Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuit

If your loved one died from mesothelioma, you may be able to recover compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. These legal claims award $1 million to $1.4 million on average, covering funeral costs, lost wages, and more. Learn how we can help you file a mesothelioma lawsuit after the death of a U.S. veteran or civilian you love.

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“The Mesothelioma Veterans Center made sure my family got the benefits we deserved.”

U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma

What Is a Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuit?

A mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit allows loved ones to pursue financial payouts for funeral costs, leftover medical bills, and other expenses.

U.S. veterans are at a high risk of mesothelioma due to military asbestos use. Surviving families can file wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuits to seek the justice their loved ones deserved.

Quick Facts About Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuits

  • Mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuits are typically filed by surviving family members, loved ones, or estate representatives.
  • These lawsuits typically name companies that made and sold asbestos products without disclosing the dangers.
  • The average mesothelioma wrongful death claim is worth $1 million or more.
  • First mesothelioma lawsuit payouts often start in 90 days or less.
  • “When a veteran has passed away as a result of an asbestos-related disease, a family member may be able to sue to get a sense of justice for what happened. They can also get compensation for expenses that they incurred and take care of their own future as well.”

    – Major Jonathan Nelson (Ret), VA-accredited attorney & Marine Corps veteran

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center has partnered with two top asbestos law firms, Sokolove Law and Simmons Hanly Conroy, who can help families of U.S. veterans or civilians pursue wrongful death claims at no upfront cost.

Get a free case review now to learn if you and your family can file a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit.

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Who Can File Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuits?

Anyone with legal authority may be eligible to file a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit. In most cases, this will be the mesothelioma patient’s next of kin.

Those who qualify for asbestos wrongful death claims include:

  • Children
  • Siblings
  • Spouses
  • Representatives of a victim’s estate

You may also be able to continue a mesothelioma lawsuit if the cancer patient started one but passed away before it concluded.

  • “We decided to pursue a lawsuit because it wasn't my dad's fault and it wasn't fair what happened to him. He deserved compensation for what happened.”

    – Steve Fengarinas, son of U.S. veteran who died from mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Settlements and Verdicts

The vast majority of mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuits are resolved through out-of-court settlements. Mesothelioma settlements are worth $1 million to $1.4 million on average.

However, families of those who died from mesothelioma have sometimes received more with help from our legal partners at Sokolove Law and Simmons Hanly Conroy.

Asbestos wrongful death payouts secured by our partners include:

  • $10 million for a Missouri courthouse employee
  • $4.3 million for a 52-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran
  • $1.38 million for a New Jersey U.S. Army veteran
  • $1.9 million for a Florida U.S. Navy veteran and equipment operator
  • $4 million for a New York general laborer
  • $2.4 million for a California U.S. Army veteran
  • $1.56 million for a Pennsylvania U.S. Army veteran
  • $1 million for a Florida U.S. Marine Corps veteran and union laborer
  • $1.76 million for a Texas U.S. Army veteran and longshoreman
  • $1.88 million for a New York U.S. Army veteran
  • $5.7 million for a Florida maintenance worker
  • $3.98 million for a Massachusetts U.S. Navy veteran
  • $6.3 million for an Iowa asbestos worker

Our legal partners take on all the work of filing a lawsuit and pursuing the highest mesothelioma wrongful death settlements on your behalf, making it much easier.

  • “At one point, we didn’t know where our next meal would come from. When the first check came in, I can remember how relieved I was.”

    – Connie Bonnin, wife of a U.S. Army veteran who died from mesothelioma

Get a free case review now to see if you’re eligible to pursue a mesothelioma wrongful death settlement.

When Will I Get a Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Settlement?

While every case is different, many families start to get settlement compensation within 90 days of filing a mesothelioma wrongful death claim.

Your mesothelioma lawsuit will likely be filed against multiple manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. Because of this, it’s common to get several payouts at different times.

Our legal partners can give you a better idea of your asbestos claims payout timeline depending on the unique factors in your case.

Statutes of Limitations on Mesothelioma Claims After Death

Statutes of limitations are state laws that set the amount of time patients and families have to file mesothelioma lawsuits.

Did you know?

The statute of limitations for mesothelioma claims after death ranges from 1-6 years, but is 2-3 years in most states.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can file your lawsuit within your state’s statutes of limitations. Even if you think the deadline has passed, it’s still worth reaching out to a lawyer, as there may be exceptions that give you more time.

Get a free case review now for help filing your asbestos wrongful death lawsuit before time runs out.

The Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Claim Process

The mesothelioma wrongful death claims process is easier with the right lawyer behind you. Experienced mesothelioma attorneys will handle the work of filing a lawsuit and retrieving compensation while you can focus on healing.

Explore the steps of filing a mesothelioma wrongful death claim and how the attorneys in our network can assist you at every stage below.

1. Contact Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawyers

Call (877) 450-8973 now to learn if you can work with our partner mesothelioma wrongful death attorneys. We’ll review your case for free and put you in touch with a lawyer, depending on your eligibility.

Many mesothelioma attorneys in our network are U.S. veterans, so they truly understand what your family is going through.

  • “I remember a case we handled for a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who passed away from mesothelioma. We continued fighting for his family, securing compensation for their profound loss. While we served at different times, we had that brotherhood of service in common.”

    – Corporal Michael Stewart (Ret.), U.S. veteran and SHC asbestos attorney

2. Collect Evidence for a Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Case

Once you’ve agreed to work with a lawyer, they’ll start gathering evidence to file a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit.

Evidence in a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit includes:

  • Asbestos exposure history: Your lawyer may use medical records, diagnosis reports, military service and work history, testimonies by veterans and co-workers, and more to build the mesothelioma case.
  • The impact of their death: Your lawyer must show how you and your family were emotionally and financially impacted by your family member's death.
  • The manufacturers’ negligence: Your lawyer will prove how asbestos-containing products caused your loved one's death and that manufacturers knew of the dangers but failed to protect them.

All of this will be used to demonstrate why you and your family deserve compensation after a loved one’s passing from mesothelioma.

3. File the Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Once the lawyer has collected all of the required evidence, they will file the asbestos wrongful death claim against the at-fault parties. You won’t file it yourself, saving you time, stress, and energy.

Your attorney will identify the best court system to file the case in and meet any set deadlines.

4. Enter Discovery & Negotiate a Settlement

Once the asbestos companies respond to the lawsuit, it will enter the discovery phase. Here, both sides will exchange and request information to strengthen their cases.

After this, the legal teams will likely try to settle the case. Over 99% of mesothelioma lawsuits reach settlements.

5. Go To Trial If Needed

In very rare situations, a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit won’t reach a settlement and may go to court. Your team will fight for as much compensation as possible from a mesothelioma trial verdict.

In one case, our legal partners secured a $40 million verdict for a U.S. veteran exposed to asbestos on Navy ships.

6. Receive Wrongful Death Payouts

Once your mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit has concluded, your lawyer will notify you as to how much compensation you will receive.

Your wrongful death lawsuit may involve multiple asbestos companies, which may agree to payouts at different times.

As a result, you’ll likely get different payments throughout the legal process, with the first payouts likely arriving in 90 days or less after filing.

Use our Attorney Questions Checklist to get the answers you need about working with lawyers and securing asbestos compensation.

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How Asbestos Lawsuits After Death Can Help

Filing a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit is helpful for many reasons. Lawsuits can allow you and your family to get mesothelioma compensation following the victim’s death.

Mesothelioma wrongful death compensation can pay for:

  • Burial and funeral costs
  • Family living costs
  • Lost wages
  • Medical expenses

A lawsuit also allows you to hold asbestos companies responsible for your loved one’s death, since they knew the dangers but actively hid the truth to make profits.

Finally, there’s no risk when filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Our partner mesothelioma law firms charge no upfront fees and make the process as stress-free as possible.

  • “Helping veterans provide for their families is the most fulfilling part of my practice. These men and women have already sacrificed enough — my job is to make sure that sacrifice is recognized and that their families are taken care of.”

    – Ricky LeBlanc, VA-accredited asbestos attorney at Sokolove Law

Get Help With a Mesothelioma Claim After Death

Every year, families tragically lose loved ones due to preventable cancers like mesothelioma. If your loved one has died from this cancer, a wrongful death claim can right some of the wrongs.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center’s legal partners at Sokolove Law and Simmons Hanly Conroy stand ready to help you file asbestos claims after death right now, if eligible.

Mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuits:

  • Award $1 million or more on average, allowing you to afford any expenses
  • Help you get closure for losing someone you love
  • Hold manufacturers of asbestos-containing products accountable

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center’s legal partners stand ready to help you file asbestos claims after death right now, if eligible.

Get a free case review now or call (877) 450-8973 to explore your legal options and see if a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit is right for you.

Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuit FAQs

What is the average settlement for someone who dies from mesothelioma?

The average wrongful death mesothelioma settlement amount is $1 million to $1.4 million on average, as noted by Mealey’s® Litigation Report: Asbestos.

With that said, families have sometimes received more. One of the highest mesothelioma wrongful death payouts on record is an $81.5 million verdict awarded to a woman whose husband died from this cancer.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can determine how much you could receive and fight for maximum compensation. Contact our team now to learn if you can take legal action.

Can you claim for mesothelioma after death?

Yes, you may be able to file a mesothelioma wrongful death claim on behalf of a loved one who died from this cancer with an attorney’s help.

To file a claim for mesothelioma after death, an attorney will:

  • Gather evidence to show how the victim was exposed to asbestos
  • Retrieve medical records about your mesothelioma diagnosis
  • Determine which manufacturers made the products in question
  • File a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf
  • Pursue the highest payouts possible in your case

It may also be possible to file claims if your loved one died from another asbestos-related illness, such as lung cancer.

How long does it take to reach a mesothelioma wrongful death settlement?

When you work with our legal partners at Sokolove Law and Simmons Hanly Conroy, you will likely start to receive asbestos wrongful death settlements in 90 days or less.

U.S. veterans and civilians with mesothelioma were likely exposed to many products made by multiple companies. As such, settlements will be negotiated with each, and the timeline will vary by defendant.

With that said, our attorneys will work hard to recover strong payouts as quickly as possible on your behalf.

Who gets the money from mesothelioma wrongful death claims?

Children, spouses, other family members, and estate representatives may be able to receive financial compensation from a wrongful death claim.

Money from lawsuits allows loved ones to get financial stability after losing a family member to mesothelioma. It also helps them hold asbestos companies accountable for their loss.

“My dad left my life earlier than he should have,” says Jeff Ambrose, the son of a U.S. Army veteran who died from mesothelioma. “With prior knowledge about asbestos, he could have protected himself and lived his life longer with us.”

Do you need a lawyer for a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit?

Yes, you need a lawyer for a mesothelioma wrongful death claim. Mesothelioma lawyers make filing a wrongful death lawsuit much easier, handling the bulk of the work for you and your family.

The asbestos attorneys in our network have decades of experience handling claims, and some are even U.S. veterans themselves — giving them a unique understanding of what you’re going through.

Get a free case review now to find out if an asbestos lawyer in our network can help file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf.

Are mesothelioma wrongful death payouts taxable?

In most cases, mesothelioma wrongful death compensation is not taxable. However, compensation for punitive damages and lost wages may be taxable. Courts award punitive damages when the defendant’s behavior is particularly harmful.

An asbestos attorney can help determine if any compensation awarded through a wrongful death lawsuit could be taxed.

Can I get compensation for a wrongful death caused by secondhand exposure?

Yes, it’s possible to pursue mesothelioma settlements after death when family members pass away due to secondhand asbestos exposure.

Our legal partners secured $2.5 million for the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma. She had been exposed to asbestos secondhand through her father, who was a carpenter aboard submarines.

Call (877) 450-8973 now to find out how much could be available in your case.

Veterans Support TeamLast modified:
Christopher Dryfoos Photo
Written by:

Contributing Author

Christopher Dryfoos is a journalist and member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). As the grandson of the U.S. Navy’s first forensic pathologist, he aims to help veterans with mesothelioma access needed care.

Brian J. Cooke Photo
Legally reviewed by: Brian J. Cooke

Mesothelioma Lawyer & U.S. Marine Corps Veteran

Brian J. Cooke is a mesothelioma attorney with Simmons Hanly Conroy and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Thanks in part to his military service, Brian is in tune with many of the issues that veterans with mesothelioma face. Brian and his team work tirelessly to secure compensation for those with this rare and deadly cancer.