North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer

Let a North Carolina mesothelioma lawyer assist you in fighting for justice and compensation if you’ve been exposed to and injured by asbestos. North Carolina has a long history of asbestos exposure via naturally-occurring deposits and industrial job sites.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in North Carolina, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

We help all North Carolina residents get the compensation they deserve in all cities, including:

Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Cary, Wilmington, High Point, Greenville, Asheville, Concord, Gastonia, Jacksonville, Chapel Hill, Rocky Mount, Burlington, Huntersville, Wilson, Kannapolis, Apex, Hickory, Goldsboro, Indian Trail, Mooresville, Wake Forest, Monroe, Salisbury, New Bern, Sanford, Matthews, Holly Springs, Thomasville, Cornelius, Garner, Asheboro, Statesville, Mint Hill, Kernersville, Morrisville, Lumberton, Kinston, Fuquay-Varina, Havelock, Carrboro, Shelby, Clemmons, Lexington, Elizabeth, Boone, Lenoir, Clayton, Morganton, Hope Mills, Leland, Albemarle, Laurinburg, Roanoke Rapids, Eden, Henderson, Pinehurst, Stallings, Graham, Murraysville, Reidsville, Mount Holly, Harrisburg, Piney Green, Hendersonville, Knightdale, Lewisville, Newton, Spring Lake, Southern Pine,s Mebane, Davidson, Smithfield, Archdale, Tarboro, Waxhaw, Lincolnton, Kings Mountain, Summerfield, Mount Airy, Belmont, Weddington, Washington, Dunn, Waynesville, Winterville, Elon, Rockingham, Morehead City, Clinton Half Moon, Oxford St., Stephens, Myrtle Grove, Kings Grant, Roxboro, and more.

The Connection Between Asbestos and Mesothelioma

If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you were probably exposed to asbestos at work years ago. Asbestos is a mineral used by many industries in the past, including several that operated in North Carolina.

When workers handled asbestos materials, they shed fibers that became part of the dust in the air and on surfaces. Anyone in the area could inadvertently inhale or ingest these fibers. Asbestos fibers cause damage in the body, leading to mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis many years later.

If you worked in construction or manufacturing, in shipyards, as an insulator or plumber, in power plants, or many other North Carolina industries, you could be at risk for mesothelioma now.

Why Should I Sue for Mesothelioma in North Carolina?

Most people sue for mesothelioma to seek compensation. Most cases of mesothelioma results from negligent asbestos exposure, and the companies responsible should be held to account.

Mesothelioma is also a costly disease requiring specialist treatment. Compensation from a lawsuit or claim can help cover these high costs, as well as others.

Why Do I Need a North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer?

Contact a top-rated North Carolina asbestos or mesothelioma lawyer to ensure you have the best chance of a good outcome for your lawsuit or claim. Asbestos cases are very complicated, and you need their expertise to recover damages.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer who is part of a larger asbestos firm can help you in several ways:

• Offering a free initial consultation to review your case
• Providing expert investigators to find proof of your asbestos exposure and build a strong case
• Finding all the expenses this illness has caused you to maximize your compensation
• Negotiating a fair settlement from the defendants
• Litigating in court if necessary
• Providing contingency payment, so you risk nothing, and you pay no fees until they win
• Coming to you when you are unable to travel

How Do Mesothelioma Lawsuits Work?

The process of filing an asbestos lawsuit can be complicated. Rely on a top North Carolina mesothelioma lawyer to take all the steps for you. They will begin by reviewing your case and explaining your options, which might include:

• Filing a mesothelioma personal injury lawsuit
• Filing a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit
• Making a claim with an asbestos trust fund
• Claiming veteran benefits through the VA

A lawsuit begins with a filing and then building a case with evidence. A lawyer uses your work history and expert investigators to prove which companies exposed you to asbestos. Medical experts connect that exposure to your illness.

Most asbestos lawsuits end in a settlement. Ocassionally they go to trial, where the plaintiff seeks a jury award.

Bankrupt asbestos companies set up asbestos trust funds. Your lawyer can determine if you are eligible to make a claim with one or more trusts.

If you served in the military, you might have been exposed to asbestos through bases, military equipment, or U.S. Navy ships. If so, you could be entitled to important benefits.

Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in North Carolina?

Most people with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos at work. North Carolina has several industries that used asbestos and exposed workers. There are also deposits of asbestos that pose risks and the ongoing risk of asbestos that remains in older buildings.

Naturally-Occurring Asbestos in North Carolina

Most victims of asbestos were exposed on the job. However, North Carolina also has natural deposits of asbestos that put residents at risk.

Asbestos deposits are found primarily in eight counties in the Appalachian Mountains and the outlying foothills. Jackson County has the most naturally-occurring asbestos sites, with at least 21 deposits.

The other seven counties with large asbestos deposits include:

• Ashe County
• Avery County
• Caldwell County
• Macon County
• Mitchell County
• Transylvania County
• Yancey County

Asbestos in Vermiculite Processing

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), 208 cities throughout the U.S. received shipments of vermiculite contaminated with asbestos from mines in Libby, Montana, and elsewhere before 1979.

In all, 5.8 million tons of asbestos-tainted vermiculite were sent to American communities, putting residents and workers at risk.

The North Carolina community of High Point received 150 asbestos-contaminated vermiculite shipments totaling 10,108 tons. It shipped to a processing plant in High Point owned by the Carolina Vermiculite Company and later by W.R. Grace.

Carolina Asbestos Company

North Carolina was once home to an asbestos company. The Carolina Asbestos Company had a facility in Davidson that operated through the 1960s. Both workers and nearby residents were at risk of exposure and are now at risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The Davidson asbestos plant site was capped in 1984. The protection was breached by a flood in 2016, again putting residents at risk of asbestos exposure.

Fort Bragg

Veterans have high rates of mesothelioma because of the heavy use of asbestos in the military. This includes exposure at bases like Fort Bragg in North Carolina. While much of the exposure occurred decades ago, aging buildings continue to pose a risk.

In 2008, soldiers at Fort Bragg were told to remove flooring tiles that contained asbestos. They worked for more than a week on the project without proper protective gear.

Other military sites in North Carolina that put service members and civilian workers at risk of asbestos exposure include Johnson Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

Other North Carolina Job Sites With Known Asbestos

Until the mid-1970s, many industries used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) as insulation, fire retardants, and heat-resistant materials. Facilities where fire and high temperatures were part of the operational process often contained large quantities of ACMs.

North Carolina is home to several of these industries and workplaces, including heavy manufacturing, aviation and aerospace businesses, defense jobs, automotive plants, and pharmaceutical companies.

Many of the job sites added asbestos to protect property, equipment, and workers from fire or electrical discharges. Asbestos was used to insulate wiring, steam pipes, and even interior walls.

Some of the job sites in North Carolina known to have had asbestos exposure issues include:

• Allied Chemical plant in Wilmington
• Weyerhaeuser Company facility in New Bern
• Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company factory in Durham
• Carolina Power & Light generating plant in Georgetown
• John Umstead Hospital in Butner
• Babcock & Wilson boiler factory in Wilmington
• Gibson Manufacturing Company facilities in Concord
• Owens Corning Fiberglass factory in Charlotte
• Appalachian State University student dormitories in Boone
• Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Hickory
• Hickory Plumbing in Hickory
• Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro
• Pope Air Force Base in Manchester
• Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Onslow County
• Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point
• Ft. Bragg Army installation in Fayetteville

Asbestos Laws in North Carolina

State laws in North Carolina regulate current asbestos handling to protect residents and workers. Other laws determine how asbestos lawsuits proceed.

North Carolina’s Asbestos Safety Laws

North Carolina has state-specific laws and also follows federal laws when it comes to asbestos abatement:

• There are three county ordinances for asbestos-related issues, including Forsyth, Buncombe, and Mecklenburg counties.
• 40 CFR Part 763; NC Gen. Stat. §130A-444 through §130A-451 of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) states that any school that was built using asbestos-containing materials must have regular maintenance and inspections. An emergency plan must always be in place.
• 10 N.C.A.C. 10G .0505 mandates that asbestos can only be disposed of in approved North Carolina landfills.
• 49 CFR 173.1090 mandates that the North Carolina Department of Transportation is responsible for the enforcement of the transportation of asbestos to landfills.
• A permit must be granted from the state before any asbestos abatement project.

For more detailed information and additional asbestos-related regulations in North Carolina, contact the NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health at 919-707-5950.

Statute of Limitations for Asbestos Lawsuits in North Carolina

• The deadline to file a lawsuit for asbestos-related cases differs according to state.
• In North Carolina, these types of cases are treated as personal injury cases and therefore follow the personal injury statute of limitations.
• The personal injury statute of limitations in North Carolina is three years from when the injury was discovered and diagnosed.
• Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within two years from the date of the victim’s death.

Asbestos Trust Fund Claims Transparency Act

North Carolina is among several states that passed a law making it more difficult for asbestos victims to recover damages. In 2018, the state passed a law that requires plaintiffs filing asbestos lawsuits to disclose any asbestos trust fund claims they have made or plan to make.

These disclosures allow the courts to reduce the amount of compensation an asbestos victim receives from a lawsuit.

Getting Mesothelioma Treatment in North Carolina

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is essential that you seek treatment as soon as possible. Specialist care is best, as this is a rare disease that most physicians and oncologists have little experience with.

There are three comprehensive cancer centers in North Carolina:

• Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham
• Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem
• Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

These cancer centers offer expert cancer specialists, cutting-edge treatment options, and access to clinical trials.

Legal Assistance in North Carolina

If you or a loved one have been a victim of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, it’s important to understand your legal rights and what compensation you may be entitled to. Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. For questions and assistance, feel free to contact us at 800-793-4540.