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.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.
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. Fill out our contact form today to get free brochures from the
top mesothelioma attorneys in your area. We’ve been helping families
connect to the most experienced mesothelioma lawyers for more than 20
years.
What Does a Mesothelioma Law Firm Do?
Mesothelioma law
firms are different from any other type of law firm. Whereas other law
firms may specialize in specific areas such as 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 law 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 in a mesothelioma law firm
have the 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, mesothelioma law firms are comprised of educated attorneys
who understand the legal process involving courts, trials, settlements,
and appeals.
Moreover, an experienced malignant mesothelioma
law 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 law 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 experienced
mesothelioma law firm takes this into account and helps ease the minds
of victims and their loved ones throughout this enduring process.
What to Look for When Hiring an Asbestos Law Firm
Unfortunately, not all mesothelioma law firms are the same.
While some may have several years of experience, other law 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
law 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 mesothelioma law firm.
Keep in mind that it’s not recommended to retain a
mesothelioma 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 mesothelioma 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 law 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.
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
mesothelioma 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:
Mesothelioma 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 law 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 an experienced
mesothelioma law firm’s job is to research, seek out, and determine the
entity or responsible parties that are liable for your exposure to
asbestos.
Mesothelioma Law Firm Fees
Mesothelioma 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 law firms
work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis, meaning that the law
firm only gets 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
law 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 law firm. Make sure you understand how the fees and percentages
work with your law 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 to financial resources to successfully
prove your case. Keep in mind that you’ll want a law 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 Mesothelioma Law Firm 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 mesothelioma 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 a mesothelioma 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 mesothelioma 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. A mesothelioma law firm can help
you file a lawsuit against the responsible parties.
Additional Tips to Remember
- When searching for a mesothelioma 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
mesothelioma law 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.