01. Indiana Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Indiana
Indiana residents harmed by asbestos cancers and other illnesses can seek support from dedicated mesothelioma law firms. Experienced lawyers understand the history of asbestos use in Indiana. They understand the Indiana legal system and can handle the litigation process on behalf of asbestos victims.
Indiana residents and workers may be eligible to file asbestos lawsuits in the state. Specialty asbestos law firms can explain eligibility and filing options. They can also help clients determine if Indiana is the best state to file in based on the details of their individual cases.
The following firms have helped people living in Indiana receive compensation:
Dedicated mesothelioma law firms offer an array of benefits for asbestos victims. These lawyers have a proven track record of building successful cases. They can identify companies and employers responsible for asbestos injuries. They also have the experience and resources necessary to hold large companies accountable.
Mesothelioma law firms also offer free consultations with no requirement to hire them. This can help asbestos victims find legal representation they feel confident in. Once hired, mesothelioma lawyers dedicate themselves to securing compensation for patients and their families. This can help victims put their energy into spending time with loved ones and seeking the best treatments.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Indiana
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Indiana
Experienced mesothelioma law firms in Indiana can help asbestos victims obtain compensation. Lawyers can file asbestos lawsuits and trust fund claims on behalf of their clients. Asbestos trust funds are created by bankrupt companies to compensate individuals harmed by asbestos.
Thousands of Indiana residents have fallen ill or died from asbestos cancers and other diseases. These include mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer.
For example, more than 1,400 mesothelioma diagnoses occurred in Indiana from 1999 to 2019. From 1999 to 2020, over 1,200 people in Indiana died from the disease.
Many Indiana residents have filed lawsuits against asbestos companies because of these serious illnesses. Lawsuits have been filed in more than 50 Indiana cities and towns, including Bloomington, Evansville and Indianapolis.
These lawsuits targeted recognizable employers like General Electric, Union Carbide and U.S. Steel. Dozens of these cases have resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Indiana?
Indiana residents who develop asbestos illnesses after asbestos exposure may be eligible for financial compensation. Exposure often occurs through occupational or secondary sources. Family members of deceased patients may also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Several industries used asbestos in Indiana, exposing workers throughout the state to asbestos fibers. Workers at auto manufacturing plants, oil and gas refineries and railroad companies faced asbestos exposure. Employees at shipyards and steel mills also risked encountering the dangerous mineral.
Many companies knew they were exposing workers to asbestos. Asbestos lawsuits are a way to hold these companies accountable. Eligible asbestos victims can hire a law firm to seek compensation for expenses that should be paid by responsible companies, such as treatment costs.
Indiana residents who lived in the following cities and towns have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Angola, IN
- Avon, IN
- Bedford, IN
- Bloomington, IN
- Bremen, IN
- Butler, IN
- Cedar Lake, IN
- Centerville, IN
- Charlestown, IN
- Chesterton, IN
- Columbus, IN
- Crown Point, IN
- Culver, IN
- Delphi, IN
- Dyer, IN
- Elkhart, IN
- Evansville, IN
- Fishers, IN
- Fort Wayne, IN
- French Lick, IN
- Granger, IN
- Griffith, IN
- Hartford City, IN
- Hobart, IN
- Huntertown, IN
- Huntington, IN
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jasper, IN
- Jeffersonville, IN
- Kewanna, IN
- Kingman, IN
- Lafayette, IN
- Lebanon, IN
- Marion, IN
- Markle, IN
- Martinsville, IN
- Michigan City, IN
- Monticello, IN
- Mount Vernon, IN
- Muncie, IN
- New Albany, IN
- New Palestine, IN
- Noblesville, IN
- Peru, IN
- Pittsboro, IN
- Plymouth, IN
- Rensselaer, IN
- Shelbyville, IN
- Sheridan, IN
- South Bend, IN
- Tipton, IN
- Valparaiso, IN
- Washington, IN
- Woodburn, IN
- Worthington, IN
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Indiana
Mesothelioma lawyers can file asbestos lawsuits and trust fund claims for Indiana residents. These attorneys serve as their clients’ representatives, handling litigation matters on their behalf. This includes preparing and filing documentation and negotiating compensation amounts.
Indiana asbestos lawsuits must be filed within a certain amount of time. Legal filing deadlines, found in laws called statutes of limitations, can vary between states. In Indiana, family members and victims must file within a set time period after death or diagnosis of an asbestos illness.
If the statute of limitations has passed, patients and their loved ones may have other options. For example, they may be eligible to file their lawsuit in another state. Some may also be eligible to submit an asbestos trust fund claim. Mesothelioma law firms can help Indiana clients understand their compensation options and eligibility.
Filing VA Claims in Indiana
In 2021, more than 335,000 veterans were living in Indiana. Historically, military service has come with significant asbestos exposure risks from products supplied by asbestos companies. As a result, service members from the Air Force, Army and other military branches have developed asbestos cancers and other illnesses.
Veterans with asbestos diseases from military service may qualify for monthly benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They may also have other compensation options. These include filing lawsuits against asbestos companies and submitting trust fund claims. Experienced asbestos lawyers can help veterans and their loved ones navigate these processes. Attorneys can explain the compensation options and handle the filing process for VA benefits and asbestos lawsuits.
03. Indiana Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Indiana
Many Indiana asbestos exposure victims have filed lawsuits against asbestos companies. With the help of a mesothelioma lawyer, they may be able to secure financial compensation.
A settlement is a private agreement made between a victim and an asbestos company. It effectively ends the lawsuit against the company in return for compensating the victim. Settlements can be made before, during or after a trial.
Asbestos settlements can cover treatment costs, lost wages and pain and suffering. If the patient has died, family members may be able to pursue claims for the wrongful death of their loved one. Indiana residents have received millions in compensation through lawsuit settlements.
Some details from Indiana mesothelioma settlements include:
- $3.6 million for a 62-year-old duct assembler and warehouse manager
- $2.5 million for a 76-year-old ironworker at Bethlehem Steel and U.S. Steel
- $2 million for a 77-year-old laborer and DIY home renovator
- $2 million for a 74-year-old pipefitter and welder
- $2 million for a 61-year-old Navy and Army veteran
- $2 million for a 79-year-old boilermaker
- $2 million for a 70-year-old Navy veteran and oil plant manager
- $1.9 million for a 64-year-old Navy veteran and tooling engineer
- $1.9 million for a 70-year-old aluminum plant worker
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Indiana
Some mesothelioma lawsuits also end in jury verdicts. In one such case, an Indiana steel worker filed a lawsuit related to his mesothelioma diagnosis. The victim had worked in the U.S. Steel plant in Gary, Indiana, for more than 30 years. He blamed his diagnosis on inadequate on-the-job protection from asbestos.
An Illinois jury agreed and awarded him $250 million. But U.S. Steel announced just days later that the case had been settled for less than $50 million. The company gave no further details, so the exact settlement amount is unknown.
Another case also involved a former employee at U.S. Steel’s Indiana and Illinois plants. The worker died of mesothelioma in 2016. His family filed a lawsuit against BP Amoco and U.S. Steel, blaming both companies for his death. An Illinois jury agreed with his family and awarded them $5.6 million in December 2021.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Indiana mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Indiana
Indiana Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Asbestos use and removal in Indiana are subject to state and federal asbestos laws. These laws aim to protect workers and the public from asbestos.
Indiana state agencies responsible for regulating asbestos handling and disposal include:
- The Indiana Department of Environmental Management
- The Indiana Department of Labor
These agencies enforce state and federal asbestos laws. Indiana’s state laws regulate the following asbestos activities:
- Asbestos handling: Indiana law prohibits any person without an asbestos license from working with asbestos. This includes inspecting, handling or removing asbestos from various buildings.
- Asbestos inspections: Indiana-licensed inspectors must check locations of proposed demolition or renovation for asbestos. With a few exceptions, renovations and demolitions cannot begin until the site has been inspected.
- Asbestos monitoring: Known asbestos sites must be continually inspected and monitored by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
- Asbestos training: All asbestos workers in Indiana must undergo training and exams to obtain a license. Asbestos handling licenses are subject to periodic renewal.
Indiana Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Indiana has seen some recent changes to its asbestos litigation laws. Going forward, these changes may help victims be more successful in Indiana courts. Before 2016, state law characterized cases involving asbestos products and distributors differently than cases involving companies that processed raw asbestos. The state limited asbestos product makers’ and distributors’ liability with a 10-year statute of repose.
The statute of repose was triggered by the delivery of an asbestos product to a consumer. This meant victims of asbestos products could not file lawsuits more than 10 years after their exposure. Since asbestos cancers often develop more than 20 years after exposure, this may have prevented many victims from seeking justice.
In 2016, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled the 10-year statute of repose unconstitutional for asbestos cases. This opened asbestos product manufacturers in the state to the possibility of additional lawsuits. One of the justices noted, “Indiana state courts might see a rise in asbestos-related filings from litigants” as a result of this ruling.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
