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In Wisconsin, many people were exposed to asbestos through industrial, construction, and military activities, as asbestos was widely used until the 1990s. While its use has decreased significantly today, the long delay between exposure and the onset of health issues has led to a continued rise in asbestos-related diseases. Victims of asbestos exposure have the right to pursue a Wisconsin personal injury claim to recover compensation for the harm they have suffered.
Wisconsin has a 31% higher asbestos-related death rate than the national average, with 6,815 deaths between 1999 and 2017. Of these, about 1,295 were due to mesothelioma, while around 5,180 resulted from other lung cancers. These illnesses place a significant financial burden on families, with costs from medical treatment, lost income, and ongoing care.
Pursuing compensation can offer financial relief and a sense of justice. Injury claims also help hold companies accountable, encouraging better safety practices and corporate responsibility. Reach out to our law office using the contact form. We offer free consultations.
You can find more data on the health effects of asbestos in Wisconsin on the Wisconsin DHS website.
In Wisconsin, the statute of limitations in personal injury claims for asbestos-related injury is three years from diagnosis, or three years from death for wrongful death cases. There are multiple avenues to seek compensation for asbestos-related injury, including personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, trust fund claims, workers’ compensation, veterans’ benefits, and SSDI. The best approach depends on individual circumstances, the extent of exposure, and the nature of the illness.
Consulting with an experienced asbestos personal injury lawyer can help you determine the most appropriate and effective method for pursuing compensation. With no hourly fees or upfront costs, Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm is dedicated to securing the maximum compensation available for residents across Wisconsin who are impacted by asbestos exposure.
Let our team help you navigate the legal system to find the best option for obtaining compensation for your injury.
Many asbestos-related claims are settled out of court to save on the costs and risks of going to trial. Settlements for mesothelioma cases typically range from $1 million to $2 million, while court verdicts average between $5 million and $11.4 million, though they can be even higher.
For example, a 2021 case in Milwaukee County, WI, awarded $26.5 million. Factors that affect the compensation amount include the severity of the illness, its economic impact, pain and suffering, the extent of asbestos exposure, liability, and the quality of evidence presented.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of asbestos-related personal injury claims are filed. To succeed in such cases, the key is to prove a clear link between asbestos exposure and the resulting health condition. This requires documenting the exposure history and ruling out other potential causes.
With low levels of asbestos virtually everywhere, everyone has been exposed to asbestos at some point in their life. While there is no amount of asbestos that is considered safe, it is generally those who have been exposed on a regular basis over an extended period of time who get asbestos-related diseases.
Exposure documentation, expert testimonies, and statements from credible witnesses are all key elements to proving excessive exposure to help build your case for an asbestos-related personal injury claim.
There is a range of diseases associated with asbestos, with some having stronger causal relationships than others. While mesothelioma and asbestosis are diseases almost always attributable to asbestos exposure, lung cancer and other cancers have a strong but not exclusive association. Pleural conditions like pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening are also directly linked to asbestos.
Obtaining a conclusive diagnosis and ensuring that all medical records (including imaging studies, biopsy results, and pathology reports) are well-documented and accessible will be key to providing relevant proof of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, our team may be able to pursue compensation on your behalf.
Building the strongest case possible to prove asbestos-related injury is what we do. At Pemberton PI, our dedicated team is here to guide you through every step to maximize compensation. Trust us to be your advocate and support in these challenging times.
Widespread use of asbestos products for decades across building materials, automotive parts, household appliances, and commercial and industrial products resulted in asbestos exposure taking place at home and work, including secondary or “take-home” exposure from others who were in close proximity to asbestos-containing products and carried those fibers on their hair and clothing.
Although regulatory action has risen and asbestos use has fallen over time, providers are still diagnosing many new cases due to asbestos-related diseases often showing no signs or symptoms for 30 to 40 years.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of people face exposure to asbestos, mostly in the workplace. Some studies show that up to 20% of all workers who breathe in asbestos will develop a disease from exposure. While the risk of asbestos exposure on the job was highest in the past, asbestos exposure can still occur today.
Industrial work has a long history in Wisconsin, making it a common source of asbestos exposure. This includes industries such as paper mills and automotive manufacturing, as well as the production of industrial machinery, electrical equipment, and textiles, all of which used asbestos for its heat-resistant properties.
Workers in power plants, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, insulators, pipefitters, millwrights, and laborers are frequently exposed to environments where asbestos was used. Additionally, teachers and staff in older schools with asbestos-containing materials also face risks.
The use of asbestos was widespread from the 1930s to the early 1980s in various military applications. Many military veterans have been exposed to asbestos during their service, often without their knowledge. The 1970s marked the peak of asbestos use in the military. Almost every branch of the military used asbestos in some capacity, from shipyards to aircraft to infrastructure on bases. By the mid-to-late 1970s, growing awareness of the health risks associated with asbestos exposure began to emerge, leading to increased scrutiny and regulation.
Exposure to asbestos can also take place from environmental exposure. Factories that manufacture asbestos-containing products and asbestos mining and processing facilities can release fibers into the air, contaminating nearby areas. Demolitions or renovations of homes and older buildings can also release asbestos-containing materials into the surrounding environment.
Many homes, schools, and public buildings constructed before the 1990s contain asbestos in insulation, roofing, flooring, and ceiling tiles. Asbestos was widely used in numerous products due to its desirable properties, such as heat resistance, durability, and fireproofing.
Unfortunately, this widespread use has led to significant exposure risks, especially when asbestos-containing products are disturbed or damaged, releasing hazardous fibers into the air.
At Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, we understand the complexities of asbestos-related injuries and the varied impact they have on victims and their families. By securing compensation, you can attain much-needed financial relief, achieve a sense of justice, and play an important role in influencing better safety practices and corporate responsibility. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Insurance companies profit when you lose. Every claim they deny, every settlement they lowball, every injured person they convince to accept less—that’s money in their pocket. And they’re very good at what they do.
At Pemberton Personal Injury Law Firm, we’ve made it our mission to take on the insurance companies that put profits over people. We know every underhanded tactic they’ll use to cheat you out of fair compensation, and we’re prepared to fight fire with fire. When insurance adjusters see us coming, they know they’re in for a real battle. You didn’t ask to be injured.
You didn’t ask to fight a billion-dollar corporation. But now that you’re here, you deserve lawyers who will go to war for you. We don’t settle for less than full compensation, we don’t back down from tough fights, and we don’t let insurance companies bully our clients. PERIOD.
Life following a serious injury can bring intense emotions and pain. Accident victims often hope to get their lives back on track, only to be held back by the demands involved with personal injury claims. This is especially the case for individuals who become hospitalized. Wherever you are in the process, we’d be glad to help.
Our injury lawyers in Wisconsin step up to represent you. At Pemberton, we provide this advocacy at every step in the injury claims process so you can be on your way to feeling like yourself again.
Contact our Wisconsin personal injury attorneys at (608) 448-6242 to speak with one of our experienced attorneys. We will create a plan together to help you protect your rights and get you back to your life.
$33M+ Won For Our Clients
The client’s loved one suffered a fatal injury in an auto collision that resulted in over $382,000 in medical bills. Acting as the family’s second attorney, we navigated difficult policy-limit issues and secured a $1,000,000 settlement. While the case had greater overall value and the family would have liked a higher recovery, they chose to settle to avoid prolonged litigation and move forward.
The client sustained severe injuries to both knees, including a broken femur requiring rod placement, torn ligaments, and damage necessitating knee replacement surgery on one or both knees. After multiple surgeries and ongoing complications that significantly impacted his ability to function, we negotiated a settlement $275,000 higher than the insurance company’s initial offer. Despite the complexity of the family relationship involved, we secured fair compensation for the client’s extensive medical treatment and permanent disabilities while respecting his wishes to resolve the matter without litigation.
In this wrongful death case, the client’s loved one was tragically killed while crossing the street as a pedestrian when struck by an inattentive driver. The collision caused fatal injuries, including massive brain hemorrhage and associated fractures.
Medical bills totaled approximately $89,000, and we pursued justice on behalf of the family. While we could have accepted the policy limits earlier, the family wanted to ensure accountability. Through extensive negotiations, we secured $600,000, including $100,000 the at-fault party paid out of pocket above policy limits to settle the case and provide the family with meaningful closure.
“If you ever need an attorney, he would be the first one I recommend”
“Focus on healing and we will take care of everything on the legal side”
“If you ever need an attorney, he would be the first one I recommend”
