Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer

Many Pennsylvania asbestos exposure victims have been successful in winning lawsuits and compensation. These people experienced negligent exposure and later were diagnosed with mesothelioma or other illnesses. Most of these victims handled or worked around asbestos at their jobs.

Several different industries in Pennsylvania used asbestos because of its affordability and resistance to heat and fire. Hundreds of workplaces exposed workers to his harmful mineral. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you get the compensation to which you’re rightfully entitled for being negligently exposed to asbestos anywhere in the state.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about top mesothelioma lawyers in Pennsylvania, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a mesothelioma or asbestos trust fund claim, and much more. 

We offer help to asbestos victims and their families in every city in Pennsylvania, including:

Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Upper Darby, Scranton, Bensalem, Lancaster,Lower Merion, Bethlehem, Abington, Bristol Township, Millcreek Township, Harrisburg, Haverford, Lower Paxton, Altoona, Middletown Township, York City, Hempfield Township, Penn Hills, State College, Wilkes, Barre, Northampton Township, Manheim Township, Cheltenham, Norristown, Falls Township, Chester,Mount Lebanon, Warminster, Lower Makefield, Bethel Park, Radnor, Lower Macungie, Ross Township, Ridley, North Huntingdon, Tredyffrin, Williamsport, Cranberry Township, McCandless, Shaler, Upper Merion, Monroeville, Hampden, York Township, Plum Borough, Spring Township, Whitehall Township, Easton, Springettsbury, Horsham, Upper Dublin, Exeter Township, Lower Providence, Lebanon, Montgomery Township, Hazleton, Moon, Derry Township, Susquehanna Township, Springfield Township, Upper Moreland, Swatara Township, Bethlehem Township, East Hempfield, Warrington Township, Marple, New Castle,West Goshen, Unity, Pottstown, Upper Providence Township, Peters Township, Upper Macungie, Dover Township, East Pennsboro, Palmer, Johnstown, Coolbaugh, Chambersburg, West Mifflin, Buckingham Township, Murrysville, Manor Township, Penn Township, Baldwin Borough, Muhlenberg, McKeesport, Springfield Township, Bethlehem, Newtown Township, South Whitehall, Upper St. Clair, Stroud, Whitpain, Lower Southampton, West Manchester, and more.

Asbestos History in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s industrial history stretches back hundreds of years. In 1716 the state’s iron industry began with a single forge. This led to over 100 years of the state’s economy depending heavily on iron mining and processing.

In the 1840s, the economy diversified but stayed largely industrial, a prime environment for asbestos use. Factories, railroads, and textile mills contributed to the industrialization of Pennsylvania, making the state one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the pre-Civil War U.S. From 1861 until the mid-20th century.

Pennsylvania’s economic growth and industrialized economy exacted a heavy toll on thousands of workers who were exposed to asbestos, an important mineral in many of the state’s important industries.

Mining

Pennsylvania is better known for coal mining, but several companies also mined asbestos in the state. These lie mostly in southeastern region. Before the end of asbestos mining in the U.S., workers extracted large amounts of  from these mines, putting workers and nearby residents at risk of exposure.

An amphibole asbestos sub-type known as crocidolite, is one of the most most hazardous of all types of asbestos and was an important product of Pennsylvania mines. Though these mines are now inactive, activity conducted there released asbestos dust into the environment where it could get into air, soil, and water. Activity that disturbs those natural deposits now, such as building or natural disasters, could put more people at risk.

Shipbuilding

Shipbuilding and shipping were historically important industries in Pennsylvania. Several major shipyards still operate in the state near the Delaware estuary and on Lake Erie, including Penn Shipbuilding, Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Key Highway Shipyard, the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and Sun Shipbuilding.

From the 1930s through the 1970s, shipbuilders used asbestos in nearly every component of their vessels. This was the peak period of asbestos use. It could be found in insulation, fireproofing and firefighting materials, hulls, engineering spaces, pipes, gaskets, boilers, insulation, and electrical wiring. Shipyard workers who cleaned or repaired older ships may have stirred the asbestos fibers into the air and inhaled them.

Military Bases

At the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, seamen and workers on ships handled asbestos asbestos materials and risked exposure. There are also three active military bases in the state:  the Tobyhanna Army Depot and Carlisle Barracks, and the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Mechanicsburg.

The Joint Reserve Base (JRB) at Willow Grove was originally designated as a Naval Air Station when it opened in 1926. It was re-designated as a multi-service joint base in 1994. It closed in 2005.

All of these military facilities operated during peak asbestos use in materials. Many of the men and women stationed there faced the risk of exposure to asbestos fibers.

Plants and Factories

Industrial factories like steel plants, power stations, and manufacturing facilities used large amounts of asbestos for decades. The mineral added lightweight and flexible strength to materials and provided excellent heat and fire insulation. Asbestos contamination has been found and documented at Alcoa Aluminum, Bethlehem Steel, Electralloy, Ling-Temco Vought (LTV), and U.S. Steel (USX).

Asbestos Statistics in the State

Industrial companies, the military, and mines all contributed to asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania.

• This exposure led to 1,675 mesothelioma deaths between 1999 and 2008.
• An additional 322 individuals died of other asbestos illnesses, like asbestosis, during the same time period.
• Statistics published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show that Pennsylvania’s malignant mesothelioma death rate is 20.8 per 1 million residents.

Asbestos Laws in Pennsylvania

The state legislature responded to the dangers posed by asbestos fibers and the workers already harmed by passing the Pennsylvania Asbestos Occupations Accreditation Act of 1990. It gives the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the responsibility for regulating the removal, collection, and disposal of ACMs from public and commercial buildings.

The state’s Department of Labor and Industry enforces the Pennsylvania Asbestos Occupations Accreditation and Certification Act. It requires any person planning to do an asbestos reduction or abatement project to notify the department five days before beginning.

Pennsylvania’s asbestos abatement rules also follow federal guidelines set by the EPA. These regulations require any person planning to remove and dispose of asbestos to notify the agency 10 days in advance of any work in a public or commercial building.

The EPA guidelines also require that only officially certified asbestos workers handle asbestos materials. Pennsylvania bans non-certified individuals from any jobs involving asbestos, including workers, supervisors, project designers, inspectors, planners and contractors.

Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawsuits

The 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5501 et seq. is the personal injury statute of limitations for the state of Pennsylvania. If you are filing a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit, you must do so within two years of the discovery of the asbestos-related illness. Asbestos-related wrongful death lawsuits follow the same statute and need to be filed within two years of the victim’s death.

Pennsylvania Asbestos Legal Assistance

Keep in mind that if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the leading asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.