An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer can assist those suffering of asbestos-related ailments. They include asbestosis and mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Many companies offer a free case review for mesothelioma patients. This allows you to find out about how a firm handles these claims and then decide if they are the right choice for you.

A lawsuit against a business which manufactures asbestos may result in compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. Legal proceedings can be costly.

The history of asbestos-related lawsuits

Asbestos is a hazard, naturally occurring mineral used to create insulation and fire resistance. For a long time it was employed in various manufacturing commercial, industrial, and settings in New York and across the country. Workers in many of these locations, such as shipyards, power plants, and textile mills, were often exposed to asbestos. A few of them later developed mesothelioma and other lung diseases directly related to their exposure. A New York mesothelioma lawyer can help those affected receive the amount of compensation they're entitled to.

When the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of 1960, scientists confirmed what people had suspected - that exposure causes lung damage and diseases. This knowledge spurred a wave of claims that caused dozens of asbestos manufacturers to file for bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings, these companies set up asbestos trust funds for victims and their families. The amount of money that was paid into these trusts now in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

While Congress has attempted to pass legislation that would end the asbestos litigation process these bills have not succeeded due to various reasons. They did not address the issues of the treatment options for patients suffering from mesothelioma whose recurrences are ongoing or who have died.

Another roadblock has been the asbestos defense industry's campaign to undermine and discredit the scientific consensus that all forms of asbestos even at very low levels, are capable of creating mesothelioma, lung cancer as well as other asbestos-related diseases. These campaigns have included securing funding and publishing articles in journals with scientific content that are intended to help the asbestos industry's legal arguments in trial.

To speed up the process, individual cases can be consolidated to multidistrict litigation. In 1991, for instance, one judge consolidated 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to speed up the resolution of those cases. The defendants are able to appeal a decision between 30 and 180 days. This could delay any financial award. A defendant could be required to pay a bonds for any awards received, based on the outcome of the appeal.

How to File a Claim

An asbestos case lawyer can assist individuals and families file various types of asbestos claims. These claims may be for compensation for medical expenses, funeral fees loss of income, loss of consortium in consortium, pain and suffering and other damages. They may also sue companies that exposed asbestos workers. They can also aid veterans submit a claim for disability compensation with the Veteran's Administration.

A lawyer who is an expert in asbestos litigation will evaluate your case for free to determine if there are legal options available. They can answer any questions you may have and explain the different legal procedures. They can often travel to your home or hospital for a consultation and asbestos case operate on a contingency fee and therefore you won't be held accountable for any initial legal costs.

If a client employs an asbestos attorney, he or she must ensure that the lawsuit is filed in line with the statute of limitations applicable to. Most states require asbestos victims to bring a suit within a couple of years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer. It is often difficult to determine the time a person was exposed to asbestos, since the symptoms are not likely to appear until decades after exposure. A lawyer for asbestos can help clients navigate the laws of their respective states and ensure that lawsuits are filed in time.

After filing the complaint, a mesothelioma lawyer will gather evidence to support your claim, including company documents and interviews with family members. They can also subpoena old documents from the asbestos-related companies that could reveal the negligence of the company.

A skilled asbestos lawyer can help you make a claim for wrongful death if a loved one was killed by mesothelioma or a different asbestos-related disease. In a wrongful demise lawsuit, survivors may seek compensation for emotional distress, funeral costs, and loss of companionship. They can also seek punitive damages against the asbestos-related company.

A reputable asbestos lawyer will have the ability to quickly gain access to documents from different states or asbestos companies, and can provide you with more legal options than local law firms. The resources offered by an asbestos law firm will also give victims a much better chance of obtaining substantial compensation.

Prepare for the trial

Asbestos is a toxic mineral that was used for decades in the workplace. Workers exposed to asbestos in the shipbuilding, construction and automotive manufacturing industries, among others, frequently suffer from severe diseases like mesothelioma (lung cancer) or asbestosis or the pleural effusion (inflammation of lungs' lining). If you've been diagnosed with an illness that is due to asbestos exposure you deserve compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.

A mesothelioma attorney can assist you in filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against companies accountable for your exposure. A mesothelioma lawsuit allows you to seek financial compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings as well as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other damages.

State statutes of limitation differ for personal injury and wrongful deaths lawsuits. It is essential to hire a mesothelioma lawyer to ensure that you do not miss the deadline to file a claim.

When the legal process is initiated, your attorney will work on your behalf to look into and gather evidence. They will interview both you and any former landowner, employer or other parties who may have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also look into the specifics of your case to determine the extent the location, when, and where you were exposed.

Most asbestos cases are handled on a contingency-fee basis which means that the attorney is paid the a portion of any money you receive as your representation. Your attorney will cover all costs associated with your case. If you win the case, they will be compensated by the winning party.

If you and your asbestos attorney are unable to agree on a contingency payment then you can choose to work with another firm. However, the attorneys of the second firm must agree to a contract for sharing the cost of work and expenses.

Usually, mesothelioma sufferers and their families are awarded compensation by winning an appeals court verdict in favor of the plaintiff. Many asbestos lawsuits are settled out of court. On average asbestos lawsuits that achieve an agreement that is successful pay between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.

Going to Trial

Asbestos lawyers can help their client get compensation by either winning or settling a case. Compensation is based on several factors, including the length of exposure to asbestos and the severity and frequency of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages may include damages for pain and suffering, loss of income and future earnings, as in addition to medical expenses including childcare, transportation and housekeeping.

Compensation for wrongful death claims can be obtained through an asbestos lawsuit, that includes funds to cover funeral expenses and other costs associated with the death of a loved one. Additionally, family members may be entitled to compensation for the emotional pain and sadness caused by the loss of a loved one.

Lawyers who have experience in asbestos litigation may help patients suffering from mesothelioma lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases seek compensation from responsible asbestos producers. In addition, mesothelioma lawyers could help with filing claims with trust funds created by asbestos companies that have gone bankrupt.

The years between the first exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease can make it difficult to determine which defendants were responsible for an asbestos-related disease. Additionally, evidence can disappear or be destroyed in time, and asbestos firms can go out of business, which can complicate the case even further.

The mesothelioma lawyer representing the plaintiff must identify all possible asbestos producers and asbestos products involved in the case before filing the lawsuit. An experienced attorney will conduct an exhaustive 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 hardworking workers who were exposed to this harmful substance. Through the years, they have been able to secure more than a billion dollars in compensation for their clients. The firm has won notable verdicts like the $22 million verdict for a Navy veteran who contracted mesothelioma following the repair of boilers on ships. There was also an $8 million verdict for an employee of a construction company who died from asbestos exposure in joint-sealing materials at an Manhattan high rise.