Mesothelioma in Roanoke, Virginia
Workers in Roanoke, Virginia, may have been exposed to asbestos at several manufacturing facilities and railway companies in the city. They risk developing asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma. Asbestos-exposure victims in Roanoke may find the medical and legal resources listed below helpful.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma patients in Roanoke have several options for treatment in the area. As a rare disease, it can be difficult to diagnose mesothelioma. It is important to find doctors and cancer centers with experience diagnosing and treating malignant mesothelioma. Treatment for mesothelioma cancer typically involves a combination of therapies. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may be recommended as options.
Although there is no cure, continued research has helped improve mesothelioma prognosis in recent years. This is due to the development of experimental mesothelioma treatments, new diagnostic methods, clinical trials and other mesothelioma research.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Roanoke, Virginia
Mesothelioma patients in Roanoke are within driving distance of mesothelioma cancer centers and treatment programs, including Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Each case of mesothelioma is different, so it is important for patients to choose the right cancer center to support their individual needs. For nearby treatment, a drive to Wake Forest Baptist Health may save time and travel. Patients might also choose to travel farther for treatment. The Duke University Cancer Center in Durham, North Carolina, specializes in mesothelioma. There may also be mesothelioma clinical trials offered by one of the many cancer centers in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and other neighboring states.
Roanoke, Virginia Mesothelioma Doctors
Malignant mesothelioma patients in the Roanoke, Virginia, area can access nearby doctors who specialize in this type of cancer. Experienced mesothelioma doctors work with patients to create personalized treatment plans. These plans may consist of several treatment approaches aimed at improving a patient’s mesothelioma prognosis and maintaining quality of life. Doctors may also be able to assist patients with enrolling in mesothelioma clinical trials.
Roanoke, Virginia Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Roanoke residents and workers who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to receive financial compensation.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may benefit from working with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. An attorney who specializes in mesothelioma lawsuits and filing asbestos trust fund claims can help hold companies responsible for their negligence. These attorneys have decades of experience helping asbestos victims receive the compensation they deserve, whether from lawsuit verdicts, settlements or successful claims. Compensation can be used for mesothelioma treatment costs, lost wages and other expenses.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Roanoke, Virginia
Families impacted by an asbestos-related diagnosis should contact a mesothelioma lawyer. They can explain a victim’s eligibility for lawsuits and different claim types. For instance, victims may file a lawsuit against negligent asbestos companies. Many companies knew about the dangers of asbestos but continued to manufacture or use asbestos-containing materials.
Attorneys at experienced asbestos law firms can provide a personalized case assessment to determine an individual’s legal options.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Roanoke, Virginia
Each state has statutes of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Deadlines for filing a personal injury lawsuit begin when someone who was exposed to asbestos is diagnosed with a related disease. A wrongful death lawsuit should be filed by the family of the victim soon after their death. A Virginia mesothelioma lawyer can help file a lawsuit on behalf of the victim or their family.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related death.
A lawsuit may result in financial compensation for a victim or their family members. Compensation can help cover treatment costs, lost household income and other expenses.
Asbestos victims in Roanoke have received compensation from successful legal claims. Examples of clients who have been assisted in Roanoke include:
Age: 65
Occupation: Furnace installation
Jobsites Worked at: Associated Asphalt Equipment, Inc. (1971 – 1996); Fuel Oil Equipment Company (1970 – 1997); Gabriel Owen Light (1971); Homestead Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. (1979); Newcomb Electric Company, Inc. (1997); Petroleum Markers, Inc. (2002 – 2009); PM Terminals, Inc. (2002 – 2004); PMI Services, Inc. (2004 – 2009); R.E. Michael’s Company (1999 – 2002); VFP, Inc. (1998 – 1999); Virginia Fiberglass (1997 – 1999)
Settlement: ~$1,988,131
Age: 60
Occupations: Navy, Banking
Jobsites Worked at: Barn Dinner Theater (1965 – 1969); City of Roanoke (1973 – 1974); CMT Sporting Goods Co., Inc. (1999 – 2004); Roanoke City Flour Mills (1948 – 1980); Sunoco Service Station (1960 – 1979)
Settlement: ~$1,436,618
Age: 68
Occupations: Household, Office worker
Jobsite Worked at: Automated Mailing Systems, Inc. (1995 – 1996)
Settlement: ~$1,299,064
Age: 68
Occupation: Navy
Jobsites Worked at: Norfolk & Western Railway Co. (1969)
Settlement: ~$1,095,646
Asbestos Use in Roanoke, Virginia
Manufacturing has helped drive Roanoke’s economic development and provided jobs for many residents. However, numerous jobsites in Roanoke are known for using asbestos products. For instance, manufacturing companies — such as C. E. Thurston & Sons, Inc. and Steel Dynamics — have potentially put workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Workers at these companies may be exposed to asbestos by handling products or inhaling asbestos fibers while on the job.
Along with manufacturing, railroad companies have been prominent in Roanoke since the 19th century. Over the years, these jobsites put railroad workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Notable Roanoke railroad jobsites known for their asbestos use include Norfolk Southern Railway and Norfolk & Western Railway.
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 15 |
| Female | 1* |
*This is an estimate based on CDC data for total mesothelioma deaths in the county and deaths among male patients
Asbestos Found in a Government Building in Roanoke, Virginia
In 2004, the city of Roanoke hired a contractor to remove asbestos-containing materials from a government building. During the asbestos removal, the contractor and his workers did not follow federal environmental laws. As a result, the workers and others were potentially exposed to asbestos.
The contractor hired three untrained workers to do the job, knowing they were not certified to remove asbestos. The workers did not have proper protective gear or follow mandated procedures for removing asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency requires asbestos to be wet down before removal. Because the workers skipped this step, asbestos fibers were released into the air when they removed materials with knives and hacksaws.
Airborne asbestos fibers can be inhaled and cause serious respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. In addition, the workers did not properly dispose of the asbestos-containing materials. They left the debris in unmarked bags for trash haulers to take to a landfill.
The contractor’s actions were revealed to authorities, and he was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for breaking federal environmental laws.
Roanoke, Virginia Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- A. Lynn Thomas Company, Inc.
- Alsco, Inc.
- Alton Aluminum Plant
- American Viscose Corporation
- Anthem-Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building
- B.F. Parrott & Company
- C. E. Thurston & Sons, Inc.
- Celanese Corporation
- Chemstrand Lab
- Coca-Cola Bottling Company
- Fred Whitaker Company
- Hercules Powder Company
- Industrial Development and Investment Company
- Isabell Porter Company
- James Madison University, Roanoke Higher Education Center
- Johnson-Carper Furniture Company
- Kroger Company
- Montvale Elementary School
- National Linen Service Corporation
- Nello L. Teer Company
- Norfolk & Western Railway
- Norfolk Southern Railway
- Ohio Power Company (AEP)
- Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation
- Radford University
- Roanoke Civic Center
- Roanoke Cotton Mill Company
- Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation
- Roanoke Gas Company
- Roanoke Heat Light and Power Company
- Roanoke Railway & Electric Company
- Shenandoah Valley Manganese Corporation
- Stauffer Chemical Company
- Steel Dynamics
- T. F. Minter
- Thompson Products, Inc.
- Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Company
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
- West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Virginia Man Jailed for Using Homeless for Improper Asbestos Removal. Occupational Health & Safety. August 2007.
Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients
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Reviewed by
Jennifer Lucarelli
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Advisor
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.
