When mesothelioma touches your family, questions about treatment, bills, and the future can all arrive at once. Whether you’re a patient or a caregiver, a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can guide you through your legal options and fight for the financial support your family deserves.
A mesothelioma diagnosis is life-changing, but you do not have to navigate it alone. A Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can help you pursue the compensation you may be entitled to.
Your case will follow Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations, which means you generally have two years from the date of diagnosis to file a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawsuit. Some nearby states offer three years, while others allow only one, making early legal guidance essential.
A typical Pennsylvania mesothelioma claim follows a clear step-by-step process:
Pennsylvania’s high rate of asbestos-related illness stems from decades of heavy industry. Throughout the twentieth century, asbestos was used extensively in steelmaking, shipbuilding, railroads, coal mining, and manufacturing, exposing workers daily without warning.
The clearest example is long tied to Ambler, Pennsylvania, asbestos production. The Keasbey & Mattison Company manufactured asbestos products from 1881 to 1974, leaving behind massive waste piles. This still raises common questions today, such as ‘What is the asbestos capital of the United States?’ and ‘Is Ambler, PA, safe from asbestos?’ Parts of the area became the well-known Ambler asbestos piles Superfund site, leading to cleanup and long-term monitoring.
Asbestos exposure occurs when microscopic fibers become airborne and are inhaled or swallowed. These fibers can stay in the body for decades before illness appears, which is why many Pennsylvanians are only now seeing the effects of exposures that happened years ago.
Data reports that more than 17,700 people in Pennsylvania died from asbestos-related diseases between 1999 and 2017. This includes over 3,200 mesothelioma deaths and more than 1,500 deaths from asbestosis.
Exposure has been linked to many communities and workplaces across the state, including:
These sites are only some of the places where exposure occurred. If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma in Pennsylvania, an attorney can review your history and help pinpoint likely exposure sources.
Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma in Pennsylvania worked in high-risk jobs such as shipyard work, construction, insulation, mechanics, or Navy service.
Key Pennsylvania exposure sites include:
Workers at these sites faced daily asbestos exposure, often without protective equipment or safety warnings.
Major exposure sites like the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard mean many families search for mesothelioma lawyers in Philadelphia with specific expertise in Navy-related cases. Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers understand the unique exposure patterns at each of these facilities and can build stronger cases by identifying all responsible parties.
After a diagnosis, there are two main paths to compensation:
In some cases, you may also be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in addition to lawsuit compensation. An attorney can review your work history and help identify the option that best fits your situation.
Asbestos trust funds are one of the main ways you can receive compensation after a mesothelioma diagnosis. These funds were set up when companies that made or used asbestos products went bankrupt and were required to reserve money for victims. Trust fund claims do not require a trial, and many Pennsylvania workers qualify for multiple PA asbestos claims based on their work history.
Major asbestos trust funds relevant to Pennsylvania workers include Johns-Manville (insulation products used extensively across industrial sites), Pittsburgh Corning (glass manufacturing with facilities in the Pittsburgh area), Owens Corning, USG Corporation, and Armstrong World Industries. These companies operated throughout Pennsylvania or supplied materials to Pennsylvania job sites.
A Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can review your work history, identify the trusts you are eligible for, and often file trust claims along with a personal injury lawsuit to help you pursue the full compensation available to your family.
Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition in Pennsylvania can be confusing and overwhelming. When questions go unanswered, and the path forward feels uncertain, we’re here to help. Our goal is to bridge the gap, provide clarity, and empower you by answering some of your most important questions.
Asbestos has never been fully banned in Pennsylvania or anywhere in the United States. The EPA attempted a national ban in 1989, but most of it was overturned in 1991. Today, Pennsylvania follows EPA and OSHA federal regulations, with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) overseeing asbestos abatement projects statewide. While industrial use declined dramatically in the 1970s-1980s, asbestos remains in most pre-1980 buildings, creating ongoing risks to renovation and demolition workers.
A large amount of asbestos remains in older homes, schools, public buildings, factories, and power plants throughout Pennsylvania. Navy ships and historic shipyard structures may also contain asbestos. Even in areas where cleanup work has been completed, such as Ambler, asbestos waste remains buried beneath soil and vegetation. Pennsylvania law requires asbestos inspection and abatement before major renovation or demolition, but construction and maintenance workers can still be exposed if proper precautions are not followed.
Most cases begin with a free consultation where an attorney reviews your diagnosis and exposure history. Your Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer then gathers medical records, employment documents, and information about job sites to identify the companies responsible. Together, you decide whether to file a lawsuit, trust fund claims, or both. Many cases settle within six to twelve months without going to trial. Compensation can cover medical bills, future care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and family-related losses. All of this is handled through a contingency fee arrangement, which means you do not pay attorney fees unless compensation is secured for you.
Yes. Many people who worked in Pennsylvania’s industrial sector have retired to other states but still qualify to file in Pennsylvania. Courts in the state have long experience handling asbestos cases, which can be an advantage. Your attorney will determine the best venue based on where you were exposed, where the companies are located, and where you live now. If you had exposure in more than one state, your lawyer may file in multiple jurisdictions. The Pennsylvania two-year statute of limitations applies to Pennsylvania-based claims. PA asbestos claims can be filed against both active companies and bankruptcy trusts, allowing you to pursue multiple sources of compensation simultaneously.
Ambler is one of the most significant asbestos sites in the country. The area still contains an estimated 1.5 million cubic yards of asbestos-contaminated material from decades of manufacturing. Some sections were cleaned up and removed from the EPA Superfund list, while others remain under long-term oversight. The remedies are considered protective, but concerns remain about windborne fibers and environmental impact. If you lived or worked near Ambler and later developed mesothelioma, you should speak with a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer about your legal options.
Working with a Pennsylvania-based mesothelioma attorney offers real benefits. Local firms understand the state’s industrial history, the job sites where exposure happened, and how cases differ across regions. A Philadelphia shipyard case is not the same as a Pittsburgh steel case, and both differ from community exposure in Ambler. Pennsylvania courts also have decades of experience with asbestos claims, which can help your case move more smoothly.
If you lived or worked in Pennsylvania and were diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important to reach out when you feel ready. You can schedule a free consultation with an experienced Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer to review your history, understand your options, and begin pursuing the compensation your family may be entitled to.
Madeline works for the patient advocate team and writes about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. She is passionate about helping families in the mesothelioma community.
Asbestos Nation – Pennsylvania asbestos-related death data (1999–2017). (https://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/pa/).