Editorial disclosure: This website is owned and operated by Phillips Law Offices. The firms listed on this site are selected and described by the site’s editors, not by an independent third-party rating service. Phillips Law Offices is featured prominently as the site’s owner.
Asbestos exposure remains a serious health crisis, particularly in industrial cities like Chicago. For decades, workers in construction, manufacturing, shipyards, and power plants were exposed to this deadly mineral, often without warning or protection. Today, thousands of people develop mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis from exposure that occurred years or even decades ago.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive, incurable cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Victims and their families face enormous medical costs, lost income, and the devastating reality of a terminal diagnosis. Experienced asbestos lawyers can help victims pursue compensation from the companies responsible for their exposure. This guide highlights a asbestos and mesothelioma lawyer in Chicago.
Understanding Asbestos-Related Diseases
Mesothelioma
An aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs (pleural), abdomen (peritoneal), or heart (pericardial). Almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure with a latency period of 20-50 years.
Lung Cancer
Asbestos exposure significantly increases lung cancer risk, especially among smokers.
Asbestosis
Progressive lung scarring that causes breathing difficulties, often developing decades after exposure.
Other Conditions
- Pleural plaques and thickening
- Pleural effusions
- Other asbestos-related cancers
Who Is at Risk?
Workers in many industries were exposed to asbestos:
- Construction workers – Insulation, drywall, roofing, flooring
- Industrial workers – Steel mills, refineries, chemical plants
- Shipyard workers – Ship construction and repair
- Power plant workers – Boilers, turbines, insulation
- Automotive workers – Brakes, clutches, gaskets
- Railroad workers – Locomotive insulation
- Firefighters – Building fires releasing asbestos
- Military veterans – Navy ships, military facilities
- Family members – Secondary exposure from workers’ clothing
Asbestos in Chicago
Chicago’s industrial history means widespread asbestos exposure:
- Steel mills throughout the region
- Oil refineries
- Power plants
- Manufacturing facilities
- Commercial and residential buildings built before 1980
- Chicago’s shipbuilding and repair operations
Asbestos Litigation Options
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Claims against companies that manufactured, distributed, or used asbestos products.
Wrongful Death Claims
Claims by family members when mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease causes death.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Many asbestos companies have established trust funds through bankruptcy. Over $30 billion is available in these trusts.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans exposed to asbestos may be eligible for VA disability benefits.
Why Choose an Experienced Asbestos Lawyer?
- Identifying all sources of asbestos exposure
- Determining which companies are liable
- Accessing asbestos bankruptcy trusts
- Understanding complex medical evidence
- Working within limited timeframes (mesothelioma patients)
- Maximizing compensation from multiple sources
How to Compare Firms
There is no objective ranking of the “best” injury lawyer in Chicago, and you should be sceptical of any list that claims otherwise — including lists published by law firms themselves. What does exist is a set of questions that reliably separate a firm that will do the work from one that will not. Ask each firm you speak to:
- Who will actually handle my file? The lawyer in the advertisement is often not the lawyer doing the work. Ask for the name of the person who will run your case and how often you will hear from them.
- How many cases like mine have you taken to trial? Settlement value is influenced by whether the other side believes you will try the case. A firm that never tries cases negotiates from a weaker position.
- What is your fee, and what happens to costs if we lose? Contingency fees are standard, usually around one third. Case costs — filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records — are a separate question, and you should get a clear written answer about who pays them if the case does not succeed.
- What is my deadline? A firm that cannot tell you which limitations period applies to your specific facts is not the right firm. Some Illinois deadlines are one year, not two.
- What is this case realistically worth, and why? Be wary of a number promised at the first meeting, before anyone has reviewed your medical records.
Where Phillips Law Offices Fits
A disclosure, because it matters when you are weighing this advice: this guide is published by Phillips Law Offices, and we are one of the firms you could hire. We have handled Illinois injury cases since 1945 and we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. You should still do exactly what this guide recommends and speak to more than one firm before signing anything. Most reputable firms, ours included, offer a free consultation precisely so you can compare.
If you want to talk it through, call (312) 346-4262 or request a free case review. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case depends on its own facts.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
- Medical expenses (treatment, surgery, chemotherapy)
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Travel costs for treatment
- Wrongful death damages
- Punitive damages (in some cases)
Illinois Asbestos Law
Statute of Limitations
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, claims must be filed within two years of diagnosis or discovery of the disease.
Official Resources
- American Cancer Society – Mesothelioma
- EPA Asbestos Information
- OSHA Asbestos Standards
- 735 ILCS 5/13-202 – Statute of Limitations
- Illinois Courts
Fighting for Asbestos Victims
Asbestos companies knew their products were deadly and hid the dangers for decades. Victims deserve full compensation for their suffering. Time is critical, and mesothelioma cases require urgent action.
Firms like Phillips Law Offices have the experience to pursue maximum compensation. Contact an asbestos lawyer today.
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This guide is part of our Hiring a Chicago Injury Lawyer section, where you can find every related guide on this site.