It is very easy to lose your rights completely. Each state has its own deadlines, called statutes of limitation, for allowing victims of asbestos disease to file lawsuits. This means that there are strict deadlines for filing claims or lawsuits after becoming aware that you have an asbestos disease or after a loved one dies from an asbestos disease.
New York requires an individual to file a claim within three years of initial diagnosis, while New Jersey and Pennsylvania have a two-year limit. All three of those states require family members to file wrongful death claims within two years of the death of a loved one.
Your rights vary depending on many factors such as your residence, where you were exposed to asbestos, and the residence of the responsible asbestos companies. Each state naturally has its own laws which allow different remedies.