Does your state have a high incidence of asbestos-related deaths? Read on for statistics by location.

Mesothelioma is the most serious form of asbestos-related cancers, affecting the lining of the lungs and leading to death within months of being diagnosed. It has a 20- to 50-year latency period, which means that industrial workers exposed to asbestos in the 1960s and 1970s are just now being diagnosed with the disease. Sources estimate that over the next decade more than 35,000 people will suffer deaths from mesothelioma.

Every state in the country has reported instances of mesothelioma. But the states with the highest asbestos-related mortality rates are also the states with the largest urban industrial centers. According to U.S. government statistics, the states with the highest rates of mesothelioma are: California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois and Washington. These eight states account for more than half of all mesothelioma deaths in the nation.

Urban centers in the United States recording the greatest instances of mesothelioma are Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia, say government health statistics.

Mesothelioma is most often the result of industrial workplace exposure to asbestos – and it is usually contracted through employers’ blatant disregard for health and safety.

That’s why victims diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer have strong cases in court against their former employers, according to Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., the New York City-based law firm that is nationally recognized for winning multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for workers and their families who have suffered from asbestos-related injuries.

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading plaintiffs' law firm that has represented people affected by mesothelioma for over 20 years. Men and women diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease. If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form below, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.