How to File an Asbestos Claim
An asbestos claim is a legal proceeding against businesses that exposed a person to asbestos. The lawsuit must be filed within a certain time frame known as the statute of limitations.
Asbestos lawsuits can be filed by the living victims or their families. If a plaintiff dies the estate representative of their deceased victim can pursue the case as a lawsuit for wrongful deaths.
Work History
Asbestos sufferers must provide their lawyer with documents that clearly specify the date of their exposure to asbestos, their job entailed and the length of time. This will enable the lawyer to establish a direct connection between the asbestos exposure and the victim's illness. Without the right evidence, an asbestos lawsuit may not be able to proceed.
Asbestos is more likely to be found in industrial environments. However, exposure to asbestos could occur in schools, churches, hospitals, military bases and private residences. Asbestos is present in insulation, fireproofing materials pipes, shingles, and pipes. People who are exposed to these materials may inhale asbestos fibers and suffer respiratory problems and illnesses such as mesothelioma.
Many of the companies who produced asbestos were aware of the dangers, but decided to keep this information quiet. This was done to safeguard the industry and increase profits. It was not until the first asbestos lawsuits were filed that the companies began to compensate those who were diagnosed with mesothelioma and the other ailments due to exposure.
A lawsuit against an asbestos-related company is a complex task. It can be difficult to identify the parties responsible since asbestos is no more used. There are many laws that help victims determine the companies accountable for their asbestos exposure. They include the Clean Air Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act or Superfund and the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Asbestos victims are typically compensated by asbestos trust funds. These funds are set up to assist victims of asbestos get compensation when the companies which exposed them have gone into bankruptcy. An experienced attorney who is skilled in asbestos litigation is able to negotiate these funds to ensure the maximum amount of compensation.
These cases are filed by relatives of those who died from mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related disease. This type of claim seeks to recover the unpaid funeral costs, medical expenses and loss of income of the deceased. These lawsuits are also designed to hold asbestos companies responsible for their wrongful conduct.
Testimonials
Once you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you can make a claim against the companies who put you in harm's way. Your legal team will gather evidence to prove the businesses that caused harm to you, which includes medical evidence of your diagnosis and the identification of asbestos products. Since it is commonplace that plaintiffs have been exposed to different asbestos products throughout their lives, many lawsuits have multiple defendants.
A lawyer who is specialized in mesothelioma cases will be able find the right defendants for your case even if they've gone bankrupt. The lawyers at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor have worked on asbestos bankruptcy cases for more than 30 years. James Patton has worked on hundreds mesothelioma lawsuits and helped settle asbestos litigation worth more than $2 billion.
In the past, law firms that specialized in asbestos litigation would approach clients and then "bundle" them together into groups to file lawsuits in massive quantities. The goal was to overwhelm the legal system and benefit lawyers. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, this skewed litigation approach has harmed plaintiffs. It has also depleted funds that could have been made available to individuals who are expected to develop more serious illnesses in the future.
The current compensation systems in place require that attorneys group claims based on the diagnosis. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of mesothelioma lawsuits. These changes, as well as the fact that some states have passed reforms to tort law, which have led to the use of a more strict medical criterion and an inactive docket have led to a reduction in the number of new claims that were filed from 2004 to 2006.
In addition to mesothelioma cases you can also claim wrongful death compensation for family members who lost a loved one due to asbestos attorney exposure. New York law allows families to bring lawsuits within three years from the time they became aware (or were aware) of an injury. In other states, the statutes of limitation are different and include New Jersey and Pennsylvania requiring legal action within two years.
Statute of limitations
A statute of limitations is a law that sets an expiration date for filing a legal claim. The deadlines for filing a claim vary from state to state. These deadlines are usually based on when the victim was exposed to asbestos or diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. However, there are several factors that can complicate these rules.
Many people who have been exposed to asbestos are not aware of the existence of a condition for decades after the initial exposure. This is due to the mesothelioma latency period and other asbestos-related illnesses. Due to the time of latency it is essential for mesothelioma victims and their families to start a lawsuit as soon as they can.
The time limit for a statute of limitations differs in each state, but they generally start from the date of diagnosis. Some states have different statutes for personal injury cases and wrongful-death claims. In general, wrongful death statutes of limitation are less than those for personal injury claims.
Asbestos patients and their families should consult a mesothelioma attorney immediately. The lawyer will go over all possible sources of compensation for clients and advise on where, when and how to file. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist in cases where the statute of limitations has expired.
Mesothelioma lawyers can suggest options to obtain compensation even when the statute of limitations has passed for trust fund claims or other sources of financial aid. They might also be capable of filing the claim in another jurisdiction where the statute of limitations hasn't yet expired.
If the person is not diagnosed with mesothelioma the statute of limitations starts when they are diagnosed as having an associated condition, like lung cancer or asbestosis. Some states have "discovery statutes" that apply the same as traditional statutes of limitations, but start at the date of diagnosis, not exposure.
Mesothelioma attorneys must always discuss limitations statutes with clients and their loved ones. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can explain state laws and specific situations where the statute of limitations could be suspended or tolled.
Hire a Lawyer
Asbestos attorneys know how to navigate the complexities of asbestos litigation. They will work with other lawyers to ensure that your case gets the best possible result.
Asbestos cases are different from other personal injury claims. The exposure to asbestos occurred several decades ago, and a large number of the companies affected have gone out of business or declared bankruptcy. Many of the workers who were exposed to asbestos don't remember where they worked, and it can be difficult for them identify the locations they may have worked in. An experienced attorney can assist you with this because he/she will be able to use the resources available to to find out what companies were exposed and when they worked there.
Once the asbestos attorney has a better idea of where and how the victim was exposed to asbestos, he can engage medical experts to examine and prepare reports regarding the cause of mesothelioma. It is essential that the asbestos lawyer can determine the causation element of the case because without it, the victim may not qualify for compensation.
A mesothelioma lawyer will be able to collect the necessary information that is required to file an asbestos lawsuit and trust fund claim on behalf of the victim. This includes obtaining information about the victim's job as well as asbestos-related injuries, and medical records. Additionally, they can gather testimony from other victims. A mesothelioma attorney should also be familiar with the various types of financial aid available to victims and their family members. This includes benefits from health insurance as well as disability insurance. Social Security benefits.
Engaging an experienced asbestos lawyer is essential for anyone diagnosed with a mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness. A lawyer can be capable of helping patients decide which claim is the best for them and then help them complete the appropriate paperwork. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist people suffering from other asbestos-related diseases to file for compensation. This includes trust funds and VA claims.