What Can a Mesothelioma Lawyer Do to Help?

Asbestos Exposure and Lawsuits

For almost a century, asbestos was one of the most commonly used construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding materials. It was also used in thousands of products and can still be found in houses, apartments buildings and other facilities built before the 1980s. Many members of the public and workers in a variety of jobs were exposed to asbestos.

It can take up to 50 years after an exposure for patients to start showing symptoms of mesothelioma. That is why a construction worker, shipbuilder or plant employee exposed to asbestos in the 1960s or 1970s may only now be diagnosed with the disease. That is also why many companies were able to hide the fact they exposed employees and others to this toxic mineral.

How Can a Mesothelioma Attorney Help?

Mesothelioma & asbestos attorneys focus their practices on this unique area of law. Their familiarity with asbestos exposure helps them answer the following questions for you:

• Do you have an asbestos claim? Mesothelioma attorneys are familiar with important legal decisions and stay up to date on asbestos-related cases all over the country. They use this knowledge to offer an opinion about your case and also to present the strongest possible case should you decide to file a claim.
• When were you exposed to asbestos?Identifying when and where you were exposed to asbestos is very important to your lawsuit. Without this information, it may be difficult to make a claim.Mesothelioma attorneys can help gather evidence related to your asbestos exposure. They routinely work with medical experts to trace when and where asbestos exposure occurred. They already have research and medical evidence at their disposal which may be helpful to your case. They may also have helpful contacts with other organizations that fight for workers’ rights concerning asbestos-related diseases.
• Who is responsible for your asbestos exposure? It can be difficult to know which companies to sue in an asbestos lawsuit. During the decades that usually pass between asbestos exposure and diagnosis, the companies at fault may go out of business, move, change their names or even be sold to other companies. Mesothelioma attorneys have experience identifying and locating the companies responsible for their clients’ suffering.
• What is your case worth? Part of presenting a strong case is adequately estimating how much compensation you should receive. Mesothelioma attorneys are familiar with the medical and other day-to-day costs of living with asbestos-related illnesses. They also have experience estimating the value of future expenses, as well as the value of damages that are harder to put a number on, such as emotional anguish.

Aside from their legal expertise, mesothelioma attorneys also understand the difficulties that you and your family face following diagnosis with an asbestos-related illness. They appreciate your need to focus on treatment and time with loved ones. At the same time, they know that it is important to file your claim and gather evidence as soon as possible.

If you decide to file a lawsuit, you remain in control of your case, but your mesothelioma attorney will gather evidence, file the claim, negotiate and go to court on your behalf. You can be involved in the litigation as little or as much as you want. Your mesothelioma attorney will be available to answer your questions and keep you informed throughout the legal process.

Filing a Claim

The costs of mesothelioma can be overwhelming. They can include income loss, expensive treatments that may not be covered by health insurance, plus pain and suffering for you and for your family. Because the disease is preventable – and because it is usually caused by someone else’s negligence – legal options may be available to help regain these costs.

Asbestos lawyers focus their practice on knowledgeably and effectively bringing to justice companies that exposed employees and the public to asbestos products. A mesothelioma attorney can help you consider your options and file a claim against the company responsible for your asbestos-related illness. More than one company may be responsible. A mesothelioma attorney identifies all companies at fault.

Obtaining Compensation

Mesothelioma lawsuits have helped thousands of people receive financial assistance. A lawsuit can result in much-needed money to help reduce financial hardships during an illness and can also provide a more stable future for your loved ones. A lawyer specializing in asbestos litigation can help you seek compensation for expenses related to illness caused by asbestos exposure, including the following:

Every claim is different. A mesothelioma attorney can help explain what types of compensation are specific to your case. It is important to save all medical and financial records relating your illness so that your lawyer can have up-to-date information about your expenses.

You will be asked to show medical records and to answer questions about how you may have been exposed to asbestos, there is usually no reason to take part in other stages of the case. Lawyers know clients may be too tired to keep up with their lawsuit or attending a trial. For this reason, they handle every aspect of the case on your behalf.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits: Different Types

Asbestos litigation is regarded as the longest, most costly mass tort in U.S. history. Legal analysts calculate that there are more than 600,000 plaintiffs and more than 6,000 defendants and that the total outlay for the lawsuits could reach $200 billion.

Most mesothelioma lawsuits are between people who had direct exposure (also known as primary asbestos exposure) and the manufacturers of asbestos or products containing asbestos. However, workers and former workers of companies that knew they had asbestos issues are not the only ones with rights against asbestos manufacturers. Other groups of people did not work with asbestos but were exposed also may have rights. (This is known as secondary asbestos exposure.) For example, if you shared a workspace with others who handled asbestos or your spouse worked with asbestos, you may also have a claim. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you consider your options.

There are two types of asbestos injury cases. A lawsuit filed by an individual suffering with an asbestos-related illness is called a personal injury claim. A lawsuit filed by the family of someone who has passed away from an asbestos-related disease is called a wrongful death suit. Specific rights in these lawsuits depend on the county and state where the case is filed. A lawyer can explain your options and take care of filing a lawsuit.

Choosing a good mesothelioma lawyer is imperative to ensuring that you will be awarded the highest settlement dollars for your case.