For
decades, mesothelioma, a life-threatening disease that can affect the
lungs, abdomen, and several other major organs, has been linked to
prolonged exposure to asbestos, resulting in numerous people seeking a
law firm specializing in mesothelioma to help them cover the
overwhelming expenses associated with the disease.Typically,
mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos while working at a job
site that used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). In many cases, the
manufacturers of asbestos and ACMs knew of the hidden dangers and risks
of asbestos, yet failed to inform the public, as asbestos was an
extremely profitable mineral. Because of the hinderance of information,
workers who developed health issues from asbestos exposure may be eligible for financial compensation to cover expenses such as lost wages, medical bills, emotional suffering, physical pain, and more.
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If you suffer from an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. Use our free Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find a top mesothelioma attorney in your area.
What Does a Mesothelioma Law Firm Do?
Law
firms specializing in mesothelioma are different from any other type of
law firm. Whereas other firms may specialize in areas like car
accidents or nursing home abuse, mesothelioma law firms focus
primarily on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. It’s not
recommended to retain legal representation from a general practice law
firm or even a personal injury firm that specializes in a wide array of
injury cases. You’ll need an attorney who specifically specializes in
mesothelioma cases, as these types of lawsuits are extremely intricate
and require vast, in-depth understanding of asbestos exposure and
diseases.
Attorneys at these law firms have knowledge
and experience regarding federal and state laws concerning asbestos use
and its history in the workforce. They also have sharp investigative
skills and are able to dig deep to uncover when and where companies
and/or other entities exposed workers to asbestos. Additionally, these
law firms are comprised of educated attorneys who understand the legal
process involving courts, trials, settlements, and appeals.
Moreover,
an experienced firm
understands that the victim is already suffering
enough because of the medical and financial problems associated with
asbestos-related diseases. As a result, the firm will handle most
everything regarding the lawsuit, including fighting for the legal
rights of the client, interviewing witnesses, obtaining medical history,
litigations, and more.
A dedicated mesothelioma law
firm also understands the severe emotional impact that living with
mesothelioma brings, not only to victims, but to family members and
loved ones as well. An good firm takes this into account and helps ease
the minds of victims and their loved ones throughout this enduring
process.
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What to Look for When Hiring an Asbestos Law Firm
Unfortunately,
not all law firms specializing in mesothelioma are the same. While some
may have several years of experience, other firms are relatively new to
the area of mesothelioma. In addition, some law firms may concentrate
on other areas of law besides mesothelioma while another firm may solely
focus on asbestos cases.
Aside from using your good
judgement when determining which law firm you should use, there are
several factors you should consider:
- The law firm should have experience in dealing with mesothelioma cases.
- The law firm should be extremely knowledgeable in asbestos laws and prior cases.
- Look for a law firm that focuses solely on asbestos-related cases.
- Look for law firms with a stellar reputation in handling asbestos cases.
- The law firm should not only understand asbestos laws, but should also have extensive knowledge of medical problems associated with asbestos diseases.
- The
law firm should always keep you updated on what’s going on in your
case. Although attorneys are busy people, they should be accessible.
- You should always get an initial consultation at no charge before deciding on a firm.
Keep
in mind that it’s not recommended to retain a law firm that promises
you that you will win your case no matter what. Although statistics show
that the majority mesothelioma victims do go on to win their lawsuits,
there are a variety of factors involved, and no case is guaranteed. An
experienced law firm will help you to understand your chances and what
is involved, but will never assure that your case is 100% guaranteed.
Making Things Easier
Although
leading mesothelioma law firms do the majority of work for your case,
it’s always a good idea to be prepared and make things easier so that
the process gets rolling faster.
First, make sure to
gather your medical documents, including when and where you were
diagnosed, and bring this information to your initial meeting. This will
allow the firm to determine if your case can be taken on.
Next,
be prepared to provide the law firm with your work history and
information including the full company name, address, phone number, your
job role, and how long you worked there.
Finally, start
keeping track of all expenses used pertaining to your disease. For
example, always keep a copy of medical bills, hospital visits, mileage
used to get to appointments, medical supplies, and anything other
expense you paid out due to your illness.
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How a Mesothelioma Law Firm Can Personally Help You
When
first getting started, victims usually have a plethora of unanswered
questions regarding asbestos and their rights. A good law firm should be
able to provide you with following information:
Evidence Related to Your Exposure:
Once you provide the law firm with your work information, they should
be able to investigate and determine how asbestos was used at your
workplace. In some cases, they may already have the information
available.
If You Truly Have an Asbestos Claim: Asbestos
law firms understand what’s needed in order to have a true asbestos
claim. With this knowledge, they are able to determine how strong your
case is and what the estimated chances are that you’ll win. Most
attorneys make sure they’re confident in your case before taking it on.
Be wary of any attorney who promises to take your case without knowing
any of the details or an attorney who claims they can get you an exact
amount of compensation before reviewing your case.
Your Case Worth:
If the firm decides you have an asbestos case, they will then be able
to come up with an average figure of how much your case is worth. This
is including past expenses, daily expenses, medical bills, lost wages,
emotional trauma, physical suffering, future expenses, and much more.
Keep in mind, however, that there is no set formula as to how much your
award amount may be. The aforementioned factors, along with other
details, such as if your former company has a trust fund set up or not, will also come into play.
Who Exactly is Responsible:
It can be difficult for the average person to determine who exactly is
responsible for exposing victims to asbestos. For example, companies can
move, go out of business, hide, suppress relevant information, and
change ownerships. In some cases, your former company is responsible,
the manufacturer of the asbestos products may be responsible, or
supervisors and/or owners may be responsible. In other instances, there
may be just one sole responsible entity, yet in a different case, there
may be several responsible parties. Remember that part of the law firm’s
job is to research, seek out, and determine the entity or responsible
parties that are liable for your exposure to asbestos.
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Law Firm Fees
Law
firms may have different fees as well as different payment options.
However, an experienced and caring law firm understands that victims of
asbestos-related diseases more than likely have enough financial burden
in dealing with their illness, and are unable to afford up-front fees
for legal representation. As a result, many firms work on what’s known
as a contingency fee basis, meaning that they only get paid when you get
paid.
If the law firm doesn’t win your case, they don’t receive
compensation either in most instances. The good news, however, is that a
firm has to be confident enough in your case to take it on, meaning
there is a good chance that if your case is picked up, it will be
successful.
Law firm fees are percentages taken out of your total
settlement or verdict amount, and again, the percentage amount will vary
depending upon the firm. Make sure you understand how the fees and
percentages work with the firm beforehand so that there will be no
confusion later on.
If a law firm doesn’t provide a contingency
fee basis, there is a good chance that they don’t have the financial
resources to successfully prove your case. Keep in mind that you’ll want
a firm that has the financial capability to take on your case on a
contingency fee basis.
Attorneys without the resources to handle
your case usually can’t provide you with the best representation. An
ideal rule of thumb is to ask up-front about how the fees work so that
there are no surprises later on. Attorneys with your best interest in
mind will have no problems answering any questions you have regarding
fees and prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go to court?
This
is one of the most commonly asked questions, which is understandable,
as most people who are dealing with an asbestos-related illness
generally do not want to spend time in a court room. Generally, you will
not have to go to court. Most mesothelioma lawsuits are taken care of via settlements.
In
some instances, however, if the defense doesn’t agree on a settlement
or if you don’t agree on a settlement, you may have to go to trial,
which requires going to court. An experienced law firm will help you
through every step of the way, and if you are too ill to attend,
arrangements can be made to record your testimony beforehand.
What if I don’t know which company exposed me to asbestos?
As
previously mentioned, part of an asbestos law firm’s job is to uncover
the parties responsible for your asbestos exposure. The culpable parties
are typically manufacturers who supplied asbestos to job sites, which
can range from one company to many.
I have workers’ compensation benefits. Can a law firm still help me even if I have other compensation benefits?
Other
compensation benefits, such as workers’ compensation or VA benefits,
doesn’t disqualify you from seeking compensation from the companies who
exposed you to asbestos. An asbestos law firm can help you file a
lawsuit against the responsible parties.
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Additional Tips to Remember
- When
searching for a law firm, you shouldn’t narrow your search down to your
local community only. There’s a chance that your case may be filed out
of state.
- An experienced mesothelioma lawyer should have no problems flying to your city to meet with you, given that they are out of state.
- Although
the law firm should be able to give you an average figure that you may
receive, giving an exact amount is impossible. Any firm that guarantees
you an exact amount should be considered untrustworthy.
- A
mesothelioma should be able to handle not only mesothelioma cases for
survivors, but wrongful death cases involving asbestos exposure.
Help With Finding an Experienced Asbestos Law Firm
Remember to use our Asbestos Attorney Locator Tool to find a leading mesothelioma attorney in your area.