An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer can aid victims of asbestos-related diseases. These include mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Many firms provide free mesothelioma patients with case reviews. This allows you to observe how a particular company deals with these claims and determine if they are the right fit for you.

A lawsuit against an asbestos-related firm can result in settlement for medical bills or lost wages, among other expenses. However, litigation is expensive.

The history of asbestos law suits

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral is utilized as an insulator and fire-resistant material. It was used for decades in New York, as well as in other areas of the country in industrial, manufacturing and commercial settings. Many of these facilities, such as textile mills, power plants, and shipyards, exposed workers to large amounts of asbestos on a regular basis. Some of them later developed mesothelioma or other lung diseases that are directly related to their exposure. The affected individuals should seek out an skilled New York mesothelioma attorney to ensure they receive the compensation they're due.

When the first lawsuits were filed in the late 1960s, scientists confirmed what people had believed to be true - that exposure to asbestos causes lung damage and disease. This knowledge sparked a wave claims that caused a multitude of asbestos producers to declare bankruptcy. In the course of bankruptcy procedures, these companies set up asbestos trust funds to pay the victims and their families. The money they pay to these trusts is now equal to hundreds of millions of dollar.

While Congress has attempted to pass legislation to end the asbestos litigation process these bills have failed for a variety of reasons. They did not address for instance, the treatment options for patients suffering from mesothelioma who are recurrent or who have died.

Another roadblock has been the asbestos defense industry's effort to discredit and undermine the scientific consensus that asbestos in all forms even at low levels, can be responsible for inducing mesothelioma or lung cancer as well as other asbestos-related diseases. These campaigns have included financing and publishing articles in journals of science that aim to support the asbestos industry's legal argument at trial.

Individual cases can be combined into multidistrict litigation to speed up the process. In 1991, for instance, one judge consolidated over 850 asbestos lawsuits involving power plants to speed up the resolution of those cases. The defendants can appeal a verdict within 30 to 180 days, asbestos litigation which can delay the receipt of any award in cash until the appeal is concluded. Depending on the outcome of the appeal the defendant could be required to post a bond for any monetary award received.

How to File a Claim

An asbestos lawyer can assist families and individuals in filing various asbestos claims. These claims may be for reimbursement for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost income, loss of consortium or consortium, pain and suffering and other damages. They can also seek restitution from companies who exposed workers to asbestos. They can also assist veterans make a claim for disability compensation with the Veteran's Administration.

A lawyer that specializes in asbestos litigation can examine your case for free and determine if there are any legal options. They can answer your questions and explain the various legal procedures. They are often able to travel to your hospital or at home to meet with you and offer their services on a contingent basis, so you will not be held accountable for any upfront legal costs.

When a client hires an asbestos attorney they must ensure the lawsuit is filed within the correct deadline. Most states require victims to make an asbestos lawsuit within a few years of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or another asbestos compensation-related illness. It can be difficult to determine if an individual has been exposed to asbestos since the symptoms usually don't show until a long time afterward. An experienced asbestos lawyer can assist clients in understanding the specific laws in their state and ensure that the lawsuit is filed in a timely manner.

After filing the complaint, a mesothelioma lawyer will gather evidence to support your claim. This includes company records as well as interviews with family members. They can also subpoena documents from asbestos companies to demonstrate negligence.

A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer can help you bring a lawsuit for wrongful death if a loved one died of mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related disease. In a wrongful death suit survivors are entitled to compensation for emotional distress, funeral costs, and loss of companionship. They can also seek punitive damages against asbestos companies.

A reputable asbestos attorney has the resources to quickly access information from various states and asbestos companies, and will give you more legal options than any local law firm would provide. The national resources of an asbestos law firm can provide victims with a better chance of obtaining significant compensation.

Preparing for the trial

Asbestos is a noxious mineral that was used for decades in industrial jobs. Workers exposed to asbestos in shipbuilding, construction and automotive manufacturing industries, as well as other industries, are often suffering from serious diseases such as mesothelioma (lung cancer) or asbestosis or the pleural effusion (inflammation of the lining of your lungs). If you have been diagnosed with a disease that is due to asbestos exposure you're entitled to compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.

A mesothelioma lawyer can assist you to file a personal injury or wrongful-death lawsuit against the businesses accountable for your exposure. A mesothelioma suit allows you to receive financial compensation for medical costs loss of wages or income, pain and discomfort, emotional distress, and more.

State statutes of limitations vary for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It's important to have a seasoned mesothelioma lawyer on your side to ensure that you don't run out of time to file claims.

Your lawyer will investigate and collect evidence on your behalf after the legal process has started. They will question you and any former employers, landowners or other individuals that were involved in your exposure asbestos. They will also examine the specifics of your case in order to determine how, where, and when you were exposed.

The majority of asbestos cases are dealt with by a contingency-fee system. This means that your attorney will receive a percentage of the compensation you receive. Your attorney will also cover any expenses associated with your case and, if you prevail any settlement or judgment the attorney will be able to collect their fees from the party that won.

If you and your asbestos attorney are unable to agree on a payment for contingency and you want to hire a different firm. The attorneys of the second firm must agree to a contract for sharing the costs and work.

In the majority of instances, compensation is paid to mesothelioma patients as well as their family members when a jury is found in their favor. Many asbestos lawsuits are settled outside of court. On average, asbestos lawsuits that reach a successful outcome pay out between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.

Going to Trial

Asbestos lawyers are able to help their clients recover compensation via either a settlement or successful trial decision. Compensation is determined by a number of factors, such as the duration of exposure to asbestos, as well as the frequency and severity of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages could include damages for pain and Asbestos Litigation suffering, lost income and future earnings as along with medical expenses, childcare, transportation, and housekeeping.

A lawsuit against asbestos could also result in compensation for deaths that were wrongful and also money to cover funeral costs as well as other expenses relating to the death of loved ones. In addition, family members may be entitled to compensation for the emotional distress and grief that comes from the loss of loved ones.

Attorneys with experience in asbestos litigation are able to aid victims of mesothelioma lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases seek compensation from responsible asbestos producers. Mesothelioma lawyers can help file claims with trust funds created by asbestos-related companies that have gone bankrupt.

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

The attorney representing the plaintiff for mesothelioma must identify all asbestos manufacturers and asbestos products involved in the case prior to filing the lawsuit. An experienced attorney will conduct a thorough 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 manufacturers accountable for the hardworking people 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 secured notable verdicts such as the $22 million verdict for an Navy veteran who contracted mesothelioma after repairing boilers on ships. There was also an $8 million verdict for an employee of a construction firm who died due to asbestos exposure in joint-sealing compounds at the top of a Manhattan high-rise.