Washington Mesothelioma Lawyer

Washington mesothelioma lawyers at Nemeroff Law Firm represent workers exposed to asbestos across the state, from Puget Sound shipyards to military bases and industrial sites. If you were exposed at sites like Bremerton’s Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, we can help you pursue compensation.

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Why Do You Need to Hire a Washington Mesothelioma Lawyer?

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will help you navigate Washington’s courts and filing requirements to file a legal claim pursuing compensation for mesothelioma. You need an attorney on your side who knows how the legal system works and who has a record of getting results in the state.

Working With Washington Mesothelioma Attorneys

• Building your case: Attorneys gather your work history, medical records and exposure evidence specific to Washington jobsites and industries.
• Filing your claim: An attorney makes sure you file your claim properly and before the deadline.
• Identifying liable parties: Your legal team identifies the parties responsible for your asbestos exposure, for example, companies that operated in Washington’s shipyards and industrial facilities.
• Local court knowledge: Washington attorneys know the courts where people file asbestos claims, including King County Superior Court.
• Pursuing all compensation options: They pursue every one of your options, including personal injury claims, asbestos trust fund claims and VA benefits.

Washington’s rich industrial history means many workers faced significant asbestos exposure, especially in shipbuilding, manufacturing and construction. A lawyer who understands the jobsites and industries in the state will build a stronger case for you. It’s crucial for your Washington attorney to know the local courts, the companies that operated here and the documentation that carries weight in Washington claims. The Nemeroff Law Firm has many decades of experience handling mesothelioma cases nationwide, including Washington state. 

Asbestos Compensation in Washington

People in Washington diagnosed with mesothelioma can pursue financial compensation to help cover medical bills, lost wages, travel costs and pain and suffering. If a loved one passed away from mesothelioma, families can file a wrongful death claim.

Types of Mesothelioma Compensation in Washington

• Asbestos trust fund claims: Many companies that supplied asbestos to Washington’s shipyards, military bases and industrial facilities later filed for bankruptcy and established trust funds to compensate people they harmed. Many people qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously, and trust fund claims typically resolve within 3 to 6 months.
• Personal injury lawsuits: Your attorney files these claims against solvent companies responsible for your asbestos exposure. Washington has no shortage of defendants, from shipyard equipment manufacturers to industrial suppliers that operated across the state for decades.
• VA benefits: Veterans exposed to asbestos during military service, including at Washington facilities like Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, may qualify for VA disability compensation and free healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Workers’ compensation claims: Some workers diagnosed with mesothelioma qualify for workers’ compensation benefits through their employer’s insurance. Your attorney can determine whether this option applies alongside your other compensation options.
• Wrongful death claims: If a loved one passed away from mesothelioma, Washington law gives families three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim covering medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs and loss of companionship.

Compensation amounts vary depending on the details of each case. Most mesothelioma lawsuits settle with most settlements ranging from $1 million to $2 million nationally. According to Mealey’s Litigation Report, trial verdicts in the U.S. average around $20.7 million. The experience of your Washington mesothelioma lawyer can affect your total compensation.

Notable Nemeroff Law Firm Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts

The Nemeroff Law Firm has a strong record of securing significant compensation for clients across the country, including Washington. Our record of results demonstrates  our commitment and ability to serve our clients effectively.

National Mesothelioma Verdicts & Settlements Won by Nemeroff Law 

• $65.6 million verdict in Falloon et al. v. Westinghouse Electric Corp et al.
• $55.5 million verdict in Hernandez v. Kelly Moore Paint Company
• $12 million verdict in Frederick Schulte v. Crown Cork & Seal, Inc.
• $10 million verdict in Schroeder v. Melrath Gasket, Inc. et al.

Nemeroff Law Firm has taken on some of the largest asbestos manufacturers and industrial companies in the country. The firm’s mesothelioma verdicts span a wide range of industries, defendants and case types, reflecting decades of litigation experience.

Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Washington

Mesothelioma compensation in Washington can come from multiple sources, each with its own timeline and filing requirements. Where your exposure occurred and where the responsible company operates can also affect where you need to file, which means your case may fall under the laws of a different state. Our team can help you navigate the deadlines for all of your compensation options.

What to Know About Filing in Washington

• How Nemeroff helps: We handle every step, from gathering your exposure history to negotiating your settlement or taking your case to trial.
• Statute of limitations: Washington allows three years from diagnosis for personal injury claims and three years from the date of a loved one’s passing for wrongful death claims. Extensions or exemptions can sometimes apply, and if your case is filed in another state, a different deadline applies.
• Where claims are filed: Asbestos cases typically go through King County Superior Court or Pierce County Superior Court when filed in Washington.

Resolving a mesothelioma case in Washington typically takes 1 to 3 years, depending on the complexity of the claim and whether it settles or goes to trial. Trust fund claims usually resolve faster, often within 3 to 6 months. Nemeroff Law Firm’s experienced asbestos lawyers know Washington’s courts and the companies that operated here, from shipyards in Bremerton to industrial facilities in Spokane.

Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Washington

Washington has a history of industrial work in shipbuilding, energy production, manufacturing and timber, all industries that relied heavily on dangerous asbestos. Companies used asbestos fibers for insulation, fireproofing and heat resistance throughout much of the 20th century. Paper and pulp mills, nuclear facilities and oil refineries across the state also put workers at risk.

An asbestos mine near Lyman in Skagit County and a mine near Alta Lake in Okanogan County posed serious public health threats. Environmental exposure from asbestos in Swift Creek and the Sumas River in Whatcom County were also health hazards.

Sites Known for Asbestos Exposure in Washington

• Duwamish Shipyard, Seattle: Workers at this shipyard built and repaired commercial ships starting in 1939, with asbestos present throughout the vessels.
• Kaiser Shipyard, Vancouver: Kaiser Shipbuilding ran shipyards along the West Coast, including one in Vancouver, Washington, where workers constructed ships that contained asbestos.
• Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton: The Bremerton Naval Shipyard is the largest shipyard on the West Coast, covering more than 1,300 acres. Reports on the dangers of asbestos at Bremerton date back to the 1940s, and a 1970 report found lung problems on X-rays of workers who had asbestos exposure there.
• Todd Shipyards, Seattle: Todd Shipyards Corporation operated a yard in Seattle, where shipbuilders handled asbestos-containing materials throughout the construction and repair of vessels.

When workers cut, repaired or disturbed asbestos-containing materials, they inhaled microscopic toxic fibers that can lodge in the lungs or abdomen. Mesothelioma takes 20 to 60 years from exposure to develop. So exposure before the 1980s can still lead to diagnoses today. Legacy asbestos remaining in old buildings also poses a threat.

Washington ranks No. 10 in the nation for mesothelioma deaths, according to the CDC. From 1999 to 2015, Washington’s mesothelioma death rate exceeded 20 deaths per million people each year, one of only two states to reach that level. 

Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Washington

Washington is among the states with the highest rates of asbestos exposure in the U.S. Workers didn’t need direct contact with asbestos to face exposure, since the tiny fibers can easily become airborne. Family members could also face secondary exposure when workers brought fibers home on their clothing.

Occupations with Known Asbestos Exposure in Washington

• Aluminum plant workers
• Boilermakers
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Insulation installers
• Machinists
• Millwrights
• Nuclear plant workers
• Pipefitters
• Refinery workers
• Shipbuilders and dockworkers
• Timber and paper mill workers

Many companies responsible for asbestos exposure in these industries failed to protect their employees from harm in the workplace. If you worked in one of these roles and have a mesothelioma diagnosis, the Nemeroff Law Firm can help you hold those companies accountable.

Let the Mesothelioma Attorneys at Nemeroff Law Firm Help You

The Nemeroff Law Firm understands what you and your family are going through. You don’t have to face this alone. With more than 150 years of collective experience and more than $650 million recovered for clients, our attorneys know how to build strong cases and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Rick Nemeroff, Jennifer Black and their team of experienced mesothelioma attorneys handle every aspect of your case, from investigating your exposure history to negotiating settlements and taking cases to trial. We work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. If you or a loved one has a mesothelioma diagnosis schedule a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Washington Mesothelioma Claims