An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases
An experienced asbestos attorney can aid victims of asbestos-related diseases. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Many firms provide free case reviews for mesothelioma sufferers. This allows you to learn about the way a company handles these claims and decide whether they are the right choice for you.
A lawsuit against an asbestos company could result in reimbursement for medical expenses or lost wages, among other costs. However, litigation can be costly.
The History of Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral is utilized as an insulator and a fire-resistant material. For decades, it was used in various manufacturing commercial, industrial, and settings in New York and across the nation. Many of these facilities, including textile mills, power plants and shipyards, exposed workers massive amounts of asbestos on a regular basis. Some of them later developed mesothelioma and other lung diseases that are directly linked to their exposure. A New York mesothelioma lawyer can help affected people receive the benefits they are entitled to.
As the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of 1960, scientists confirmed what they had long believed - that exposure to asbestos causes lung damage and disease. This revelation triggered a flurry of complaints that prompted a number of asbestos producers to declare bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings, asbestos manufacturers set up trust funds for the families of victims. The money paid into these trusts amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Although Congress has attempted to pass legislation to resolve the asbestos litigation process these bills have been unable to pass due to various reasons. For instance they did not discuss the treatment of mesothelioma sufferers who are suffering from recurrences of their disease or have died.
illinois asbestos attorney has also been a hindrance in its campaign to discredit the scientific consensus that asbestos even at low levels is a risk factor for mesothelioma or lung cancer. These campaigns include obtaining funding and publishing articles designed to back the asbestos industry's arguments in court.
To speed up the process the individual cases can be consolidated to multidistrict litigation. In 1991, for example one judge consolidated over 850 asbestos lawsuits involving power plants to facilitate the faster resolution of those cases. Plaintiffs may appeal a ruling between 30 and 180 days. This can delay any monetary award. A defendant may be required to provide a bond for any money awards received, depending on the outcome of an appeal.
Making a Claim
An asbestos lawyer can assist families and individuals in filing various asbestos claims. These claims can include compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses loss of income, loss of consortium in consortium, pain and suffering and other damages. They may also seek restitution from businesses that exposed workers to asbestos. They may also help veterans file a claim with the Veteran's Administration for disability compensation.
A lawyer who specializes in asbestos litigation can examine your case for free to determine if you have any legal options. They will explain the various legal processes and answer any questions that you have. They are able to travel to your home, office or hospital to meet with you for a consultation. They are on a contingent basis so you won't have to pay upfront legal costs.
When a client hires an asbestos lawyer, he/ she must ensure that the lawsuit is filed in accordance to the statute of limitations applicable to. Most states require asbestos-related victims to start a lawsuit within a couple of years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer. It can be difficult to determine the date a person was exposed to asbestos, as the symptoms usually do not appear until decades after exposure. An experienced asbestos attorney can assist clients in understanding their state's specific laws and ensure that the suit is filed on time.
When you file a complaint a mesothelioma attorney will gather evidence to support your claim. This includes records from the company and interviews conducted with your family members. They may also request documents from asbestos companies to prove negligence.
An experienced asbestos lawyer can also help you file a wrongful death lawsuit in the event that a loved one has died from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. In a wrongful death lawsuit survivors are entitled to compensation for emotional distress, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship. They may also seek punitive damage against asbestos companies.
A good asbestos lawyer has the capacity to quickly gain access to documents from various states or asbestos companies, and can provide you with more legal options than local law firms. A national asbestos law firm's resources could offer victims a better chance of obtaining a substantial amount of compensation.
Preparing for the trial
Asbestos is a very toxic mineral has been used in industrial jobs for many years. Workers exposed to asbestos in shipbuilding, construction and automotive manufacturing industries, among others, frequently suffer from severe diseases like mesothelioma (lung cancer) asbestosis, Pleural effusion (inflammation of the lining of your lungs). If you have been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos exposure, you should be compensated. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.
A mesothelioma attorney can help you in filing a personal injury or wrongful death suit against the companies accountable for your exposure. A mesothelioma lawsuit lets you receive financial compensation for medical expenses loss of wages or income, pain and discomfort, emotional distress, etc.
State statutes of limitations vary for personal injury and wrongful deaths lawsuits. You'll need a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer to make sure that you do not miss the deadline to file an action.
Once the legal process has begun your lawyer will work on your behalf to investigate and gather evidence. They will speak with you and your former employer, landowner, or other party who could have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also look into the specifics of your case to determine if, where, and when you were exposed.
The majority of asbestos cases are dealt with on a contingency fee basis, meaning that the attorney takes an amount of the compensation you receive as compensation for representation. Your attorney will also pay any costs associated with your case in the event that you win either a settlement or a judgment the attorney will be able to collect their fees from the party that won.
If you and your asbestos lawyer are unable to come to an agreement on a contingent payment you may choose to hire an alternative firm. The attorneys from the second law firm will have to sign a written contract dividing the cost of work and fees.
In the majority of cases, compensation is awarded to mesothelioma patients as well as their families when a jury decides that they are in their favor. Many asbestos lawsuits are settled outside of court. On average asbestos lawsuits that have the desired conclusion pay between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.
Going to Trial
Asbestos lawyers are able to help their clients obtain compensation through either a settlement or a successful trial verdict. Compensation is determined by several factors, such as the length of exposure to asbestos, as well as the frequency and severity of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages can include damages for pain and suffering, loss of income and future earnings, as well as medical expenses, childcare, transportation, and housekeeping.
Compensation for wrongful deaths can be obtained through an asbestos lawsuit, which includes money to cover funeral costs as well as other expenses associated with the loss of loved ones. Additionally family members could be entitled to compensation for the emotional trauma and grief triggered by the passing of a loved one.
Attorneys with asbestos litigation experience can help patients with mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related ailments seek compensation from asbestos producers. In addition, mesothelioma lawyers may help with filing claims with trust funds established by asbestos companies that went into bankruptcy.
The time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of illness can make it difficult to determine which defendants were responsible for an asbestos-related disease. Furthermore, evidence could disappear or be destroyed over time, and asbestos-related companies can go out of business, which could complicate the case even further.
In the event of filing an asbestos lawsuit, the mesothelioma lawyer for the plaintiff should determine the asbestos-related asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer involved in the claim. An experienced attorney will conduct an extensive investigation of each asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer to ensure the case is based on all facts.
For decades, mesothelioma attorneys at Belluck & Fox have held negligent asbestos producers accountable for the countless people exposed to the dangerous substance. This has enabled them to secure more than $1 billion in compensation for their clients over the years. The firm has secured notable verdicts, such as a $22million award for an Navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma while working on boilers on ships, as well as an $8 million verdict for a construction worker who passed away after being exposed to asbestos in joint sealing compounds in the top of a Manhattan skyscraper.