An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases
A skilled asbestos lawyer can assist victims of asbestos-related illnesses. This includes asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Many firms offer a free case review for mesothelioma patients. This gives you the opportunity to learn about how a particular company handles these claims and decide whether they are suitable for you.
A lawsuit against a company which manufactures asbestos may result in compensation of medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses. However, litigation can be costly.
The history of asbestos law suits
Asbestos is a hazard naturally occurring mineral that is used to create insulation and fire resistance. It was widely used in New York, as well as in other areas of the country in manufacturing, industrial and commercial environments. Workers working in many of these locations, such as shipyards, power plants, and textile mills, were often exposed to asbestos. Some of these workers developed mesothelioma and other lung diseases directly related to their exposure to asbestos. People who are affected should consult an expert New York mesothelioma attorney to assist them in obtaining the compensation they deserve.
When the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of 1960, scientists confirmed what many had long believed - that exposure to asbestos causes lung damage and diseases. This knowledge sparked a wave claims that caused a multitude of asbestos producers to declare bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings, these companies established asbestos trust funds for victims and their families. The amount that was paid into these trusts is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Congress has tried to pass legislation to end the asbestos lawsuit. However the bills have not passed due to a variety reasons. They have not addressed, for example, the best way to treat patients suffering from mesothelioma who are recurrent or are deceased.
The asbestos defense industry has also been a roadblock in its effort to discredit the scientific consensus that asbestos, even when it is at a low level can cause mesothelioma as well as lung cancer. These campaigns include funding and publishing research that are intended to support the asbestos industry's arguments in court.
To speed up the process it is possible to have individual cases consolidated to multidistrict litigation. In 1991, a judge combined 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to speed up resolution of these cases. Plaintiffs may appeal a ruling between 30 and 180 days. This can delay any monetary award. Based on the outcome of the appeal a 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 file different types of asbestos claims. These claims can be for reimbursement for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost income, loss in consortium in consortium, pain and suffering and other damages. They can also sue companies for exposing asbestos workers. round rock asbestos attorney can also help veterans make a claim for disability compensation with the Veteran's Administration.
A lawyer who specializes in asbestos litigation can examine your case for free and determine if there are any legal options. They can answer your questions and provide you with the various legal procedures. They may visit your home or hospital to meet with you and are on a contingency basis and therefore you won't be held accountable for any upfront legal costs.
If a client employs an asbestos attorney, they must make sure that the lawsuit is filed within the correct statute of limitations. Many states require asbestos sufferers to bring a suit within a couple of years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer. It can be hard to determine if a person has been exposed to asbestos since the symptoms don't usually appear until decades afterward. A lawyer for asbestos can help clients navigate the laws of their respective states and ensure that lawsuits are filed at the right time.
When you file a complaint mesothelioma lawyers will collect evidence in support of your claim. This includes records from the company and interviews conducted with your family. They can also subpoena older documents from the asbestos companies to prove negligent behavior.
An experienced asbestos lawyer can also help you file a wrongful death lawsuit when a loved-one has died from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. In a wrongful death lawsuit, survivors can seek compensation for emotional stress, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. They can also seek punitive damage against the asbestos company.
A good asbestos lawyer has the capacity to quickly gain access to records from different states or asbestos firms and can offer you more legal options than local law firms. The resources offered by an asbestos law company can provide victims with a better chance at winning substantial compensation.
Preparing for trial
Asbestos, a toxic mineral, that was used for a long time in the workplace. People who are exposed to asbestos in construction, shipbuilding automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, and other industries typically suffer from serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or pleural effusion (inflammation of the lung's lining). If you've been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos exposure, you deserve compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.
A mesothelioma lawyer will help you to file a lawsuit for personal injury or wrongful death against the businesses responsible for your exposure. A mesothelioma lawsuit allows you to seek financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages as well as pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages.
State statutes of limitations vary for personal injury and wrongful deaths lawsuits. It's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer by your side to ensure you don't be late in filing an action.
Your lawyer will conduct an investigation and gather evidence on behalf of you once the legal process has begun. They will question you and your former employer, landowner, or other individuals who could have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also examine the details of your situation to determine if, where, and when you were exposed.
The majority of asbestos cases are handled by a contingency fee which means that the attorney will take the a portion of any money you receive as your representation. Your attorney will also pay any expenses associated with your case in the event that you win either a settlement or a judgment they will receive their fees from the winner.
If you and your asbestos lawyer can't agree on a contingency payment, you can hire a different firm. The attorneys of the second firm must sign a contract that shares the costs and work.
Typically, mesothelioma patients and their family members are awarded compensation after obtaining the verdict of a jury in favor of the plaintiff. Many asbestos lawsuits are settled outside of court. Asbestos lawsuits that succeed will pay between $1 million and $1.4 millions to the victims.
Going to Trial
Asbestos lawyers can help their clients get compensation through either a settlement or successful trial decision. Compensation is based on various factors, including the length of exposure to asbestos as well as the severity and frequency of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuits can result in damages for physical pain and suffering, loss of income and future earnings, medical expenses and household expenses such as childcare transport, housekeeping and transportation.
A lawsuit involving asbestos could also result in compensation for the wrongful death of a person as well as money to pay for funeral expenses and other expenses related to the loss of loved relatives. Additionally family members could be entitled to compensation for the emotional pain and grief caused by the death of loved ones.
Attorneys with asbestos litigation experience can help patients with mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related ailments seek compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Mesothelioma lawyers can help file claims with trust funds created by asbestos companies who have gone bankrupt.
The years between first exposure to asbestos and the beginning of disease can make it difficult to determine which defendants were responsible for the asbestos-related illness. In addition, evidence may disappear or be lost as time passes and asbestos companies may cease to be in business, which complicates the matter even more.
In the event of filing an asbestos lawsuit the mesothelioma lawyer representing the plaintiff must determine every possible asbestos-related asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer that could be involved in the lawsuit. An experienced attorney will conduct a thorough investigation of every asbestos manufacturer and product to ensure that all relevant information is available to the case.
Belluck and Fox's asbestos attorneys have been holding negligent asbestos manufacturers accountable for the hardworking workers they exposed to this dangerous material. This has helped them secure more than $1 billion in compensation for their clients over the years. The firm has achieved notable verdicts, including a $22million award for a Navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma while repairing boilers on ships, as well as an $8million verdict for a construction employee who died after being exposed asbestos in joint sealing compounds in the top of a Manhattan skyscraper.