Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer

How to Find and Choose a Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer

To find a mesothelioma lawyer, prioritize attorneys licensed to practice in Virginia who have extensive experience handling mesothelioma and asbestos claims. Look for lawyers familiar with Virginia’s local exposure sites, the state’s legal processes and a documented history of successful client outcomes within the state.

Schedule free initial consultations with several reputable firms to discuss your case and ask about their experience with Virginia-specific asbestos claims. Choose a lawyer who clearly explains your legal options, offers personalized guidance throughout the claims process and can share examples of successfully securing mesothelioma settlements or verdicts in cases like yours. Many national law firms serve Virginians and can manage your case details remotely, eliminating the need for travel.

Virginia also ranks No. 8 in mesothelioma deaths and No. 11 in mesothelioma cases nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These figures underscore the impact of asbestos exposure in the state and the importance of accessing knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyers familiar with Virginia’s unique legal and industrial landscape.

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

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Meirowitz & Wasserberg

• $200 Million Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated in the Top 10 Asbestos and Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers

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Compensation From Asbestos Filings in Virginia

There is a history of significant financial rewards and asbestos settlements for people exposed to asbestos in Virginia. Many have resulted in millions of dollars in mesothelioma compensation. 

Notable Virginia Settlements, Verdicts or Trust Funds

• $25 million: Newport News Shipbuilding worker Bert Minton was awarded $25 million in 2011 after developing mesothelioma. Minton worked on 17 Exxon oil tankers throughout the 1960s and 1970s. This was one of the largest jury verdicts ever handed down in Virginia.
• $10.4 million: Surviving family members of a man who died of mesothelioma were awarded $10.4 million in 2008.  He was a former Newport News Shipbuilding employee.
• $5.5 million: The widow of a Virginia worker was awarded $5.5 million against John Crane, Inc. and Garlock Sealing Technologies in 2009. Her husband was a Newport News Shipbuilding employee who died of mesothelioma after handling asbestos-containing gaskets and sealants while building Navy aircraft carriers.
• $5 million: Danielle Caraco was awarded $5 million on behalf of Stephen Fowlkes in 2019. Fowlkes was diagnosed with asbestosis from his exposure to asbestos-containing railroad brakes during his employment at Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Fowlkes repaired and installed railroad brake shoes for a decade in the 1980s.

Mesothelioma settlements can vary between $1 million to $2 million. The national average asbestos lawsuit trial verdict is $20.7 million, according to the latest data from Mealey’s. Payouts from asbestos trust funds, established when companies facing lawsuits declare bankruptcy, vary. Virginia allows claims against both liable companies and established asbestos bankruptcy trust funds simultaneously. Because each case is unique, it’s important to consult an experienced asbestos attorney.

How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in Virginia

An experienced Virginia asbestos lawyer will guide you through every step of your mesothelioma claim, managing the legal complexities while you focus on your health. Your attorney will thoroughly investigate your exposure history, gathering all necessary documentation and selecting the best legal strategy for the unique requirements of Virginia law.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

1. Confirm diagnosis: Your lawyer confirms your mesothelioma diagnosis, collecting and reviewing medical records including your pathology report, treatment records and prognosis.  
2. Investigate asbestos exposure and gather evidence: Your legal team will meticulously investigate when, where and how you were exposed in Virginia or elsewhere. This includes your detailed employment history (job titles, locations, dates of employment), asbestos products and responsible manufacturers.
3. File your claim within Virginia’s statute of limitations: Your attorney files your claim within 2 years from the date of diagnosis for personal injury lawsuits and 2 years from the date of death for wrongful death lawsuits, ensuring no deadlines are missed.
4. Negotiate with defendants and prepare for trial: Your legal team negotiates with defendants to seek a fair settlement. They’ll also actively prepare for trial in case a settlement isn’t reached, making sure they’re ready to litigate successfully on your behalf.
5. Settlement disbursement process: Your lawyer receives the settlement funds into a secure client trust account, deducts attorney fees and case expenses, pays off medical liens and other debts, then disburses your net recovery along with a detailed settlement statement for your review and verification.

Throughout the process, your lawyer keeps you informed and answers any questions, aiming to make the claim as stress-free as possible. Ultimately, the goal is to secure compensation that will help cover medical expenses, lost wages and other damages.

Find a Mesothelioma Attorney in Virginia

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Asbestos Exposure in Virginia 

Virginia’s most frequent sources of asbestos exposure are mining and job sites such as shipyards, chemical plants, mills and refineries. The highest concentrations of environmental asbestos exposure are along the Blue Ridge, an Appalachian mountain range that runs southwest from the Maryland border near Fairfax County and Washington, D.C.

Sites in Virginia Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Crown Cork & Seal: The company didn’t create asbestos-containing products but acquired Mundet Cork, which did manufacture items with the toxic mineral.
• John Crane, Inc.: The company produced asbestos-containing products, including gaskets and packing. Former employees are still suing the company for asbestos exposure.
• Surry Nuclear Power Plant: At least 12 contractors were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers in Isle of Wight County in 2011. A tornado prompted the shutdown of 2 Surry Power Station reactors while hundreds of contract employees were repairing the plant. Before repair work began, safety officials assured them any asbestos pipes would be clearly labeled. The contractors were shocked several days later when they learned they were misinformed.
• Virginia Vermiculite, LLC: The Louisa County operation is one of the last open-pit vermiculite mines. Vermiculite is a nontoxic mineral that forms naturally alongside asbestos, which has historically contaminated many vermiculite products. 

Residential dwellings have exposed Virginians to asbestos. In April 2019, an asbestos contractor pleaded guilty to violating asbestos safety regulations. Workers removed asbestos from Alexandria, Virginia’s Hunting Point apartment complex in 2014. The sentence was 12 months of probation, 50 hours of community service and a $15,000 fine.

Older structures and schools across Virginia will likely contain some form of asbestos. Until the 1980s, asbestos was used in high-traffic areas like classrooms, auditoriums, school corridors, walls, ceilings and floors. Products containing asbestos in buildings usually don’t pose a threat if left intact and undisturbed.

Newport News Shipyard

Newport News Shipyard was a major shipbuilding site from the 1930s through the 1980s. The site is where thousands of workers were exposed to asbestos through the extensive use of the mineral for insulation and fireproofing on ships and in shipyard buildings. Asbestos fibers released during construction and repair became airborne and inhaled by workers, causing serious health risks like mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases.

Workers in many trades faced high exposure risks, including insulators, pipefitters, electricians and boilermakers. Protective measures were lacking because the dangers of asbestos weren’t widely known at the time. This exposure led to many illnesses and lawsuits by former shipyard employees and their families.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Virginia 

Many occupations across Virginia exposed people to dangerous asbestos while on the job. Shipbuilding is a major industry for Virginia since the state is near the Atlantic Ocean. Asbestos-containing products were used in almost every part of the shipbuilding process.  

Virginians have also been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease through secondary asbestos exposure. State courts have ruled that companies can be liable for secondary exposure cases. Secondhand exposure happens when a person working with asbestos brings home fibers on their clothing, skin or hair. 

List: Higher-Risk Jobs in Virginia

• Chemical plant worker
• Construction worker
• Industrial worker
• Military personnel
• Mill worker
• Mining
• Power plant worker
• Refinery worker
• Shipyard worker
• Teacher

Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Shaun Bigbie told us that he worked at Ford Motor Company in Norfolk and Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, both of which are known for a high risk of asbestos exposure. His uncle also worked at Ford and described the conditions inside of the facility. “My uncle said there were days where he would see the light shining in through the window and he said you would just see fibers everywhere in the air,” Shaun recalled. “He said that one day it was so bad that they had to shut down the factory and send everyone home,” Bigbie shared.

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

Asbestos litigation continues to evolve in Virginia with ongoing changes in laws, court rulings and regulations impacting how claims are handled. Your lawyer stays current on these developments to adapt strategies, advocate effectively and protect your rights under the latest legal standards.

Virginia Legislative Changes

• Causation standard clarification: A state Supreme Court decision in 2013 clarified the proximate cause standard for asbestos cases. The court adopted a “sufficient-to-have-caused” standard, meaning a plaintiff must prove exposure to a specific defendant’s product alone was more likely than not sufficient to have caused their illness, a standard that can favor defendants in cases with multiple potential exposures.
• Take-home liability expansion: The Virginia Supreme Court expanded the scope of asbestos liability in 2018 to include “take-home” exposure cases. This ruling allows a new class of plaintiffs. That can include family members exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on a worker’s clothing, who can pursue lawsuits against companies.

Your lawyer also monitors legislative reforms and high-profile court decisions that might influence your case. They provide personalized guidance to help you understand how these changes affect your claim, so you are fully informed every step of the way. This proactive support gives you the best chance to securing fair compensation without added stress.