North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer [2025 Update]

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People in North Carolina who are diagnosed with mesothelioma can hire a lawyer to pursue claims and compensation. A knowledgeable attorney can help mesothelioma patients in North Carolina seek justice from the companies who exposed them to asbestos.

Experienced attorneys offer the ability to navigate North Carolina’s legal system as well as help perform the complex investigations often needed to build a strong case.

This article provides an overview of what mesothelioma lawyers do, how they can help North Carolina residents, and how they guide the legal process of pursuing an asbestos claim.

About North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyers:

Why Choose a Mesothelioma Lawyer for My Claim in North Carolina?

Using a mesothelioma lawyer to represent your claim in North Carolina can decrease your obligations and maximize your compensation. While it is possible to pursue a mesothelioma claim without legal representation, a mesothelioma lawyer can greatly increase your odds of getting a successful and fair settlement, verdict, or trust fund claim. Identifying the proper defendants in mesothelioma cases can be difficult.

Asbestos exposure can be the result of complicated chains of events involving manufacturers, distributors, contractors, job sites, employers, and/or landlords. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help with this complex investigation. Once your lawyer identifies the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure, your lawyer can negotiate with the relevant parties to maximize your payout.

How to Choose a Lawyer to Represent My Asbestos Lawsuit in North Carolina

Choosing not just a lawyer, but the right lawyer, is an important early step in pursuing your mesothelioma claim. You should choose a lawyer and law firm with the resources and knowledge necessary to win a mesothelioma case.

If you live in North Carolina and want to file a mesothelioma claim, you can look for the following traits in your prospective attorney:

• Demonstrated experience handling mesothelioma cases
• A proven track record of securing compensation
• Access to databases to trace your asbestos exposure
• National reach, allowing them to file claims wherever they need to be filed
• Responsive and stays in communication
• Positive reputation with previous clients

Benefits of Working With an Experienced North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer

Working with an experienced North Carolina mesothelioma lawyer carries some advantages over working with a general personal injury lawyer. Reputable mesothelioma attorneys are active within jurisdictions beyond North Carolina. Their reach allows them to file in the jurisdiction most favorable for your case. This can help to maximize your compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and suffering.

Many claims are often made through asbestos bankruptcy trusts rather than traditional lawsuits. Your attorney’s experience with trust fund claims can help maximize your compensation.

Additionally, mesothelioma lawyers generally work on a contingency basis, meaning they collect a percentage of your payout rather than charging a fee upfront. This means they do not get paid unless you do. This means you can file a lawsuit or initiate a claim without spending money upfront.

Understanding where and how exposure occurred is important to building a strong case. Our team can help you build your case.

Asbestos Exposure in North Carolina

North Carolina is home to large military installations and has been a shipping and manufacturing hub, exposing many workers to asbestos. For example, North Carolina has busy shipping ports in Wilmington and Morehead City. Shipbuilding was an important industry in North Carolina, as well powerplants, steel mills, and construction. Many people experienced occupational asbestos exposure when working in these industries.

The gap between asbestos exposure and disease is often large. So knowledge of the history of asbestos exposure in North Carolina is a critical skill to look for when choosing a mesothelioma lawyer. This knowledge can expedite the investigation process by making it easier to track down evidence, witnesses, and records. Look for familiarity with hot spots like:

• Davidson
• Bingham Park in Greensboro
• Fort Bragg
• Naturally occurring asbestos in Western North Carolina (can affect excavation and mining sites)
• Wake County
• Nucor Corporation sites

It can take many years for mesothelioma to develop. In fact, it can take 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure for cancer to develop. The average person is not diagnosed with mesothelioma  until they are at least 70 years old. A reputable mesothelioma attorney can connect long-ago exposure with specific products and manufacturers to build your case.

Companies in North Carolina That Exposed Employees to Asbestos

Until the 1980s, many North Carolina companies used asbestos in their products. Asbestos was commonly used for insulation and fireproofing by a variety of industries starting in the late 19th century, and accelerating in the early 20th century. Though its use fell off sharply in the 1970s as its health risks became more well-known, many older buildings and sites still contain asbestos.

Companies that made asbestos products failed to adequately warn workers and advise on adequate personal protective equipment. As such, workers run the risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will be familiar with industries that commonly made use of asbestos in North Carolina including:

• Steel production (Nucorp)
• Textile production (Southern Asbestos Company Mills)
• Paper production (International Paper)
• Chemical manufacturing (DuPont)
• Power generation (Duke Energy)
• Shipbuilding (North Carolina Shipbuilding Company)
• Construction and building materials (Carolina Asbestos Company)

Occupations in North Carolina Most at Risk of Asbestos Exposure

North Carolina has been an important location for the armed forces and manufacturing. People who served their country or supported the manufacturing sector are at an increased risk of asbestos exposure, compared to the general population.

In North Carolina, people who worked in the following industries have a high risk of asbestos exposure:

• Shipyard workers
• Utility workers, particularly those who work in power generation
• Heavy industry workers, such as steelworkers
• Construction workers
• Military personnel (at contaminated sites)
• Miners
• Pipefitters
• Plumbers
• Mechanics

In addition to knowing the history of companies that have exposed workers to asbestos, an experienced mesothelioma lawyer will have an understanding of which types of workers were most likely to be exposed to asbestos. At the greatest risk are individuals who directly handled asbestos-containing insulation or equipment. At secondary risk are the families of such workers, as asbestos can travel home on clothing.

Who Can File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in North Carolina?

Individuals who have a diagnosed medical condition related to asbestos exposure can file a personal injury lawsuit. Families of those diagnosed with mesothelioma can often file lawsuits on their loved one’s behalf. People who may qualify for a mesothelioma lawsuit in North Carolina include:

• People diagnosed with mesothelioma
• People diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis
• Family members of those incapacitated by mesothelioma
• Family members who lost a loved one to an asbestos-related disease (a wrongful death lawsuit)

North Carolina imposes a three-year and two-year statute of limitations on personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, respectively. However, due to the slowly developing nature of most asbestos-related illnesses, the discovery rule generally applies. That means the clock starts running when you become aware of the illness or cause of death, rather than when the injury occurred.

Potential Compensation in North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Mesothelioma patients or their loved ones may qualify for several different types of compensation should their claim be successful. For example:

• Medical expenses related to the diagnosis
• Lost wages due to illness
• Loss of future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral costs (wrongful death cases)
• Loss of consortium (wrongful death cases)

North Carolina also allows punitive damages to be awarded should the defendants be found to have acted negligently or with malice. Patients may also pursue asbestos trust fund claims for compensation in addition to lawsuits.

North Carolina Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in 2025

People diagnosed with mesothelioma in North Carolina have been successful in getting substantial mesothelioma settlements and court awards in recent years. Note that the range of these payouts varies substantially, depending on the circumstances of the cases. Punitive damages, for example, tend to result in much larger awards.

While the details of many mesothelioma cases are confidential, one notable wrongful death case, Finch vs. Covil resulted in a $32.7 million verdict  in 2018. Franklin Finch had worked at the Firestone Tire Plant in Wilson, North Carolina, for 20 years. His work placed him in proximity to asbestos-covered steam pipes.

Other mesothelioma awards to people in North Carolina include:

• A $5.4 million verdict to an electrician in New Bern
• $4.6 million for a technician in Wilson
• $2.7 million for a hydraulic worker in Sanford

Settlements are confidential legal agreements, so the specifics of each case are not publicly available. Confidentiality is often important to those seeking compensation related to mesothelioma diagnosis.

How to Find a Mesothelioma Lawyer in North Carolina

Working with a local attorney may allow you to more easily meet in person. However, working with a local attorney may not be your best option for adequate compensation. The best option for legal representation of a mesothelioma claim may be a lawyer with national reach.

Your mesothelioma lawyer does not have to be headquartered in North Carolina, or whichever state you currently reside in. They do, however, need to be able to file the case in the most advantageous jurisdiction for your circumstances.

The defendants in asbestos-related cases often operate in multiple states, so the reach of your lawyer is generally a more important consideration than their proximity to your residence. An attorney with experience in mesothelioma litigation can help you negotiate with large, complex companies.

How to Hire a Mesothelioma Lawyer in North Carolina to File An Asbestos Claim

Finding the right lawyer to help you with a mesothelioma claim in North Carolina will take research and time. Before you begin, it’s helpful to gather any records and information you have that could be relevant to the case. This documentation can serve as a foundation for the eventual investigation and be a way for prospective lawyers to evaluate your case.

Before hiring an asbestos attorney in North Carolina, you should talk to your attorney about their:

• Track record for North Carolina mesothelioma cases. Have they successfully negotiated settlements or prevailed in trials in cases similar to your own?
• Trial experience. While not every case will go to trial, you’ll want to be confident that your lawyer can fight for you in court.
• Communication style. Does the firm respond to your queries in a timely manner?
• Resources for nationwide litigation. Does your attorney have the resources to litigate nationwide if needed?
• Openness to free consultations. A free consultation can help you evaluate a mesothelioma lawyer and help them determine whether your case is a good fit for their firm.
• Willingness to work on contingency. A contingency fee model incentives your lawyer to prevail in your case and reduces your financial risk. You’ll also want to know how big that fee is before you move forward.

Lawsuits may be filed either in state or federal courts. Your attorney will trace your asbestos exposure to specific companies. They will then decide what court your case should be filed in, based on what they think will be your best possible legal outcome.

What Is the Cost to Hire a North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer?

An experienced North Carolina mesothelioma lawyer is likely to work on a contingency basis. In a contingency model, the lawyer generally advances the court and expert testimony costs involved with the case, taking the financial burden of pursuing a claim off of the plaintiff.

This means families do not have to pay anything upfront to file a case. Instead, the lawyer collects a percentage of the case’s payout if any is awarded. This leaves current financial resources in the hands of families.

Typical contingency fees run between one-third to 40% of the award. However, a lower fee does not necessarily mean a better deal. You want to choose an attorney who will fight for the best possible compensation given your circumstances.

Questions to Ask a Mesothelioma Lawyer in North Carolina

Your initial consultation with a mesothelioma lawyer provides you an opportunity to ask them questions about their experience and practice. This process can help you get a feel for the attorney’s communication style and you determine if they are the right person to represent you.

Here are some questions you should consider asking before hiring your North Carolina mesothelioma lawyer.

What Is Your Fee Structure?

Most mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency basis (discussed above), so there shouldn’t be any upfront costs. However, you will still want to know what percentage the lawyer will take if you receive a payout. Make sure that percentage is acceptable to you.

Where Would You File My Case?

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer should have a sense of how best to move forward with your case, including where (what courts) to file it. They may need to do additional research to confirm, but they should be able to discuss how they would go about making that determination.

What Are The Steps To Pursue My Claim?

The lawyer should be able to present you with a reasonable roadmap outlining each step of your case. They should also give you a sense how long the mesothelioma claim process may take. Feel free to ask followup questions about what each of those steps involves.

What Kind Of Evidence Do We Need?

Your lawyer should be able to provide an overview of the types of records and evidence that will need to be collected to build the case, and any potential obstacles to obtaining that evidence. Your attorney will work to provide evidence of asbestos products used at your or your family member’s jobsite.

North Carolina’s Deadlines to File Asbestos Claims

The statute of limitations for asbestos claims in North Carolina is three years  for personal injury cases and two years for wrongful death cases. By default, the clock starts ticking when the injury is received (personal injury) or when the victim dies (wrongful death). However, it may not be so straightforward in mesothelioma cases.

As noted, your case may not necessarily be filed in North Carolina. Statutes of limitations vary from state-to-state. Further, the nature of asbestos-related illnesses often means they are not diagnosed until long after the injury occurs. In these cases, the discovery rule often applies, meaning that the date of the discovery of the injury is used as a starting point. Given these variables, it is best to consult with an attorney soon after you discover your injury (e.g., cancer diagnosis) or your loved one passes.

Contact a North Carolina Lawyer Today

King Law is currently evaluating mesothelioma cases in North Carolina. Our experienced attorneys offer free consultations with no obligation, as well as contingency-based representation. Call us today at (585) 496-2648 or query us through the form below.

Our legal partners at King Law understand how difficult receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is. Our goal is to provide compassionate support during this trying time. You can rely on our experience to fight for fair and timely compensation for your family.

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