01. Rhode Island Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Rhode Island
Individuals from Rhode Island diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness may be eligible for compensation. Mesothelioma law firms provide comprehensive legal services to asbestos victims and can handle the lawsuit process on their behalf.
Lawyers at these firms will explain filing options and how state laws may impact asbestos lawsuits. Asbestos lawyers also assist with all aspects of the filing process, including investigating the case and gathering any necessary documentation.
The following law firms can help people living in Rhode Island receive compensation:
There are a number of advantages to choosing an asbestos law firm to handle a mesothelioma case. Attorneys at these firms have specialized knowledge of asbestos liability. They can decide how to file and present asbestos cases to provide the most favorable financial outcomes. Their expertise and experience help them build, file and resolve lawsuits on behalf of their clients.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Rhode Island
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Rhode Island
Rhode Island asbestos victims may be eligible for compensation from asbestos companies that wrongfully exposed people to asbestos. Mesothelioma attorneys are available to help patients and their families file lawsuits and claims.
Asbestos exposure may cause cancers, including mesothelioma. From 1999 to 2019, around 299 Rhode Island residents were diagnosed with mesothelioma. Rhode Island residents diagnosed with mesothelioma may be eligible for compensation from personal injury lawsuits.
Family members of deceased mesothelioma patients may also be eligible for compensation. From 1999 to 2020, 256 Rhode Island residents died from mesothelioma. Families of deceased patients may file wrongful death lawsuits.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Rhode Island?
Rhode Islanders who experienced asbestos exposure and develop related illnesses may be eligible to file lawsuits and legal claims. Mesothelioma patients and their family members may be eligible to file different types of lawsuits.
Rhode Islanders may have been exposed to asbestos in various parts of the state. Some areas pose a higher risk of asbestos exposure in Rhode Island than others. For example, several shipyards operated in the state for decades. Many older shipyards used asbestos-containing materials, putting workers at risk of exposure.
For example, Walsh-Kaiser Company Inc. began operations in 1942. The company built many ships during World War II, employing nearly 21,000 people. During this period, asbestos-containing materials were frequently used in shipbuilding. As a result, shipyard workers and veterans risked exposure and developing an asbestos disease.
Students, faculty and staff in Rhode Island schools may also be at risk of asbestos exposure. Before the 1980s, asbestos was widely used in building construction.
In the 1970s, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) conducted an asbestos survey in 326 schools built between 1950 and 1973. The RIDOH concluded spray-on asbestos was present in 24 schools. Any individual who develops an asbestos illness after exposure in a school may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Rhode Island residents living in the following towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits and sought compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Ashaway, RI
- Barrington, RI
- Bristol, RI
- Charlestown, RI
- Chepachet, RI
- Coventry, RI
- Cranston, RI
- Cumberland, RI
- East Greenwich, RI
- Foster, RI
- Harrisville, RI
- Hope Valley, RI
- Jamestown, RI
- Johnston, RI
- Kingston, RI
- Lincoln, RI
- Middletown, RI
- Narragansett, RI
- Newport, RI
- North Kingstown, RI
- North Providence, RI
- Pawtucket, RI
- Portsmouth, RI
- Providence, RI
- Richmond, RI
- Riverside, RI
- Rumford, RI
- Smithfield, RI
- Tiverton, RI
- Warwick, RI
- West Greenwich, RI
- West Kingstown, RI
- Westerly, RI
- Woonsocket, RI
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Rhode Island
Rhode Islanders who have developed asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, may be eligible to file lawsuits. Mesothelioma lawyers help victims understand their legal options and any relevant filing requirements.
Each state has timelines for filing specific lawsuits. These timelines are found in laws called the statutes of limitations. Depending on the lawsuit, the window of time to file begins after the date of mesothelioma diagnosis or death.
Rhode Island asbestos victims may file in or out of state, depending on the facts of their case. A mesothelioma lawyer can determine the most beneficial place to file.
Besides lawsuits, other options may be available. For instance, individuals may be eligible to file claims against asbestos company trust funds. Asbestos trust funds are typically established during a company’s bankruptcy proceedings. They are created to compensate current and future asbestos victims.
Victims may also qualify for workers’ compensation or VA benefits. An experienced lawyer will explain an individual’s options and file claims on a victim’s behalf.
03. Rhode Island Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Rhode Island
People in Rhode Island have won millions of dollars from asbestos companies. Financial compensation may ease many stresses for patients and their loved ones. It can help with their medical expenses and loss of income. Their families may also have greater financial security for the future.
Compensation from settlements and verdicts also helps hold companies accountable for asbestos use.
Below are a few mesothelioma settlements compensating Rhode Island residents who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace:
- $4.6 million for an 82-year-old construction worker (World Trade Center)
- $2.2 million for a 72-year-old Army veteran and shipyard worker
- $2.2 million for a 69-year-old chemical operator
- $2 million for an 82-year-old Merchant Marine
- $1.7 million for a 59-year-old Navy veteran (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard) and railroad worker
- $1.5 million for a 69-year-old Navy veteran (Naval Station Newport) and pipefitter
- $1.5 million for a 67-year-old steamfitter and shipyard worker (Fore River Shipyard)
- $1.4 million for a 77-year-old Army veteran, construction worker and carpenter
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Asbestos Laws & Regulations
In the 1970s, the United States began creating laws to prohibit most asbestos use. Today, Rhode Island has state and federal asbestos laws and restrictions. The RIDOH primarily enforces asbestos regulations.
The RIDOH’s responsibilities include:
- Audit certified training providers
- Certify and license asbestos training courses, consultants, contractors, labs, site supervisors and workers
- Ensure safety of asbestos abatement projects by developing procedures and reviewing technical plans
- Identify and resolve asbestos risks in public buildings, such as schools
- Inspect schools located in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-designated Environmental Justice Areas
Failure to adhere to national or state asbestos regulations can result in fines. In 2005, a Rhode Island contractor violated the Clean Air Act and several asbestos handling laws. The EPA filed a complaint, seeking $70,535 from the contractor. Asbestos laws and fines aim to protect Rhode Island residents from asbestos exposure.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
