An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases
A skilled asbestos lawyer can assist those suffering of asbestos-related diseases. These include mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Many companies offer a free case review for patients with mesothelioma. This lets you learn about how a firm handles these claims and decide whether they are the right choice for you.
A lawsuit against a company which manufactures asbestos may result in compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other costs. Legal proceedings can be costly.
The history of asbestos law suits
Asbestos is a hazardous, naturally occurring mineral used for insulation and fire protection. For many years, it was used in a variety of manufacturing commercial, industrial, and settings in New York and across the country. Workers in a variety of places, like power plants, shipyards and textile mills, were frequently exposed to asbestos. Some of those workers developed mesothelioma or other lung diseases directly linked to their asbestos exposure. The affected individuals should seek out an skilled New York mesothelioma attorney to help them get the compensation they are due.
When the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of the 1960s, researchers confirmed what people had suspected - that asbestos exposure causes lung damage and disease. This information triggered a wave of claims that caused dozens of asbestos companies to file for bankruptcy. In the bankruptcy proceedings, asbestos manufacturers set up trust funds for victims and their families. The amount that was deposited into these trusts now in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Congress has attempted to pass legislation in order to resolve the asbestos litigation. However these bills have been unable to pass due to a variety of reasons. For el monte asbestos lawyer did not discuss the treatment of mesothelioma sufferers who have recurrences of their disease or who have passed away.
Another obstacle has been the asbestos defense industry's campaign to discredit and undermine the scientific consensus that all forms of asbestos even at low levels, are capable of creating mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. These campaigns include funding and publishing research that are meant to support the asbestos industry's arguments in the courtroom.
To speed up the process it is possible to have individual cases condensed into multidistrict litigation. In 1991, for instance one judge combined 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to facilitate the faster resolution of those cases. Plaintiffs are permitted to appeal a verdict within 30 to 180 days, which can delay the receipt of any money award until after the appeal is resolved. Based on the outcome of the appeal a defendant could end up being required to sign a bond for any award of money.
The process of filing a claim
An asbestos lawyer can assist individuals and families file various types of asbestos claims. These claims could include compensation to pay for funeral expenses, medical costs and lost income, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering. They may also sue companies that exposed asbestos workers. They may also aid veterans make a claim to the Veteran's Administration for disability compensation.
A lawyer who is an expert in asbestos litigation can review your case at no cost to determine if there are legal options available. They can explain the different legal procedures and answer any questions you may have. They can often travel to your hospital or at home for a consultation. They are on a contingency basis, so you will not be held accountable for any initial legal fees.
When a client engages an asbestos attorney, they must make sure the lawsuit is filed within the applicable deadline. Most states require asbestos victims to file a lawsuit within a few years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer. It can be difficult to determine if an individual has been exposed to asbestos because the symptoms don't usually appear until decades afterward. An experienced asbestos attorney can help clients navigate the laws specific to their state and ensure that the lawsuit is filed on time.
After submitting a complaint, a mesothelioma attorney will gather evidence to support your claim. This includes company records and even interviews conducted with your family. They may also request documents from asbestos-related companies to prove negligence.
An experienced asbestos lawyer can also assist you with filing the wrongful-death suit when a loved-one has died from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. In a lawsuit for grieving families, the survivors can claim compensation to compensate for funeral costs, emotional distress as well as loss companionship. They may also seek punitive damages against an asbestos company.
A reputable asbestos attorney has the resources to quickly access records from different states and asbestos companies. They also offer more legal options than any local law firm would offer. A national asbestos law firm's resources can offer victims a better chance of winning substantial compensation.
Prepare for trial
Asbestos, a toxic mineral, has been employed in industrial settings for decades. Workers exposed to the material in shipbuilding, construction auto manufacturing, shipbuilding, as well as other industries frequently suffer from severe diseases such as mesothelioma or lung cancer, asbestosis or pleural effusion (inflammation of the lung's lining). If you have been diagnosed with a disease due to asbestos exposure, you deserve compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.
A mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in filing a personal injury or wrongful-death lawsuit against the businesses responsible for your exposure. A mesothelioma case 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 vary by state for both personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It is essential to have a mesothelioma lawyer by your side to ensure that you don't run out of time to file claims.
When the legal process starts your lawyer will work on your behalf to look into and gather evidence. They will conduct interviews with you and any former employer, landowner or other parties who may have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also study the details of your situation to determine the location, the method and when you could have been exposed.
The majority of asbestos cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis which means that the attorney will receive the a portion of any money you receive as a representation. Your attorney will also be responsible for all costs associated with your case and, if you prevail a judgment or settlement, they will collect their fees from the party that won.
If you and your asbestos lawyer can't come to an agreement on a contingent payment you may choose to hire another firm. The attorneys of the second law firm will have to sign a contract dividing the costs and work.
Usually, mesothelioma sufferers and their families receive compensation when they win a jury verdict in favor of the plaintiff. Many asbestos lawsuits are settled out of court. On average, asbestos lawsuits that reach the desired conclusion pay between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.
Going to Trial
Asbestos lawyers can help their clients obtain compensation through either a settlement or a successful trial verdict. Compensation is determined by various factors, such as the duration of exposure to asbestos and the frequency and severity of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit compensation may include damages for physical suffering and pain loss of income, future earnings, medical expenses as well as household expenses, such as childcare, transportation and housekeeping.
Compensation for claims of wrongful death can also be obtained through an asbestos lawsuit that includes funds to cover funeral expenses and other costs associated with the death of loved ones. Additionally family members could be entitled to compensation for the emotional trauma and sadness caused by the loss of loved ones.
Lawyers who have experience in asbestos litigation are able to help patients suffering from mesothelioma lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses to seek compensation from responsible asbestos producers. Mesothelioma lawyers can also assist to file claims using trust funds established by asbestos companies that went bankrupt.
The time between first exposure to asbestos and the onset of illness can make it difficult to determine who 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.
The plaintiff's lawyer for mesothelioma must identify all possible asbestos-related asbestos companies and asbestos products involved in the case before filing the lawsuit. An experienced attorney will conduct an exhaustive investigation of every asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer to ensure that the case contains all the facts.
For decades, mesothelioma attorneys at Belluck & Fox have held negligent asbestos producers accountable for the hardworking workers exposed to this deadly substance. Through the years they have managed 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 after repairing boilers aboard ships and another $8 million verdict for an employee of a construction company who died from asbestos exposure joint sealing compounds in an Manhattan high rise.