An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

An experienced asbestos attorney can aid victims of asbestos-related diseases. They include asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Many firms offer a free case review for patients with mesothelioma. This will allow you to examine how a company manages these claims and determine if they're the right fit for you.

A lawsuit against an asbestos company can result in the payment of medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. However, litigation can be costly.

The history of asbestos law suits

Asbestos is a hazardous naturally occurring mineral used for insulation and fire resistance. It was extensively used in New York, as well as in other parts of the country, in manufacturing, industrial and commercial environments. The workers in these facilities, such as shipyards, power plants, and textile mills were frequently exposed to asbestos. Some of these workers later developed mesothelioma or other lung diseases that are directly linked to their exposure. People who are affected should consult an experienced New York mesothelioma attorney to assist them in obtaining the compensation they're due.

As the first lawsuits were filed in the late 1960s, scientists confirmed what many had long believed - that exposure to asbestos causes lung damage and disease. This information triggered a wave of lawsuits that led to dozens of asbestos companies to file for bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings the companies set up asbestos trust funds for victims and their families. The amount that was deposited into these trusts is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Although Congress has attempted to pass legislation to resolve the asbestos litigation issue, these bills have been unable to pass due to various reasons. For example, they did not address the treatment options for mesothelioma victims who have recurrences illness or who are deceased.

Another obstacle has been the asbestos defense industry's attempt to discredit and undermine the scientific consensus that asbestos in all forms even at very low levels, are capable of causing mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. These campaigns have included funding and publishing papers in scientific journals that are intended to help the asbestos industry's legal argument at trial.

Individual cases can be combined into multidistrict litigation to expedite the process. In 1991, for instance one judge consolidated 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to speed up the resolution of those cases. The defendants can appeal a verdict between 30 and 180 days. This could delay any financial award. A defendant could be required to pay a bond for any monetary award, contingent on the outcome of an appeal.

How to File a Claim

An asbestos lawyer can help families and individuals to file different types of asbestos claims. These claims can be for compensation to pay for funeral costs, medical expenses as well as lost income, loss of consortium, and suffering and pain. They may also sue companies that exposed asbestos workers. They can also help veterans submit a claim for disability compensation through the Veteran's Administration.

A lawyer who is an expert in asbestos litigation will review your case at no cost to determine if there are any legal options that are available. They will explain the various legal procedures and address any questions you might have. They will travel to your home, office or hospital to provide a consultation. They operate on a contingency basis, meaning that you don't have to pay upfront legal fees.

When a client engages an asbestos lawyer they must ensure that the lawsuit is filed within the applicable statute of limitations. Most states require asbestos victims to submit a lawsuit within a couple of years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer. It isn't easy to know the date a person was exposed to asbestos since the symptoms typically do not appear until decades after exposure. An asbestos lawyer can help clients navigate the laws of their state and ensure that the lawsuits are filed in time.

After filing the complaint an attorney for mesothelioma will gather evidence to support your claim, including company records as well as interviews with family members. They may also request documents from asbestos-related companies in order to show negligence.

An experienced asbestos lawyer can also help you file an action for wrongful death if a loved one has passed away due to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. In a wrongful demise lawsuit, survivors can seek compensation for their emotional stress, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. They may also pursue punitive damages against the asbestos-related company.

A good asbestos lawyer has the capacity to quickly access documents from different states or asbestos companies, and can offer you more legal options than local law firms. A national asbestos law firm's resources could give victims a better chances of winning a substantial settlement.

Preparing for Trial

Asbestos is a toxic mineral that was extensively used in industrial work. Workers who were exposed to asbestos in shipbuilding, construction automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, and other industries typically suffer from serious diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer, asbestosis, or the pleural effusion (inflammation of the lining of the lungs). If you've been diagnosed as having a disease related to asbestos exposure, then you're entitled compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.

A mesothelioma lawyer can assist you bring a suit for personal injury or wrongful death against companies that are responsible for your exposure. A mesothelioma claim allows you to receive financial compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages as well as pain and discomfort emotional distress, etc.

The statutes of limitations in each state differ for personal injury and wrongful deaths lawsuits. You'll need a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer to ensure that you do not miss the deadline for filing a claim.

Your attorney will investigate and collect evidence on your behalf once the legal process has begun. They will interview both you and your former employer, landowner or other parties who may have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also investigate the details of your situation to determine the location, the method and when you might have been exposed.

Most asbestos cases are handled using a contingency-fee basis. This means that your attorney will receive a proportion of any compensation you receive. 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 winner.

If you and your asbestos attorney can't reach an agreement on the cost of a contingency, you can hire another firm. The attorneys in the second law firm will have to sign a written contract dividing the costs and work.

Usually, mesothelioma sufferers and their family members are awarded compensation after obtaining the verdict of a juror in favor of the plaintiff. However many Asbestos case lawsuits settle outside of court. Asbestos lawsuits that are successful pay between $1 million and $1.4 millions to victims.

Going to Trial

Asbestos lawyers can help their clients receive compensation through either a settlement or a successful trial decision. Compensation is based on various factors, including the duration of exposure to asbestos and the frequency and severity of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages can include damages for pain and suffering, lost income and future earnings, as well as medical expenses and childcare, transportation and housekeeping.

A lawsuit against asbestos can also result in compensation for deaths caused by negligence as well as money to pay for funeral expenses and other costs associated with the loss of loved ones. Families may also be entitled to compensation due to the emotional trauma caused by the loss of an individual they love.

Attorneys with asbestos litigation experience can assist patients suffering from mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related ailments seek compensation from asbestos producers. Mesothelioma lawyers can help to file claims using trust funds set up by asbestos companies that went bankrupt.

It isn't always easy to determine who is accountable for an asbestos-related illness because of the lengthy time between exposure and the manifestation of symptoms. Evidence may also disappear or be lost with time, and asbestos-related companies could go out of business. This can make the case more difficult.

The plaintiff's lawyer for asbestos case mesothelioma must identify all asbestos producers and asbestos-related products involved in the case before submitting the lawsuit. A knowledgeable attorney can then conduct a thorough investigation into every asbestos manufacturer and product to ensure that all the relevant facts are in the court.

Belluck and Fox's asbestos lawyers have been holding negligent asbestos manufacturers accountable for the hardworking workers who were exposed to this hazardous material. This has allowed them to secure more than $1 billion in compensation for their clients over the years. The firm has won significant verdicts such as a $22 million settlement for a Navy veteran who contracted mesothelioma after repairing boilers on ships, and an $8 million verdict for an employee of a construction firm who died from asbestos exposure in joint sealing compounds at the top of a Manhattan high rise.