Being diagnosed with mesothelioma may make you overwhelmed and unsure about your future. At Bailey & Glasser, LLP, our goal is to help victims of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure understand their legal rights and options. Our Virginia mesothelioma attorneys can help you pursue justice during this difficult time. We can connect you to vital resources and represent you during an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit in Virginia. Contact us today to request a free case consultation.
Why Choose Bailey & Glasser, LLP?
- We have a long history of helping those diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer from exposure to asbestos.
- Our case results prove that we’re willing to do what it takes to obtain justice for mesothelioma victims.
- We protect the interests of our clients with a trial-focused approach to litigation.
- Your lawyer will communicate with you often about the status of your mesothelioma case.
- We have taken on some of the most challenging mesothelioma cases nationwide.
Our Bailey Glasser team, knowledgeable in all types of asbestos exposures and diseases, meticulously investigates each client’s history to determine where asbestos exposure occurred. Our team’s seasoned legal skills – coupled with a deep knowledge of the types of products that contain asbestos, and an extensive understanding of how exposures occur – allow us to determine which parties to sue, including employers, schools, manufacturers, suppliers, and/or producers of asbestos-containing materials.
Client Testimonial
“This firm is cream of the crop — they are lawyers’ lawyers.”“The attorneys are widely recognized to have excellent academic backgrounds, stellar legal experience, and a strong commitment to ethics and justice. The firm is an active supporter of the communities in which it practices and deservedly enjoys excellent relationships with federal and state courts.” – Judith
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It is terminal, with no known cure and an average life expectancy of approximately 12 to 21 months, according to the National Library of Medicine. Asbestos is a group of minerals that typically take the appearance of thin microscopic fibers. Asbestos was used widely to manufacture millions of products around the world prior to becoming regulated in the 1980s in the U.S.
When asbestos is inhaled or ingested, the tiny particles can get stuck in the internal tissues of the body, such as the lining of the lungs. The asbestos particles can remain lodged for many decades, causing irritation and scar tissue that eventually develops cancer cells. The average latency period, or amount of time from the date of asbestos exposure to the development of mesothelioma, is 20-60+ years. This means most people don’t realize they were exposed to asbestos until many years later.
The National Cancer Institute states that while any level of asbestos exposure could potentially result in health effects such as mesothelioma, the people who are most at risk of developing cancer are those who are around asbestos regularly, such as workers in an industry that deals with asbestos. Common symptoms of mesothelioma vary but can include a persistent cough, pain or tightness in the chest, respiratory problems, and fatigue.
How Common Is Mesothelioma in Virginia?
According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 421 people were diagnosed with mesothelioma in Virginia from 2015 to 2019. There were also 350 recorded deaths from mesothelioma in this time span. The majority of people diagnosed in Virginia were male (321), compared to 100 female victims. On a national level, Virginia was 11th on the list in terms of the total number of mesothelioma cases in these five years.
From 2015 to 2019, five counties in Virginia had high enough mesothelioma rates to be included in the CDC’s data report:
| County | Age-Adjusted Rate | New Cases | Deaths | Population |
| Fairfax | 0.5 | 30 | 21 | 5,737,390 |
| Virginia Beach City | 1.0 | 24 | 20 | 2,253,816 |
| Newport News City | 2.7 | 22 | Data Suppressed | 899,971 |
| Chesapeake City | 1.5 | 18 | Data Suppressed | 1,201,476 |
| Hampton City | 2.4 | 18 | 16 | 676,759 |
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Where Is Asbestos Often Found in Virginia?
Thousands of buildings, workplaces and other locations throughout Virginia today may contain asbestos that could cause mesothelioma. Asbestos was commonly used as a building material due to its resistance to heat and corrosion. It is still found in insulation, roofing tiles, adhesives, vinyl floor tiles, furnaces, gaskets, shipbuilding materials and many other products. If any asbestos-containing product or material is disturbed, it could send fibers and particles into the air to potentially be inhaled or ingested.
Due to the cost of asbestos removal, many older structures in Virginia still contain asbestos that could pose a hazard to those present. This includes schools, factories, warehouses, shipyards and residential buildings. According to the Virginia Department of Energy, there are at least 28 known asbestos sites in Virginia, including two now-inactive asbestos production mines. Areas that are considered potentially at risk of asbestos exposure in Virginia include Fairfax County, Prince William County, Warren County, Bedford County and Franklin County.
Virginia Asbestos Regulations
The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry regulates asbestos in the workplace as a potential indoor air contaminant. In addition, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality controls landfills where asbestos is disposed of. However, no state agency is responsible for monitoring asbestos that naturally occurs and may enter the atmosphere in Virginia. Some counties have instead enacted their own asbestos exposure control plans.
Financial Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease in Virginia, you could be entitled to financial compensation. There are several sources of compensation for mesothelioma victims, including trial verdicts, insurance settlements, asbestos trust funds, workers’ compensation claims and veterans claims. The type of claim that is right for you depends on where and why you were exposed to asbestos.
For example, if you have mesothelioma because of your job – such as a construction worker or firefighter – you may be eligible for an individual lawsuit against your employer or a workers’ comp claim in Virginia to compensate you for your losses. If the company or entity that exposed you to asbestos has since gone bankrupt, you may still be able to file an asbestos trust fund claim.
A successful claim or lawsuit for mesothelioma in Virginia could pay for your past and future health care costs, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering, and more. If you tragically lost a loved one to mesothelioma, you may also be eligible for reasonable funeral and burial costs, loss of consortium, grief and anguish, and loss of inheritance damages. Discuss the potential value of your case with an attorney for more information.
Contact a Virginia Mesothelioma Attorney Today
Help is available if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Virginia. The attorneys at Bailey & Glasser, LLP can represent you during insurance negotiations or a lawsuit to pursue justice and financial compensation. We will work relentlessly to seek a positive case outcome on your behalf. Start with a free case consultation. Contact an intake specialist by calling (866) 871-7971 today.
