Asbestos exposure has been proven to be the sole reason for mesothelioma so far. Asbestos fibers can reach a person’s body through air passages by breathing the air containing the harmful substance. These fibers cause cell damage in the body due to scarring and inflammation. The most common form of cancer caused by asbestos is pleural mesothelioma, a tumor of the outer covering of the lungs. Other types of mesothelioma include peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Regardless of the type of mesothelioma, the disease is not curable yet, unfortunately. The treatment can only improve the symptoms and prognosis of the patient and prolong their life expectancy.
The Legal Rights Of Someone With A Mesothelioma Diagnosis
If you or your loved one are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can take legal action against the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure. This is to file a compensation claim against the wrongdoers. The compensation helps the family or the victim fulfill their medical and financial expenditures.
For filing a case, evaluating your asbestos history and medical condition, you need an attorney to represent you in court. Finding the right lawyer on your own can be a difficult task. Therefore, it is easier to take the help of credible law firms and advertisers such as Simmons Hanly Conroy. Through them, you can find expert lawyers to represent the asbestos-related victims and their families. They are well-versed in handling these cases and have abundant resources and databases at their disposal to develop a strong lawsuit for you. Here is why you need a mesothelioma attorney to represent you in your lawsuit.
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Know The Options Available After A Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Various options are open to you after your mesothelioma diagnosis. However, you need a lawyer to discuss your unique situation and available ways to file a claim. If you have been exposed to asbestos working as a civilian, you can file a personal injury claim or an asbestos fund claim. The lawyer will have an extensive understanding of filing these claims in both cases. Moreover, you can discuss with your lawyer if you should go with a settlement outside the court or fight the case in the court. In most cases, the attorneys want the case to be concluded by a settlement instead of going into a lengthy procedure of court hearings.
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Help The Family File For Wrongful Death Claim
If a person passes away due to mesothelioma, the family still has the chance to file for compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one. The lawyer will factor in expenses such as the medical cost of the cancer treatment, the pain and emotional turmoil a victim’s family had to experience, traveling expenses, funeral costs, and others factors to calculate the total damage and demand the claim.
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Prior Experience In Handling Mesothelioma Cases
The most important reason for hiring a mesothelioma lawyer is their prior experience handling similar cases as yours. Such lawyers have extensive experience working on lawsuits involving your situation and offer you special attention. You can also be assured of their knowledge about federal and state laws and the statute of limitations surrounding your case. Owning to the frequency of such cases appearing these days, many law firms have their dedicated departments and team of lawyers to represent clients with mesothelioma. Moreover, ask about their success rate, how many cases they have concluded in winning a handsome considerable amount, and the maximum settlement amount received for the client. Some lawyers have received more than $10 million in settlement for their clients.
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Resources Available To Them
Developing a winning mesothelioma lawsuit requires expensive paperwork and documents to prove your claim. Experienced lawyers associated with big law firms are resourceful in this manner. The resourcefulness of your lawyer can ensure the success rate of your case. Often, law firms with a national presence can also reach you to take your statement across the country. This is one of the foremost reasons that justify hiring a mesothelioma lawyer for your case because, as an individual, it’s difficult to collect all the information on your own.
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Lawyer’s Fee Plan
Another reason for hiring a mesothelioma lawyer is their client-friendly payment plan. Due to costly mesothelioma treatment, patients and their families already go through a financial crunch. The fee of a mesothelioma lawyer can be considered an additional burden. Most law firms charge the mesothelioma victim or their families on a contingency fee plan. It means that they charge only a portion of the total amount of compensation at the end of the case. However, these aspects of the lawsuit should be discussed with the lawyer at the time of their hiring and mentioned in the agreement.
Factors Considered When Selecting An Attorney For Your Case
Once you have decided on hiring a lawyer to take your case forward, finding the most suitable one might seem the trickiest step. It becomes easier when you know what you are looking for in a lawyer. When meeting a lawyer for the first time, make sure to ask them enough questions to know their professional knowledge and behavior. Here are some things you can keep in mind when hiring a lawyer.
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Service For Military Veterans
Veterans often have a different procedure to file the claim. If you are a veteran, you must ask your options too. You can file the claim to the department of veteran affairs, and an experienced lawyer will help you with legal channels appropriate for your case.
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The Reputation Of The Firm
Another factor is the lawyer’s and the law firm’s reputation. Other than researching online, you can ask around about the reputation of your chosen firm and the views held by their peers in the legal community. Trustable firms also engage in community service, invest in research and asbestos and health awareness campaigns, so it’s likely that people will remember their name when asked for recommendations.
Getting legal advice after a mesothelioma diagnosis is the first step you should take. Before that, you must know your rights and the types of claims you can file. An attorney can help you with that. So, use the tips mentioned above to find the right lawyer and make sure to do your research!
