Alabama Mesothelioma Lawyer

Experienced Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure Attorney in Alabama

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos particles. Many people throughout Alabama and across the nation have suffered from mesothelioma due to the negligence of their employers. If you or someone close to you suffers from mesothelioma, an experienced asbestos litigation attorney can help you explore your legal options.

At Wallace & Graham, our Alabama mesothelioma lawyers have decades of experience handling mesothelioma claims for clients in Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, across Alabama, and nationwide. We are committed to helping you pursue the full compensation Alabama law allows for your losses.

Contact our attorneys to discuss your possible personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Call 800-849-5291 for a free consultation.

*Prior results do not guarantee outcomes in future cases

What Is Mesothelioma?

The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Many people who worked in chemical plants, shipyards, naval vessels, and other Alabama job sites were exposed to asbestos decades ago and are only now experiencing symptoms of the disease. After diagnosis, the five-year survival rate for pleural mesothelioma is generally 11% to 23%, according to the American Cancer Society. However, the range varies by cell type, stage at diagnosis, and treatment.

What We Can Do For You

Our firm is dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma and their family members recover fair and just compensation for the hardships they have faced due to asbestos exposure. We also seek to hold negligent parties accountable, including companies that knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure but did nothing to protect their employees from danger. If you are suffering because of mesothelioma in Alabama, we also want to direct you to the health care resources you need. Quality medical treatment can prolong life and ease the painful symptoms in some cases.

Alabama Asbestos Exposure: What You Should Know

Asbestos use in Alabama was heaviest in a handful of industries. Steel mills and iron foundries in the Birmingham area, shipyards in Mobile, and chemical and power plants across the state all used asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing well into the 1970s and 1980s. Workers in these trades, along with their family members who handled asbestos-covered work clothes at home, remain the groups often diagnosed with mesothelioma in Alabama today.

Two Alabama work sites in particular have a long, well-documented history of asbestos use. U.S. Steel’s Fairfield and Ensley Works near Birmingham relied on asbestos insulation and refractory materials throughout its blast furnaces, coke ovens, and rolling mills for most of the 20th century. On the coast, the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO) in Mobile employed large numbers of workers to build and repair Navy and commercial vessels. Additionally, its shipyards used asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing on the ships under construction. If you worked at either of these sites, or at a smaller mill, foundry, or shipyard nearby, that work history can matter a great deal in a mesothelioma claim.

Asbestos work in Alabama is regulated at the state level by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), which enforces the federal NESHAP asbestos rule for demolition and renovation projects. A history of asbestos exposure at a job site covered by these rules can be an important piece of evidence in a mesothelioma claim.

How Compensation Works for Alabama Asbestos Victims

Alabama mesothelioma victims generally have two ways to seek compensation, and they are not mutually exclusive. First, you may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the companies that made, sold, or used the asbestos products that caused the exposure. Second, many of the companies most responsible for widespread asbestos exposure filed for bankruptcy years ago and were required to set up trust funds to pay victims. You may be able to file a claim with one or more of these trusts in addition to, or instead of, a lawsuit, depending on which companies were involved in your case.

If you file a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. In an Alabama wrongful death case, a spouse, child, or other family member may only recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish the company that caused the death, not to pay the family back for lost income or lost companionship. An attorney can explain what this means for your specific case.

Because every work history and exposure timeline is different, an attorney experienced in Alabama asbestos cases can help you understand which sources of compensation apply to your situation.

Alabama Mesothelioma Lawyers for Victims of Asbestos Exposure

If you have been exposed to asbestos in Alabama and have developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, it is important to know your legal rights. At our firm, an experienced asbestos litigation attorney will work with you personally to understand how you were exposed and how this disease has affected your life.

Partners Bill Graham and Mona Lisa Wallace have nearly 40 combined years in asbestos litigation, supported by a dedicated team of experienced lawyers, paralegals, and support staff. Whether you were exposed working at a chemical plant, power plant, Navy ship, or any other location, we work to pursue the compensation Alabama law allows for your injuries.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim in Alabama?

In most cases, Alabama gives you two years to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, but the clock does not start on the date you were exposed. Under Alabama Code § 6-2-30(b), the two-year period generally begins on the date you are diagnosed, not the date of exposure decades earlier. This is sometimes called the discovery rule, and Alabama courts have applied it to asbestos cases specifically. This discovery rule only applies if your last exposure to asbestos happened on or after May 19, 1979. If your last exposure was before that date, Alabama uses an older rule that started the clock on the date of your last exposure. A lawyer can help you figure out which rule applies to your work history.

If a loved one died from mesothelioma, Alabama law generally allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim under Alabama Code § 6-2-38(a), which incorporates the wrongful death statute at Alabama Code § 6-5-410. Missing either deadline can permanently bar a claim, so it is worth talking to an attorney as soon as possible after a diagnosis or death, even if you are not ready to file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a claim if a family member died from mesothelioma?

Yes. Alabama law generally allows two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. Under Alabama Code § 6-5-410, this action must be brought by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate on behalf of the surviving family members. Acting within this two-year window allows the estate to pursue compensation for asbestos exposure, even if the victim never filed a personal injury lawsuit during their lifetime.

What if I was exposed to asbestos through a family member’s work clothes?

You may still have a claim. Courts have recognized secondhand, or “take-home,” asbestos exposure cases where fibers were carried home on a worker’s clothing. Your deadline to file a claim, and the compensation available to you, are the same as they would be for a worker who was directly exposed to asbestos.

How much does it cost to hire a mesothelioma lawyer?

Most mesothelioma lawyers, including our firm, work on a contingency fee. You pay nothing upfront, and legal fees come only from money we recover for you. We can discuss fees with you during a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Alabama industries put workers at the highest risk of asbestos exposure?

Steel mills and foundries in Birmingham, shipyards in Mobile, and chemical and power plants across the state used asbestos heavily for decades. Workers in these trades face the highest documented risk. However, other workers may have also been exposed. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lost a loved one to this disease, we encourage you to contact us to make sure your legal rights are protected.

Your Go-To Attorneys For Asbestos Claims in Alabama: Contact Us for A Free Case Evaluation

At Wallace & Graham, P.A., we represent people who have suffered due to asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Our clients come from Mobile, Birmingham, Montgomery, throughout Alabama and across the nation.

Contact our offices for a free consultation and case evaluation. Our practice is equipped to help clients statewide in Alabama, North Carolina, throughout the Southeast, and nationwide.

Call 800-849-5291 for a free, no-obligation case review, or contact us online

Alabama Mesothelioma Resources