Texas Mesothelioma Lawyers

In Texas, occupational and military asbestos exposure has been and continues to be a statewide problem. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a deadly and incurable cancer. Working with an experienced Texas mesothelioma lawyer is the best way to pursue justice and compensation after a diagnosis.

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Working With a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Texas

The Lone Star State houses 15 military bases and a total of 28 U.S. military-related buildings, all of which incorporated asbestos-containing products into their construction processes.

While the state of California has the most military bases in the nation, no other state has more active-duty personnel than Texas.

Currently, over 110,000 American service members are stationed in the state, including over 35,000 men and women in the U.S. Air Force.

With its robust military presence, vast oil-refinery and shipbuilding industries, numerous Gulf ports, and great many chemical corporations — all of which historically used asbestos in great volume — Texas has the fourth-highest rate of mesothelioma in the United States.

In addition, Texas’s geographical location makes it a key U.S. trade state that is also home to a massive manufacturing industry.

Historically, states like Texas, which are very active in trade and manufacturing, have seen higher incidence rates of asbestos-related disease.

Did You Know?

By working with an experienced Texas mesothelioma lawyer, asbestos-related disease victims gain their best chance at securing much-needed compensation to help combat the disease.

Given the high rate of asbestos exposure and, thus, asbestos-related disease, some of the top mesothelioma lawyers in the U.S. are licensed in Texas.

Know Your Rights: Texas Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Each year, approximately 3,000 new mesothelioma diagnoses are made in the U.S.

Asbestos was imported metric-ton-by-metric-ton into the U.S. for most of the 20th century. From there, major manufacturers would fashion it into a wide variety of goods. Everything from car parts to clothing could contain asbestos.

Did You Know?

These manufacturers also knew that people who got exposed to it would risk their lives, but they continued to make and sell asbestos-containing products nonetheless.

At the very least, those who have been wrongly injured by asbestos should have been warned about the potential dangers they faced.

Moreover, after knowing the risks, they should have been given proper safety equipment necessary to protect themselves from exposure.

Workers and retired military veterans were never given this choice. Many mesothelioma victims choose to pursue justice and right this wrong by working with Texas mesothelioma lawyers.

With a Texas mesothelioma lawyer’s help, victims can also see if they are eligible to receive mesothelioma compensation through a lawsuit.

Texas Mesothelioma Settlements

Many times, compensation comes in the form of a settlement, which is an agreement between a Texas mesothelioma lawyer representing the victim and the legal team(s) representing the manufacturers being sued.

Some recent and notable mesothelioma settlements in Texas include:

  • A $5.3 Million settlement to a former power plant employee
  • A $4.1 Million settlement to a former carpenter and Marine Corps veteran

Many mesothelioma settlements, because they are settled out-of-court, are not public information.

So, while the above represents a couple of recent settlements, others are beholden to non-disclosure agreements and privacy laws. Texas mesothelioma lawyers always work to protect the privacy of their clients.

Statute of Limitations in Texas

If you are a Texas resident who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your first and primary focus should be your health and family.

Beyond that, a key step toward justice is filing a claim with the help of a Texas mesothelioma lawyer.

Did You Know?

In the U.S., every state has deadlines that determine how long someone has to file a claim. These laws are called statutes of limitations and rarely do they extend beyond a year or two.

Because this part of the law is so difficult to navigate, victims often turn to an experienced Texas mesothelioma lawyer for help.

Reputable lawyers have years’ worth of experience, a comprehensive understanding of Texas mesothelioma law, and are knowledgeable about the history of asbestos exposure in the state.

In addition, Texas mesothelioma lawyers know exactly how you should file and when.

Mesothelioma Cases Vary

While there are about 3,000 new mesothelioma diagnoses each year, every single case is different. In each, a wide array of factors contribute to the particular way in which an individual claim is built.

Mesothelioma lawsuits often take one of two paths: a wrongful death claim or a personal injury claim. Without the necessary expertise, you need to have a lawyer familiar with mesothelioma cases and the specific facts of your case.

Texas Asbestos Laws and Regulations

Texas controls and regulates asbestos through several different laws and government agencies.

Texas adheres to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).

Other asbestos regulations are enforced by the following laws and state agencies. Learn more about these regulations below.

  • Texas Asbestos Health Protection ACT (TAHPA)

    In the remodeling or demolition of any building, TAHPA requires inspection for the presence of asbestos. Violations of this law incur fines of $10,000 per day.

  • Texas Department of Health (TDOH)

    Regarding TAHPA, if asbestos is found in any building, the Texas Department of Health must be immediately contacted. TDOH’s Toxic Substances Control Division/Asbestos Programs Branch maintains a list of certified asbestos-abatement contractors.

In addition to these regulating bodies, qualified Texas mesothelioma lawyers also play a vital role in protecting Texans from the aftereffects of asbestos exposure.

Texas Asbestos Exposure Sites

When asbestos use was at its peak, it was widely used throughout Texas in a number of different industries.

In total, there are hundreds of verified asbestos-exposure sites across the state from Houston to El Paso.

Below is a partial list of known asbestos-exposure worksites in Texas:

  • Bethlehem Shipping Company, Beaumont
  • Chevron Phillips Chemical, Sweeny
  • Exxon Refinery, Baytown
  • Gulf Oil, Beaumont
  • Lonestar Industries, Lubbock
  • Magnolia Petroleum Refinery, Beaumont
  • Phillips Petro Refinery, Phillips
  • Phillips Refinery, Fort Stockton
  • Phillips Refinery, Borger
  • Shell Oil Refinery, Deer Park
  • Texaco Oil, El Paso
  • Texaco Refinery, Corpus Cristi
  • Texaco Refinery, Amarillo
  • Texas Chemical, Texas City
  • Texas Petrochemical, Port Neches
  • Todd Shipping Company, Gavelston
  • Valero Refinery, Corpus Christi

On behalf of asbestos-related disease victims, Texas mesothelioma lawyers are working hard to uncover more exposure sites.

Mesothelioma Statistics in Texas

Below is a partial list of noteworthy Texas mesothelioma statistics compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

  • Texas ranks 5th in the U.S. for total reported asbestos deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis.
  • Between 1979-2002, 2,910 asbestos-related deaths were reported in the state.
  • The annual death rate for asbestos-related diseases has more than tripled since 1989.
  • The mesothelioma mortality rate in Texas has increased by roughly 3.5% each year.

Of the United States’ more than 28 million veterans, 1.6 million call Texas home. This is significant because roughly 33% of all mesothelioma victims are U.S. military veterans.

Between Texas’s multiple military bases and shipyards, untold thousands of military veterans were exposed to asbestos in the Lone Star State.

VA Information for Texas Mesothelioma Victims

Veterans with mesothelioma may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) if their asbestos exposure was service-related.

Texas has a number of different resources you can use to access these benefits.

Texas veterans with mesothelioma can access 5 different VA Medical Centers, 57 outpatient clinics (both community-based and not), and 21 Vet Centers, among many other veteran resources distributed throughout the state.

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  • Help Pay for Expenses
  • Seek Financial Benefits
  • Explore Treatment Options
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In addition to VA service facilities, both the American Legion (AML) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) can assist veterans with accessing benefits.

AML and VFW Service Officers in Texas

For veterans living in Texas, Service Officers within the AML and the VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS) can help you file for VA benefits.

These experts are accredited by the VA and can help veterans as they apply for benefits.

Service Officers can:

  • Navigate complicated state laws and relevant regulations and legislation
  • Gather pertinent asbestos-exposure and medical histories
  • Develop a solid claim that is well-suited to be accepted by the VA
  • Request hearings before the VA and the Board of Veterans Appeals

Service Officers will work with veterans every step of the way to help them make the best case possible.

Learn More About Texas Mesothelioma Lawyers

Remember: You do not bear any of the responsibility for your mesothelioma diagnosis. In fact, the disease has always been entirely preventable.

Due to the cold and calculated business decisions made by manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, thousands of Americans have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.

Did You Know?

A Texas mesothelioma lawyer can help you. The time to fight back is right now.

Speak with a member of our team today to learn more about your legal options and get a free, no-obligation legal consultation. By contacting our team, you are taking the first step toward justice.

It’s important to remember that due to statutes of limitations, time is of the essence.

Don’t wait. Get a free legal case review today.

Mesothelioma Support Team
Stephanie KiddWritten by:

Editor-in-Chief

Stephanie Kidd grew up in a family of civil servants, blue-collar workers, and medical caregivers. Upon graduating Summa Cum Laude from Stetson University, she began her career specializing in worker safety regulations and communications. Now, a proud member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) and Editor-in-Chief of the Mesothelioma Justice Network, Stephanie serves as a voice for mesothelioma victims and their families.

View 7 Sources
  1. City of Pflugerville, Texas Building Department. (n.d.). What you should know about asbestos if you’re building or remodeling, Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.pflugervilletx.gov/home/showdocument?id=66
  2. Environmental Working Group. (20). A slow death in texas. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.ewg.org/research/slow-death-texas
  3. Governing staff. (n.d.). Military active-duty personnel, civilians by state. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.governing.com/gov-data/public-workforce-salaries/military-civilian-active-duty-employee-workforce-numbers-by-state.html
  4. Military.com staff. (n.d.). Military base guide list. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.military.com/base-guide/browse-by-service.
  5. Ortiz, Jorge L. USA Today. (2019). Unhappy Thanksgiving: Explosions at Texas chemical plant keep more than 50,000 out of their homes. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/11/28/texas-chemical-plant-explosions-50-000-out-homes-thanksgiving/4328023002/
  6. Texas Constitution and Statutes. (2003). Occupations code chapter 1954, asbestos health protection subchapter a. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.1954.htm
  7. Texas Department of State Health Services. (2015). Laws and rules - asbestos program. Retrieved February 25, 2020, from https://www.dshs.texas.gov/asbestos/laws-rules.aspx
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