Washington Mesothelioma Lawyer

Washington is known today for its high-tech employers, but it has an industrial past with a lot of workplace asbestos use. Many workers have had to for justice with the help of experienced Washington mesothelioma lawyers. Asbestos exposure is linked to illnesses, including mesothelioma and asbestosis.

If you or a loved one have mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in mesothelioma and asbestos trust funds set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Washington, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

We offer help to asbestos victims in all cities and towns in Washington, including:

Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Bellevue, Kent, Everett, Renton, Yakima, Federal Way, Spokane Valley, Kirkland, Bellingham, Kennewick, Auburn, Pasco, Marysville, Lakewood, Redmond, South Hill, Shoreline, Richland, Sammamish, Burien, Olympia, Lacey, Edmonds, Bremerton, Puyallup, Parkland, Longview, Lynnwood, Bothell, Issaquah, Wenatchee, Mount Vernon, University Place, Walla Walla, Pullman, Des Moines, Lake Stevens, SeaTac, Spanaway, Graham, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Cottage Lake, Bainbridge Island, Orchards, Oak Harbor, Silver Firs, Eastmont, Kenmore, Salmon Creek, Moses Lake, Camas, Mukilteo, Mountlake Terrace, Union Hill-Novelty Hill, Hazel Dell, Silverdale, Tukwila, Fairwood Cdp, Five Corners, Port Angeles, Fredrickson, Covington, Mill Creek, Arlington, Tumwater, Ellensburg, Battle Ground, Bonney Lake, Monroe, Bothell West, North Lynnwood, Centralia, Aberdeen, Mill Creek East, Bryn Mawr-Skyway, Sunnyside, Anacortes, Martha Lake, Camano, White Center, Washougal, Elk Plain, Lakeland North, Fort Lewis, East Wenatchee, Lakeland South, Lake Forest Park, West Richland, Port Orchard, Lynden, Artondale, East Renton Highlands, Ferndale, Lake Tapps, Klahanie, and more.

Asbestos on the Job in Washington

Several industries in the state have been important to the economy while also exposing workers to harmful asbestos:

• Washington lies on the Pacific coast where it is home to several ports and shipyards. Several of the state’s major cities, including Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia, rely on ports and shipyards for a good portion of their business.
• The U.S. Navy has several facilities in the state as well, including Bremerton’s Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the adjacent Naval Base Kitsap.
• The state also has a large lumber and paper manufacturing industry, including paper mills owned by the former Crown Zellerbach manufacturing company (now Georgia-Pacific).
• The Boeing Company, one of the country’s largest aeronautical manufacturers, used asbestos in its manufacturing plants for more than 50 years, thus exposing many of its employees to the toxic silicates.

Other Washington job sites where asbestos exposure is known to have occurred include:

• Fairchild Air Force Base (Spokane)
• Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill (Camas)
• Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) at Hanford Nuclear Site (Hanford/White Bluffs)
• Columbia Aluminum Products (Vancouver)
• Dow Chemical Co./Rohm & Haas Chemicals LLC (Elma)
• Alcoa/Intalco Works Aluminum Plant (Ferndale)
• Alcoa-Northwest Alloys – Longview Aluminum Plant (Longview)
• Alcoa-Wenatchee Aluminum Plant (Malaga)
• Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Company (Harbor Island)

Occupations that are known to have exposed workers in Washington to asbestos include:

• Shipyard workers
• Electricians
• Insulation installers
• Pipefitters
• Aviation mechanics
• Automobile mechanics
• Brake specialists
• Construction workers
• Papermill workers
• Navy and Merchant Marine seamen
• Electronics operators or maintenance specialists
• Boiler workers
• Petroleum industry workers
• Engineers
• Cement plant workers
• Firefighters
• Aluminum plant workers
• Plumbers
• Factory workers
• Nuclear plant workers
• Linotype operators

Washington Asbestos Laws

Laws and regulations for asbestos abatement and removal in Washington are enforced by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

• A contractor must have a written asbestos report from the owner, or the owner’s agent, prior to construction.
• Inspections must be done by state-certified asbestos inspectors who received their licensing in the state of Washington.
• Any person involved in the removal of asbestos material must contact the state, in writing, at least 10 days prior to the removal of the materials.
• The state does exempt homeowners from being certified. If asbestos material is being removed from a personal residence, the owner must use certified contractors in the removal process.

For further information and additional resources regarding asbestos removal, contact the Washington State L&I at 1-800-423-7233

Treatment Centers in Washington

When dealing with mesothelioma and other types of asbestos-related illnesses, make sure you get the best possible treatment available. Find physicians and care centers that specialize in these forms of cancer.

There are currently two treatment centers in Washington that are backed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI):

• Swedish Medical Center Cancer Institute: Located in Seattle, the Swedish Medical Center Cancer Institute (SMCCI) is a non-profit care center with a special focus on mesothelioma. The center’s team of mesothelioma specialists and physicians, led by Dr. Eric Vallieres, is considered among the best in the region. The treatment team focuses on individualized care and trimodal treatment. The trimodal approach emphasizes a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. As a result, many patients with mesothelioma have gone on to live several years after treatment.
• University of Washington Medical Center: Similar to SMCCI, the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) focuses on mesothelioma and individualized treatment according to each patient’s unique situation. In a partnership with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, UWMC provides patients with comprehensive options.  It was featured in the 2011 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals.”

Washington Statute of Limitations on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawsuits

• The statute of limitations for asbestos cases in Washington falls under Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 4.16.005 et seq., which mandates that the lawsuit must be filed within three years from the date that the asbestos-related illness was diagnosed.
• Alternatively, it may be filed within three years from the time period in which it should have been, within reason, discovered.
• Asbestos wrongful death cases must be filed within three years from the date of the victim’s death.

Getting Legal Help in Washington

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