Arkansas Mesothelioma Lawyers

Filing an Asbestos Claim in Arkansas

Filing an asbestos claim in Arkansas involves several steps and specific state rules that must be followed precisely. For example, Arkansas sets time limits for filing asbestos lawsuits.These are called statutes of limitations. People must file their claims within these limits. Local mesothelioma lawyers help people file their claims on time.   

Key Facts About Filing Claims in Arkansas  

1. People must file their mesothelioma lawsuit within a certain time after diagnosis.
2. Arkansas laws dictate how people file lawsuits and what information they need.
3. People can file claims against asbestos trust funds if the company responsible for exposure is bankrupt.
4. Lawyers help people understand Arkansas’s specific filing requirements.

Experienced asbestos lawyers know Arkansas’s legal system. They have experience filing asbestos lawsuits that fulfill the state’s requirements and guiding families through the process. Top lawyers in Arkansas can help manage paperwork, procedures and all aspects of building a successful case.

How Can Hiring an Asbestos Lawyer in Arkansas Help Me?

While many attorneys handle personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, finding an Arkansas mesothelioma lawyer can benefit your claim. Familiarity with mesothelioma means your lawyer will better understand what your family is experiencing. Understanding asbestos exposure and litigating this specific kind of case can help increase your chances of a successful claim.

It’s also important for your asbestos lawyer to be knowledgeable about the state’s specific laws and procedures. They’ll communicate with the local courts and other parties. They make the process easier for families facing a serious diagnosis. They help people focus on their health and spending time with family rather than worrying about the legal process.

Arkansas Mesothelioma Law Firms

Arkansas mesothelioma law firms have insights into local judges, court staff and jury pools in Arkansas. They gather evidence about local asbestos exposure and build strong cases. This knowledge helps people file successful claims. 

These firms understand how local laws affect asbestos litigation, helping people navigate the legal system. They handle claims smoothly thanks to their familiarity with Arkansas court proceedings and regulations.

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Outside Arkansas

Arkansas residents with mesothelioma may also consider hiring a national mesothelioma law firm. Sometimes, people’s asbestos exposure happens in another state. The company responsible may have its headquarters outside of Arkansas. In these cases, people may need to file a claim in a different state. Nationwide asbestos law firms help with this.

National mesothelioma law firms have extensive experience filing claims throughout the country. They help people file claims in the right location based upon the details of their case. More than 50% of asbestos plaintiffs file claims outside of the state they live in. A 2019 KCIC industry report reported this data. Nationwide firms have vast resources.

Asbestos Settlements and Verdicts Awarded in Arkansas

Arkansas juries sometimes award multimillion-dollar mesothelioma verdicts. For example, an Arkansas jury ordered Honeywell International to pay $18.5 million in damages to a brake shop worker in 2019. 

He filed a claim that argued his mesothelioma diagnosis was the result of asbestos exposure. He died not long after his diagnosis. His family continued his claim as a wrongful death lawsuit. 

Large verdicts aren’t common. Most cases end in a mesothelioma settlement, which lawyers help people negotiate. Settlements avoid long court trials and help people get mesothelioma compensation faster.

Asbestos Regulations and Laws in Arkansas

Arkansas has state laws that regulate asbestos. The state also follows federal legislation. These laws aim to protect Arkansas residents from asbestos exposure.   

State and federal laws work together. These rules cover asbestos removal, disposal and exposure at work. They help keep people safe from dangerous exposure in Arkansas. A mesothelioma lawyer can help document if a defendant neglected to follow these laws, putting people at risk.

Laws Governing Asbestos in Arkansas

• Arkansas Asbestos Licensing Act: This law requires contractors to have a license to remove asbestos.   
• Regulation No. 21: Arkansas asbestos abatement regulations are defined in this law.
• Arkansas Code Ann. § 20-27-1001: Removal of Asbestos Material Act is defined by this code.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality enforces asbestos regulations. They work to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. This includes asbestos regulation in public buildings like schools. They work to ensure safe removal.

How Are People Exposed to Asbestos in Arkansas?

People in Arkansas who worked at sites known for asbestos exposure are at higher risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. Older construction sites, military bases, power plants, factories and schools are all higher-risk buildings. Those living near these sites can also be at higher risk of exposure. 

According to an EPA review, asbestos was known to be contained within destroyed buildings at Fort Chaffee. The EPA allowed the Fort Chaffee building to be demolished. The control method was new and hadn’t been tested or agency-approved.

Sites Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation: Power plants used asbestos insulation, exposing workers.   
• Fort Chaffee: Buildings in and near Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, were identified as containing asbestos and were demolished. 
• North Little Rock Parks: Asbestos-containing materials were found in park buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reviewed the site in 2011.
• Stuttgart School District: Asbestos was used in the construction of older school buildings. Asbestos in schools is a concern throughout the state.
• W. R. Grace & Co. Zonolite Processing Plant: The vermiculite plant previously existed in North Little Rock. Zonolite was found to be contaminated with asbestos.

EPA officials met with residents of the North Little Rock community in December 2011. They discussed possible asbestos exposure at the former Zonolite facility where vermiculite was processed. Regulators confirmed on-site contamination. Reports showed tremolite, considered a much more toxic asbestos type, had contaminated the vermiculite from Montana’s Libby Mine.

Workers and residents who became ill as a result of exposure from these sites and others known for asbestos have worked with Arkansas mesothelioma lawyers to file claims. Many of the companies that owned and operated these facilities have faced lawsuits in court.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Arkansas

Occupational exposure to asbestos happened in many Arkansas industries. Construction, manufacturing, chemical plant and other workers faced risks. Military personnel also experienced asbestos exposure. 

People who worked with asbestos products faced the highest risks. These workers often developed mesothelioma. But secondary asbestos exposure also affected family members of workers. Workers inadvertently brought home asbestos on their clothes, gear, hair and skin.

Higher-Risk Jobs in Arkansas

• Chemical plant workers
• Construction worker 
• Demolition worker
• Insulators
• Navy personnel
• Park staff
• Power plant worker
• Teachers

Arkansas companies have exposed workers to different types of asbestos products. These companies have been held responsible in local courts. Local asbestos lawyers help people file claims against these companies.

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