An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases
An experienced asbestos attorney can help victims of asbestos-related diseases. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma, as well as lung cancer.
Many firms offer a free case review for mesothelioma patients. This allows you to find out about how a firm handles these claims and decide whether they are suitable for you.
A lawsuit against a business that manufactures asbestos could result in compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses. It is costly to litigate.
The history of asbestos-related lawsuits
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally is used as an insulator and a fire-resistant material. It was used for decades in New York, as well as other areas of the country in industrial, manufacturing and commercial settings. Many of these establishments, including power plants, textile mills and shipyards, exposed workers to substantial amounts of asbestos regularly. Some of these workers later developed mesothelioma and other lung diseases that are directly related to their exposure. A New York mesothelioma lawyer can help those affected receive the amount of compensation they're entitled to.
When the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of the 1960s, researchers confirmed what many had long believed to be true - that exposure to asbestos causes lung damage and disease. This revelation triggered a flurry of claims that caused dozens of asbestos producers to declare bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings, these companies established asbestos trust funds for the families of victims. The money deposited into these trusts amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Congress has attempted to pass legislation to resolve the asbestos litigation. However these bills have been unable to pass due to a variety reasons. They have not addressed the issues of the best way to treat patients suffering from mesothelioma who have recurrences or are deceased.
Another roadblock has been the asbestos defense industry's effort to discredit and undermine the scientific consensus that all forms of asbestos even at low levels, are capable of inducing mesothelioma or lung cancer and other asbestos-related ailments. These campaigns include obtaining funding and publishing articles which are designed to strengthen the asbestos industry's arguments in the courtroom.
Individual cases can be combined into multidistrict litigation to speed up the process. In 1991, a judge condensed 850 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to speed up the resolution of these cases. Plaintiffs are permitted to appeal a decision within 30 to 180 days, which could delay the payment of any money award until the appeal is resolved. A defendant may be required to post bond for any money awards received, depending on the outcome of the appeal.
How to File a Claim
An asbestos lawyer can assist individuals and families file various types of asbestos claims. These claims may be for compensation for funeral expenses, medical costs lost income, loss in consortium as well as pain and suffering and other damages. They can also sue companies that exposed asbestos workers. They may also help veterans file a claim with the Veteran's Administration for disability compensation.
A lawyer who is an expert in asbestos litigation will examine your case free of charge to determine if there are any legal options available. They can answer any questions you may have and explain the various legal procedures. They can travel to your office, home or hospital for a consult. They operate on a contingency basis so you won't have to pay any upfront legal costs.
When a client hires a asbestos lawyer, he/ must ensure that the lawsuit is filed in line to the applicable statute of limitations. The majority of states require victims to make an asbestos lawsuit within a few years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or an asbestos-related illness. It isn't easy to know the time a person was exposed to asbestos, as the symptoms typically do not show up for decades after exposure. An experienced asbestos attorney can assist clients to navigate the laws specific to their state and ensure that the lawsuit is filed on time.
After filing corpus christi asbestos law firm , an attorney for mesothelioma will gather evidence to back your claim, such as company records and interviews with family members. They may also request old documents from the asbestos companies that might prove negligent behavior.
An experienced asbestos lawyer can also assist you with filing the wrongful-death suit if a loved one has passed away due to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. In a case for victims of wrongful deaths, survivors may seek compensation to cover emotional distress, funeral costs, and loss of companionship. They may also seek punitive damages against the asbestos company.
A reputable asbestos lawyer has the capability to quickly gain access to records from different states or asbestos companies, and can offer you more legal options than local law firms. A national asbestos law firm's resources could provide victims with a greater chance of winning substantial compensation.
Prepare for Trial
Asbestos is a noxious mineral that was used for decades in industrial settings. People who are exposed to asbestos in construction, shipbuilding auto manufacturing, shipbuilding, as well as other industries typically suffer from serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer asbestosis, or pleural effusion (inflammation of the lining of the lungs). If you have been diagnosed with a disease that is due to asbestos exposure you should be compensated. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help you bring a suit for personal injury or wrongful deaths against the companies that are accountable for your exposure. A mesothelioma suit allows you to pursue financial compensation for medical expenses, wage loss as well as pain and suffering emotional distress and other damages.
The statutes of limitations differ in each state for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. You require a seasoned mesothelioma lawyer to ensure that you don't exceed the deadline to file an action.
When the legal process is initiated, your attorney will work on your behalf to investigate and gather evidence. They will speak with you and any former landowner, employer or other party who could have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also look into the details of your case to determine how you were exposed, where, and when you were exposed.
Most asbestos cases are handled using a contingency-fee basis. This means that the attorney will receive a proportion of whatever compensation you receive. Your attorney will also be responsible for the costs of your case, and if you win any settlement or judgment the attorney will be able to collect their fees from the party that won.
If you and your asbestos lawyer cannot agree on a payment for contingency you may choose to hire an alternative firm. However, the attorneys of the second firm must sign a contract stating that they will share the cost of work and fees.
Typically, mesothelioma victims and their family members receive compensation if they get the verdict of a juror in favor of the plaintiff. Many asbestos lawsuits are settled out of court. On average asbestos lawsuits that get an outcome that is successful will pay between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.
Going to Trial
Asbestos attorneys can help their client get compensation by getting a settlement or winning a court. Compensation is contingent on many factors, including the amount of time and type of asbestos exposure and severity of the symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages may include damages for pain and suffering, lost income and future earnings, as also medical expenses and childcare, transportation and housekeeping.
A lawsuit against asbestos could also result in compensation for the wrongful death of a person, including money to cover funeral costs and other expenses related to the death of loved relatives. Families may also be entitled to compensation for the emotional trauma caused by the passing of the loss of a loved one.
Attorneys with experience in asbestos litigation can assist victims of mesothelioma lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses obtain compensation from responsible asbestos manufacturers. Moreover, mesothelioma lawyers can help with filing claims using trust funds set up by asbestos companies that have gone into bankruptcy.
The passage of decades between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease can make it difficult to determine which defendants were responsible for an asbestos-related disease. Evidence may also vanish or be lost with time, and asbestos-related companies may go out of business. This can make the case more difficult.
When you file an asbestos lawsuit the mesothelioma attorney representing the plaintiff must determine every possible asbestos-related asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer relevant to the claim. A knowledgeable attorney can then conduct a thorough investigation of each asbestos manufacturer and product to ensure that all relevant facts are in the plaintiff in the case.
For decades, mesothelioma attorneys at Belluck & Fox have held negligent asbestos producers accountable for the hardworking people who were exposed to this harmful substance. Over the years they have been able to secure more than a billion dollars in compensation for their clients. The firm has won notable verdicts, such as a $22 million award for an Navy veteran who contracted mesothelioma following the repair of boilers on ships, and an $8 million verdict for an employee of a construction firm who died from asbestos exposure joint-sealing materials at the top of a Manhattan high rise.
