How to File an Asbestos Lawsuit
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition you might be able to bring an asbestos lawsuit. A qualified mesothelioma attorney can help you understand your options and help you start the process.
The defendants in a mesothelioma lawsuit are the companies who exposed you to asbestos. These companies could not exist anymore, but they could have established trusts to compensate victims.
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitation is a law that defines the maximum period of time for someone to start a lawsuit or take legal action. The time limit is different for each state and type of case. For most personal injury cases, the statute of limitations begins to run at the moment of the incident or injury. Asbestos victims differ in that they might not be aware of a serious illness like mesothelioma until years after exposure. This is why it's so important to speak with mesothelioma lawyers as soon as you can after an announcement of diagnosis.
A qualified mesothelioma lawyer can assess the details of a victim's situation and make sure their rights are protected. After the mesothelioma attorney is confident they have a strong case and is confident that they have a strong case, they can file the appropriate claim for compensation. It could be a personal injury lawsuit, wrongful death suit or asbestos trust fund claim.
Asbestos sufferers should be aware of their filing dates and filing locations. Even even if they fail to meet a deadline an attorney for mesothelioma may be able to help clients explore other avenues for compensation. This could include filing additional lawsuits and submitting claims against the asbestos trust fund.
It is also important to remember that a mesothelioma lawsuit can go through many stages before settling or trial. In the course of litigation, the plaintiffs and their mesothelioma lawyers must determine asbestos-related companies and products that are accountable. This process can take months or even years.
The attorneys must then gather evidence such as medical records, employment history and the identification of the product. Attorneys will also need to determine the amount of damages. This includes future medical expenses and income loss, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. The lawyer will then determine the best strategy for achieving the highest amount of compensation for their client.
Confidentiality agreements often keep the exact amount of mesothelioma compensation from being disclosed. However, certain figures do get public from time to time. In 2018, the family received $630,000 from several defendants in connection with the death of a Redding mechanic who died of asbestos-related lung cancer. This was their second settlement following one in 2017. While these figures aren't indicative of the overall average mesothelioma settlement amount but they do show the huge benefit that victims can derive from their claims.
How to File a Claim
Mesothelioma is a complex terminal disease that requires expensive treatment and can put families under financial stress. The compensation from asbestos lawsuits allows patients to pay for life-long medical bills and support their loved family members. It also helps with funeral costs and other expenses.
However, each case is unique, and there are numerous factors that may influence the value of a claim. In a no-cost mesothelioma case review, a knowledgeable lawyer will assess the extent to which asbestos exposure has affected your health and decide on the best method to seek compensation on your behalf.
A mesothelioma lawyer may file a claim with the responsible party to receive financial compensation. This could be a multinational corporation or an insurer who has assumed the responsibility of a bankrupt manufacturer of asbestos. The lawyer will assist you to complete the necessary paperwork and ensure that it is timely filed to ensure compliance with the state's laws.
The statutes of limitations for each state set a different timeline within which mesothelioma victims must take legal actions. It is important to work with an attorney for mesothelioma as quickly as you can because once the statute of limitations passes, you will not be legally entitled to any compensation for your condition.
The mesothelioma lawsuit process usually takes between two and four years from beginning to the end. A multi-disciplinary team of lawyers will help you throughout the way, such as collecting and analyzing medical records, interviewing witnesses, conducting research and getting ready for trial.
Most asbestos cases reach an agreement before going to trial. If you are not happy with the settlement amount, your lawyer will not hesitate to take your case to trial.
Mesothelioma compensation typically will cover future and past medical expenses, funeral costs and lost wages, as well as loss of companionship, and other losses related to the disease. Veterans suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses, must also apply for VA benefits to help pay for treatment and healthcare.
If you're a veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma or other cancers, contact mesothelioma lawyers from across the country to get a no-cost legal consultation. A team of mesothelioma attorneys will determine if your mesothelioma claim could be filed against companies who exposed you to asbestos during your military service.
Settlements
Asbestos victims may receive compensation via negotiated settlements or verdicts. Both can help with the expenses of treating mesothelioma, as well as addressing other issues like loss of income and quality of life.
In a negotiated settlement an asbestos producer will pay a victim a negotiated amount of money. Negotiations are carried out between the attorney of the victim and the asbestos company responsible for the victim's exposure.
A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will review your work history and asbestos exposure to determine the defendants in your case. The defendants could be any of the companies that produced or sold asbestos-containing products on your work site. These companies exposed workers to asbestos knowingly and failed to warn workers of the dangers until workers passed away from the disease.
Most asbestos cases are now settled through trust funds, since many asbestos producers went bankrupt after being flooded by lawsuits. Trusts are able to hold more than $30 billion to aid mesothelioma sufferers. The victim's mesothelioma attorney can help them determine which trust fund to file a claim with.
The mesothelioma average settlement ranges from $1 million to $2 million. However, the higher a jury verdict, the more money a victim can expect to receive. During the trial phase, mesothelioma lawyers will present evidence such as medical records, employment history, expert testimony and other documents to prove their client's case.
Despite asbestos exposure, victims can still pursue justice by filing mesothelioma claims. They are able to hold negligent asbestos companies accountable for exposing loved relatives to this ailment and provide compensation to cover the cost of medical treatment and lost wages.
Mesothelioma is an incredibly painful, life-threatening illness that isn't always curable. The compensation from a mesothelioma lawsuit that is successful can bring closure to the victims' families and ensure that they receive the financial assistance they require to live their lives as fully as possible.
The severe and fatality of mesothelioma require patients to respond swiftly. Locating a law firm that has proven success in the pursuit of mesothelioma cases is essential. Ask relatives who have been diagnosed with the disease, your physician or other sources for recommendations of attorneys in your region.
Trials
Many asbestos-related illnesses sufferers receive compensation through settlements. However some cases will go to trial. A trial could take a few years and requires a jury to decide the award amount. If the victim is extremely sick, a judge could choose to accelerate the process. Trials typically result in greater awards than settlements.
In a mesothelioma case, attorneys will compile evidence to prove exposure to asbestos. They will also identify the manufacturers and companies who are responsible for this exposure. Mesothelioma lawyers will attempt to recover damages on behalf of the victim and their family members. These damages include punitive as well as compensatory damages. In addition, they seek to recover compensation for the victim's loss of enjoyment in life and lost income.
The majority of victims and their families prefer to settle their claims rather than go to trial. Settlements tend to be less stressful than trials and can enable the victim to receive their compensation much earlier. However, a seasoned mesothelioma lawyer will plan for a trial if required to maximize the amount of compensation their client receives.
The money received from a mesothelioma cancer case can help patients pay for their medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses that are associated with the disease. In certain instances, it could even cover funeral expenses. A lawyer can determine the victim's eligibility to be compensated by reviewing the mesothelioma diagnosis, military and employment histories and family history. They can also look into asbestos trust funds to determine whether employers or manufacturers have paid compensation.
A legal team representing an asbestos victim will also look into pursuing benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This can give veterans access to the best mesothelioma doctors around the world as well as financial support. However, seeking benefits from the VA doesn't limit the rights of veterans to bring an action against asbestos-related companies responsible for their exposure and mesothelioma.
In most mesothelioma cases the defendants don't want a full-blown court trial. They are afraid of the possible verdict amount, especially if a trial involves punitive damages. The long record of verdicts against asbestos-related companies makes it hard to prove their liability in trial.