Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Illinois
Illinois has been an American industrial powerhouse for more than a century, but it prospered at the cost of pollution, including asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma and other deadly illnesses.
From 1999 to 2017, malignant mesothelioma took the lives of 2,333 Illinois residents, an average of about 130 deaths a year.
Illinois mesothelioma lawyers have served the state for decades, helping people who have been exposed to asbestos get the compensation they deserve to help pay for treatment expenses and other costs.
Asbestos claims have been filed by mesothelioma victims who lived or worked in these Illinois locations:
- Alton
- Arlington Heights
- Belleville
- Beloit
- Champaign
- Chicago
- Chicago Heights
- Decatur
- East Alton
- Granite City
- Hanover Park
- Joliet
- Lyons
- Marion
- Naperville
- Peoria
- Plano
- Rockford
- Springfield
- Urbana
- Wheeling
- Wilmington
- And more
When looking for an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer, it’s important to select a firm with the experience, reputation, and resources to advocate for you. Thankfully, Mesothelioma Hope has partnered with an experienced law firm headquartered in Illinois that can help mesothelioma patients like you: Simmons Hanly Conroy.
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Illinois Mesothelioma Law Firm
As one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms, Simmons Hanly Conroy is dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma and other personal injuries find justice and hope.
With centuries of combined experience and an extensive network of resources, Simmons Hanly Conroy strives to provide first-class counsel to its clients.
Get a free legal consultation from our partner law firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy, to learn more about taking legal action against negligent asbestos companies.
Our sponsor firm has recovered over $1.4 billion on behalf of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease victims in Illinois alone. A few of the firm’s recent mesothelioma settlement amounts are highlighted below.
Illinois Mesothelioma Settlements Recovered by Simmons Hanly Conroy
- $4.4 millionSecondhand exposure victim
- $4 millionBricklayer
- $3.8 millionConstruction worker
- $3.7 millionTruck driver
All Simmons Hanly Conroy settlement amounts have been fact-checked and verified by our editorial team.
Asbestos Exposure Sites in Illinois
Asbestos was used regularly before the dangers were widely known because it is plentiful, strong, fireproof, and easy to work with. As a major cornerstone of many industries, millions of tons of asbestos were used in Illinois.
It was used at oil refineries, power stations, and manufacturing plants. Some workers interacted with the poisonous mineral on a daily basis.
Asbestos was also present in many common construction materials that ended up in schools and houses throughout Illinois.
In the City of Waukegan, an industrial suburb north of Chicago, there is an ongoing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund cleanup effort focused on asbestos.
The 350-acre site was formerly a manufacturing facility for Johns Manville, a major company that set up the first asbestos trust fund after it filed for bankruptcy in 1982.
Some other well-known asbestos sites in Illinois include:
- A. E. Staley Manufacturing Company, Decatur
- Allis-Chalmers Assembly Plant, Springfield
- Baldwin Power Plant, Decatur
- Calumet Shipyard, Chicago
- Caterpillar Manufacturing Plant, Peoria
- Dow Chemical, East St. Louis
- General Motors, Chicago
- Granite City Steel, Granite City
- International Truck & Engine Corp., Chicago
- Lakeside Powerhouse, Springfield
- Marion Powerhouse, Marion
- Owens-Illinois Glass, Alton
- Powerton Powerhouse, Peoria
- Procter & Gamble, Chicago
- Rockford Electric, Rockford
- Standard Oil, Joliet
- Thomas A. Edison Nuclear Power Plant, Chicago
- U.S. Steel, Joliet
The above list only reflects a small portion of well-known worksites where asbestos was present in Illinois. There were many other places in the state where people may have been exposed to asbestos.
Illinois mesothelioma lawyers have access to comprehensive databases of asbestos exposure sites in the state. To find out if your former worksite has a history of asbestos exposure, you should contact an Illinois mesothelioma attorney.
Illinois Counties With the Highest Number of Asbestos-Related Deaths
Asbestos affects families and communities in every state and every county in the U.S. Along with mesothelioma, asbestos exposure has caused thousands of deaths in Illinois from related diseases like asbestosis and lung cancer. Five counties were hit particularly hard in recent years.
| County | Estimated Deaths | Average Deaths Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Cook County | 3,863 | 203 |
| DuPage County | 909 | 47 |
| Lake County | 897 | 47 |
| Will County | 641 | 33 |
| Madison County | 435 | 22 |
Know Your Rights: Illinois Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Treating mesothelioma is extremely expensive, and many families cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs. This is why filing a mesothelioma lawsuit with the help of an Illinois asbestos lawyer is crucial.
If you or a loved one were injured by wrongful asbestos exposure, you have the legal right to file a claim.
In 2023, 24% of all asbestos lawsuits in the U.S. were filed in Madison County, Illinois, according to a national litigation report from KCIC.
The county court has significant experience handling asbestos claims and an expedited docket for terminally ill patients, meaning its cases are often tried more quickly.
By working with a top Illinois mesothelioma lawyer, victims give themselves and their families the best chance at recovering crucial compensation through a lawsuit.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Illinois?
In addition to Illinois residents, mesothelioma patients who may have been exposed to asbestos while working in, living in, or visiting the state might qualify to file a claim for financial compensation.
Additionally, anyone who’s been diagnosed with other serious asbestos-related diseases — such as lung cancer or asbestosis — may also qualify to file a claim with the help of an Illinois mesothelioma attorney.
Even those who develop an asbestos-related disease later in life, such as mesothelioma, may be eligible to file a claim. Surviving family members may also be able to file a claim on behalf of a mesothelioma victim.
An Illinois mesothelioma lawyer can explain how the state’s laws and regulations impact someone’s eligibility for different types of asbestos claims.
Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in Illinois
Mesothelioma lawsuits are usually settled out of court before the case goes to trial. Through a mesothelioma settlement, the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products being sued agree to pay the victim a lump sum of money.
Mesothelioma settlements typically award victims between $1 million and $1.4 million on average, but some may award more or less than this.
If the case does not settle, it may go to trial. Through a trial, a judge or jury decides how much money a mesothelioma victim receives through a verdict.
Mesothelioma verdicts award victims an average of between $5 million and $11.4 million — if the case is decided in the victim’s favor. If not, the victim may receive no money.
Notable Illinois mesothelioma verdicts include:
- $24.4 million: In July 2024, an Illinois jury found in favor of a janitor diagnosed with mesothelioma decades after working around asbestos-contaminated talc at an Avon facility.
- $7.4 million: In March 2024, a jury awarded this amount to a former brick mason with mesothelioma who claimed asbestos-based steel-making materials caused his disease.
- $30 million: In January 2024, a jury found in favor of a widow whose husband had passed away from mesothelioma caused by secondhand exposure to asbestos five weeks after his diagnosis.
- $1.8 million: After being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, an Illinois Army veteran filed a lawsuit against the asbestos companies that hid the dangers of their products from the public and made countless service members sick.
An Illinois mesothelioma lawyer can determine if a trial or settlement is better for your particular case. Schedule your free case review today.
Asbestos Laws and Regulations in Illinois
In Illinois, there are federal and state laws that protect people from asbestos exposure.
Federal asbestos laws include:
- AHERA: Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
- NESHAP: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
Further, Illinois asbestos laws state that contractors and workers must be trained and licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) in order to safely remove the toxic substance from schools, commercial sites, and public buildings.
An Illinois mesothelioma lawyer will be familiar with how the courts apply federal, state, and regional asbestos laws and can help their clients navigate these regulations.
Statutes of Limitations in Illinois
It usually takes decades for someone to get sick as a result of asbestos exposure, so the laws regarding statutes of limitations (SOLs) for mesothelioma claims are very complex. SOLs outline the amount of time that someone has to file a claim, and they vary from state to state.
The SOL also depends on whether or not the person filing the claim is living (personal injury lawsuit) or if they have passed on (wrongful death lawsuit).
Because victims and their families have a limited window to file a claim, it is important to contact an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
An experienced Illinois mesothelioma lawyer will understand how the state statute applies to your case and can help you determine when to file a claim.
Even if the SOL for your lawsuit has expired, an Illinois mesothelioma attorney may be able to help you file claims with asbestos trust funds, which have separate rules about how much time you have to file.
Asbestos Trust Funds in Illinois
Bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-based products were forced to set aside money in trust funds to pay out future asbestos claims. Asbestos trusts aren’t subject to regular statutes of limitations. Instead, they have their own deadlines to file claims.
Today, more than $30 billion is available in asbestos trust funds for mesothelioma victims.
Mesothelioma victims may be able to file claims with multiple trusts. An experienced Illinois mesothelioma lawyer can determine which trusts victims can file claims with.
Illinois VA Information for Mesothelioma Victims
Veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma at a much higher rate than the average population. Every branch of the military used asbestos until the early 1980s, and it still exists in some ships, bases, and family housing.
Examples of military bases in Illinois that used asbestos include:
- Camp Price Support Center, Granite City
- Rock Island Arsenal, Arsenal Island
Illinois Veterans Benefits
Thankfully, veterans with mesothelioma can access a number of benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
VA benefits include:
- Aid & Attendance
- Disability compensation
- Health care
- Pension plans
Through the VA health care system, veterans can also access treatments from some of the best mesothelioma doctors.
Two VA mesothelioma doctors include:
Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Robert B. Cameron. The contact information above is listed for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Cameron directly.
Illinois veterans can also seek help from the following offices and facilities:
Veterans Benefits Administration
- Great Lakes Naval Station, North Chicago
- Regional Benefits Office, Chicago
- Scott Air Force Base, St. Clair County
VA Medical Centers
- Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, North Chicago
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago
- Marion VA Medical Center
- VA Illiana Health Care System, Danville
Outpatient Clinics
- 1007 USS Tranquility, Great Lakes
- 1523 USS Red Rover, Great Lakes
- Auburn Gresham (Chicago) Clinic, Chicago
- Aurora Clinic, North Aurora
- Chicago Heights Clinic, Chicago Heights
- Enterprise Way VA Clinic, Marion
- Evanston Clinic, Evanston
- Fisher Clinic, Bldg. 237, Great Lakes
- Freeport Clinic
- Heartland Street VA Clinic, Marion
- Hoffman Estates, Hoffman Estates
- Joliet Clinic
- Kankakee Clinic, Bourbonnais
- Lakeside Clinic, Chicago
- LaSalle Clinic, Peru
- McHenry Clinic
- Oak Lawn Clinic
- OHMD Occupational Health Medicine Department, Great Lakes
- Rockford Clinic
- USS Osborne Dental Clinic, Great Lakes
Community-Based Outpatient Clinics
- Bob Michel VA Outpatient Clinic, Peoria
- Carbondale Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Carbondale
- Decatur VA Outpatient Clinic, Decatur
- Effingham Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Effingham
- Galesburg VA Clinic, Galesburg
- Harrisburg Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Harrisburg
- Mattoon Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Mattoon
- Mt. Vernon Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Mt. Vernon
- Quincy VA Clinic, Quincy
- Springfield VA Outpatient Clinic, Springfield
- St. Clair County CBOC, Shiloh
- Sterling VA Outpatient Clinic, Sterling
Veterans Centers
- Aurora Veterans Center, Aurora
- Chicago Veterans Center, Chicago
- Chicago Heights Veterans Center, Chicago Heights
- Evanston Veterans Center, Evanston
- Metro East Veterans Center, Swansea
- Oak Park Veterans Center, Forest Park
- Orland Park Veterans Center, Orland Park
- Peoria Veterans Center, Peoria
- Quad Cities Veterans Center, East Moline
- Rockford Veterans Center, Rockford
- Springfield, IL Veterans Center, Springfield
Veterans can learn more about filing for VA benefits by speaking with an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer. These lawyers can collect key information needed to file a VA benefits claim.
AML and VFW Service Officers in Illinois
For assistance getting VA benefits, veterans can reach out to a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) through the American Legion (AML) and/or the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
VSOs are experts accredited by the VA to help veterans understand the complex claims process.
Veterans with mesothelioma and their families often need help:
- Filing claims for VA benefits
- Locating medical and/or service records
- Requesting hearings and making appeals
- Understanding current laws and regulations
The AML has more than two dozen VSOs representing Illinois, and the organization’s state headquarters are located in Bloomington.
The main Veteran Service Office for the Illinois VFW is located in Chicago, with branch offices in Danville and Marion.
You can also contact an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer to help you file for VA benefits and services.
Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide today to how you can access financial assistance for an asbestos-related illness.
Connect With an Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyer
Illinois mesothelioma lawyers know how this cancer can devastate families and are here to help. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is in your best interest to work with an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer.
A qualified Illinois mesothelioma attorney may be able to help you:
- Identify the Illinois work sites or locations where you were exposed to asbestos
- Obtain medical and military records
- Build an asbestos claim that maximizes your chances of securing compensation
- File your claim within the proper Illinois statute of limitations
To learn more about your legal options, contact our team for a free, no-obligation case review. Our asbestos lawyers never charge upfront or out-of-pocket fees, and they get paid only if your case results in compensation. Get started with a free legal consultation.
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