Regardless of how you got mesothelioma, you will need to hire a lawyer who has expertise in handling cases of negligence in which employees, their family members or service veterans were exposed to asbestos and later came down with mesothelioma.
Finding A Mesothelioma Lawyer
A good mesothelioma lawyer will be able to understand the complex legal issues around the exposure to asbestos and the specific challenges faced by patients who develop mesothelioma as a result of an exposure to asbestos. Because mesothelioma is almost exclusively the result of asbestos exposure, you will want to find an expert mesothelioma lawyer who can help you track down where and when you were exposed to mesothelioma. They will also be able to help you find out who is responsible for the development of your disease.
Another aspect of a good mesothelioma lawyer is one who has taken on many cases in the past involving lawsuits for people who were exposed to asbestos and later got mesothelioma. Each state has different laws and regulations about filing lawsuits for people who have mesothelioma. Most of the time, the mesothelioma patient is focused on their treatment and on surviving the disease, leaving little time to pursue the legal avenues available to them. A good mesothelioma lawyer recognizes this and will help manage all legal issues as they recover from the disease.
When you have mesothelioma, it is just as important to your future to select a good mesothelioma lawyer as it is to select a top mesothelioma doctor. If your mesothelioma is due to the negligence of others who allowed you unnecessary exposure to asbestos, you have the legal right to file a claim against the entity that was responsible for your exposure.
It was well known that asbestos was both toxic and dangerous to breathe in as early as the 1930s. In spite of this knowledge, companies and the U.S. Military used asbestos extensively throughout the middle and latter part of the 20th century, exposing millions of workers and veterans to the substance. These businesses put their profit margin ahead of the health needs and well-being of their employees and the public at large. A good mesothelioma lawyer will have the experience to hold these companies accountable for their neglect.
Locating A Good Mesothelioma Lawyer
There are several things you’ll need to take into account when looking for a good mesothelioma lawyer. You’ll need to find one who communicates well with you, as you will have to speak to this lawyer regularly to discuss personal details about your condition and where you likely were exposed to asbestos. A good mesothelioma lawyer will be able to ask you the necessary questions needed to file a claim against the responsible entity, and will need to be a good communicator in order to do this.
While it may be tempting to use a lawyer you may have used for other legal matters, this is probably not a good idea. Mesothelioma cases are complex and finding an attorney in your immediate area isn’t very common. In addition, you may have been exposed to asbestos in a different state and will need an attorney who understands the regulations and laws in the state where you were exposed.
Most competent mesothelioma lawyers have licenses to practice in several different states. They know the laws of each of these states and understand how best to tackle a claim. A good lawyer for a mesothelioma patient understands the intricacies of mesothelioma and understands that your prognosis for survival may not be very good.
A good mesothelioma lawyer is knowledgeable in how to collect the information necessary to file a claim. If he or she has handled many other mesothelioma claims, they know what information is pertinent to a mesothelioma case and will get this information as soon as possible. By doing so, your case can get in front of a judge or a negotiator for the company as soon as possible.
Criteria To Look For In A Mesothelioma Lawyer
There are several things you’ll want to find out before hiring an attorney to handle your mesothelioma claim. You will want to know if the attorney has a good track record regarding filing mesothelioma cases. You should find out how many verdicts were in your lawyer’s favor, and how much an average settlement has been in the past for people who have used the lawyer in their mesothelioma claim.
You’ll also want a lawyer who has filed mesothelioma claims in the past in the state in which the claim is to be filed. The lawyer should have the ability to fly or drive to you, as these cases are often nationwide. It is likely that the party filing the claim may not have the funds or health to travel and see a mesothelioma lawyer to discuss your case.
Many mesothelioma claims are settled by means of trust funds set up by companies who were neglectful in exposing you to asbestos. One of the criteria for a good mesothelioma is one who has experience with these trust funds and knows how to get you the money necessary to pay for your lost wages and medical care, among other things.
You will know that your attorney is trustworthy if he or she doesn’t guarantee you a specific outcome or claim that you will get a certain amount as a result of your claim. Mesothelioma cases vary from person to person, so it is unpredictable how much money you will receive from your claim and when you will receive the money.
How do I Pay For a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
Fortunately, most mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means that you don’t have to pay any money up front in order to see the lawyer. They will instead be paid a certain percentage of what money you are rewarded.
You should find out beforehand what percentage your lawyer is expecting before hiring the attorney. When you hire an attorney on a contingency basis, the risk is very slight and you won’t lose any extra money due to lawyer fees if your lawyer fails to get a claim awarded to you.
How Your Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help
Mesothelioma claims are not the same as regular accident claims in which a person suffers an acute injury and sustains damages. In mesothelioma claims, the damage was done usually a long time ago and occurred over a period of many years.
The actual mesothelioma cancer doesn’t show up for 20-50 years after the exposure. Your lawyer can help you by finding out where and when you were exposed, and if there was a trust fund set up by the responsible entity. If not, you may have to try the case in front of a jury at trial. Don’t wait, there is no perfect time to start, start now to begin the process to access over $30 Billion Dollars that may be available to you and your family.