Indiana Mesothelioma Lawyers

Filing Deadlines in Indiana

Indiana sets a statute of limitations on mesothelioma lawsuits. The clock starts at diagnosis, not exposure.

Missing these deadlines can permanently bar a family's right to compensation.

When the Clock Starts

In Indiana, the statute of limitations begins on the date of diagnosis, not the date of asbestos exposure. This is called the "discovery rule."

Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. Without the discovery rule, most patients would lose their right to file before they even knew they were sick.

The clock starts when:

• A physician provides a formal mesothelioma diagnosis
• Symptoms reasonably indicated the disease was present

Personal Injury Claims in Indiana

Indiana allows 2 years from diagnosis to file a personal injury claim. These claims are filed by the patient and typically seek recovery for medical expenses (past and future treatment), lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life, meaning the impact of the disease on daily activities, relationships, and ability to work.

Wrongful Death Claims in Indiana

Indiana allows 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. These claims can be filed by:

• Surviving spouse
• Children (including adult children)
• Parents (in some cases)
• Estate representative

Wrongful death claims can recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses incurred before death
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of financial support
• Loss of companionship and guidance

Asbestos Exposure Sites in Indiana

Indiana has 55 cities with documented asbestos exposure sites and 130 liable parties on record. Workers in these areas may have grounds for mesothelioma claims.

Select a city to view specific exposure sites, companies, and facilities with known asbestos exposure history.

Indiana has 2 cancer centers specializing in mesothelioma treatment. For a complete list of documented asbestos exposure sites in Indiana, see our exposure database.

Types of Compensation in Indiana

Families in Indiana affected by mesothelioma may qualify for multiple forms of compensation. Most cases involve a combination of trust fund claims and litigation.

Lawsuits and Settlements

Personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits can be filed against companies responsible for asbestos exposure. Most cases settle before trial, with average mesothelioma settlements ranging from amounts that vary widely by case. Total compensation can be significantly higher when combining multiple sources. Indiana courts generally allow expedited scheduling for mesothelioma cases.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Over 60 bankruptcy trusts hold more than $30 billion for asbestos victims. These claims are separate from lawsuits and can be filed regardless of whether a company is still operating. Trust fund claims have their own deadlines and requirements.

Learn about trust fund claims →

Asbestos Exposure History in Indiana

Steel mills and auto manufacturing dominated exposure in northwestern Indiana around Gary and central regions near Indianapolis. Bethlehem Steel mills lined blast furnaces and piping with asbestos. General Motors plants and Cummins Engine used it in gaskets, brake linings, and insulation for heavy machinery.

Along the Ohio River in southern Indiana, Jeffersonville Boat and Machine built ships with asbestos fireproofing. Jefferson Proving Ground near Madison operated from 1940 to 1995, exposing service members and civilians through pipe insulation and debris. Refineries like Amoco insulated high-heat pipes and boilers. Power plants like Northern Indiana Power used asbestos around turbines. Delco Remy and Anaconda Wire and Cable contributed further risk.

Indiana's dense concentration of heavy industry embedded asbestos deeply into economic life before the 1980s phaseout.

People with mesothelioma and asbestosis trace conditions to steel mills, auto factories, shipyards, hospitals like Protestant Deaconess in Evansville and St. Joseph's in South Bend, and even Indiana University. Pipefitters, insulators, machinists, and families were affected via take-home dust across 99 documented sites in 24 cities spanning 17 counties.

Gary, Jeffersonville, and Madison bore heavy impacts. Over 800 asbestos-related deaths were recorded from 1999 to 2013, placing the state 21st nationally.

Choosing a Indiana Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma litigation is a focused practice area. Not every personal injury attorney has the exposure databases, product identification resources, or trial experience these cases require. Our guide to choosing a mesothelioma law firm covers this in detail.

A few things to look at when narrowing a shortlist. Attorneys who concentrate on mesothelioma and asbestos cases typically maintain databases of products, manufacturers, and job sites that most general personal injury firms don't have. A firm's past settlements and verdicts in asbestos cases say more about depth than general trial experience. Familiarity with Indiana procedures, judges, and filing requirements shortens the learning curve, especially in an expedited docket. And most mesothelioma attorneys work on contingency, so the family pays nothing unless compensation is recovered.

Learn more about mesothelioma lawyer costs and how contingency fees work.