data shows more than 50% of asbestos plaintiffs file claims outside of the state where they live, and just 15 courts handle 85% of mesothelioma trials for all 50 states.

Weitz & Luxenberg

• $8.5 Billion Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated #1 by U.S. News & World Report for 2022

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Simmons Hanly Conroy

• $8.9 Billion Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated a Tier 1 Law Firm in 2022 by U.S. News & World Report

Get in Touch

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Compensation From Asbestos Filings in Arkansas

In Arkansas, many cases end in a mesothelioma settlement. Negotiating a settlement avoids long court trials and helps survivors receive vital compensation more quickly. An asbestos attorney handles the settlement negotiation process.

Notable Arkansas Settlements, Verdicts or Trust Fund Payouts

• $18.5 million (trial verdict): A family won $1 million per child and $10 million in punitive damages in their mesothelioma wrongful death suit against Honeywell International. Their father, an Arkansas brake shop worker, died from asbestos exposure in brake-shoe linings.
• $4.75 million (settlement): Worker from Taylor who developed mesothelioma.
• $2.49 million (settlement): U.S. Air Force veteran from Bull Shoals who worked as an engineer.
• $2.28 million (settlement): Truck driver from Malvern diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
• $2.1 million (settlement): Claim involving an industrial maintenance worker and pipefitter from Crossett.
• $2.1 million (settlement): Mechanic and truck driver from Cherokee Village.
• $1.87 million (settlement): Emerson case involving an oil field supervisor and maintenance technician
• W.R. Grace Asbestos Trust: This asbestos trust fund offers a payment percentage of 30.1% for mesothelioma claims in Arkansas.

Mesothelioma patients who worked in Arkansas as auto mechanics or transportation workers in the 1960s and 1970s may qualify for asbestos trust fund claims from American manufacturers of brake parts. GM’s Motors Liquidation Company Trust and Federal-Mogul U.S. Asbestos Personal Injury Trust are examples.

Find a Mesothelioma Attorney in Arkansas

Get help finding an attorney who knows the process and can get you and your family the compensation you deserve.

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How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in Arkansas?

Experienced asbestos lawyers know Arkansas’s legal system. They have experience filing asbestos lawsuits that fulfill the state’s requirements and guiding families through the process. Top lawyers in Arkansas can manage paperwork, court procedures and other parts of building a successful case.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

1. Patient interview: Top mesothelioma attorneys travel to your location to talk with you about your case.
2. Case evaluation: During the visit, an asbestos lawyer asks questions to discover if your case meets filing laws. You can ask questions, too, to determine if you feel comfortable proceeding with this Arkansas lawyer.
3. Recommendations: Depending on the circumstances of your exposure and available evidence, the attorney may recommend filing a lawsuit or pursuing asbestos trust fund claims.
4. Case preparation: It’s important to gather all the necessary evidence for your case, such as medical records, witness statements, employment records and lists of products you used at work. Your asbestos attorney takes care of these tasks.
5. Settlement negotiations or trials: Usually, mesothelioma lawyers negotiate a settlement with the defendants so you can receive fair compensation as quickly as possible. If defendants refuse to settle, your legal team can take the case to court.

In Arkansas, patients must file mesothelioma lawsuits within a certain time after diagnosis. These time limits are called statutes of limitations. The limit for both personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits is 3 years in Arkansas. This means survivors have 3 years from the time of their diagnosis or a family has 3 years from the loss of their loved one to file. An asbestos lawyer can help you file your claim correctly and on time.

Asbestos Exposure in Arkansas

People in Arkansas who worked at sites known for exposure are at higher risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. Older construction sites, military bases, power plants, factories and schools are all higher-risk buildings. Those living near these sites can also be at higher risk of asbestos exposure. 

According to an EPA review, asbestos was known to be contained within destroyed buildings at Fort Chaffee. The EPA allowed the Fort Chaffee building to be demolished. The control method was new and hadn’t been tested or agency-approved.

Sites Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation: Power plants used asbestos insulation, exposing workers.   
• Fort Chaffee: Buildings in and near Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, were identified as containing asbestos and were demolished. 
• North Little Rock Parks: Asbestos-containing materials were found in park buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviewed the site in 2011.
• Stuttgart School District: Asbestos was used in the construction of older school buildings. Asbestos in schools is a concern throughout the state.
• W. R. Grace & Co. Zonolite Processing Plant: This vermiculite plant operated in North Little Rock. Zonolite was found to be contaminated with asbestos.

Many workers and residents who became ill after exposure to asbestos at these sites have worked with Arkansas mesothelioma lawyers to file claims. Several companies that owned and operated these facilities have faced lawsuits in court.

North Little Rock Zonolite Site

W.R. Grace & Co. purchased the Zonolite brand vermiculite plant in North Little Rock in the 1960s. This facility processed asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Montana’s infamous Libby Mine.

EPA officials met with residents of the North Little Rock community in December 2011. They discussed possible asbestos exposure at the former Zonolite facility, and regulators confirmed on-site contamination. Reports showed the presence of tremolite.

W.R. Grace & Co. disposed of the contaminated soil. In 2021, the building was under renovation, and some local residents continue to worry about the possibility of asbestos exposure.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Arkansas

Occupational exposure to asbestos happened in many Arkansas industries. Construction workers, manufacturing laborers and maintenance staff faced high risks, especially at paper mills and chemical plants. Local military personnel also experienced asbestos exposure.

Higher-Risk Jobs in Arkansas

• Chemical plant workers
• Construction worker 
• Demolition worker
• Insulators
• Navy personnel
• Park staff
• Power plant worker
• Teachers

Commercial and industrial companies in Arkansas have also exposed workers to asbestos-containing products. Asbestos lawyers can also help mesothelioma patients file claims for toxic or dangerous products, not just workplace exposure.

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

State rules must be followed precisely when filing a legal claim. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can manage the process for you and your family, ensuring Arkansas’s complicated rules are followed. They stay up-to-date on the state’s ever-changing litigation landscape to best serve their clients.

Arkansas Legislative Changes

• HB 1204: Can reduce payments in Arkansas personal injury cases against insurance companies. The bill limits compensation for past medical expenses to the amount the insurer actually paid, not the estimated damages some hospitals charge.
• Arkansas Code 16-56-105: Gives mesothelioma patients 3 years to file a personal injury claim. The clock starts when you receive a medical diagnosis.
• Arkansas Code 16-62-102: Establishes that the statute of limitations for a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit is 3 years from the death of a loved one.

You can expect your lawyer to manage your case from filing to completion. The goal is for you to focus on time with friends and family while your legal team works hard to get you the compensation you deserve.