"Ask Me Anything:10 Responses To Your Questions About Asbestos Law

An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

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

Many firms provide free mesothelioma patients with case reviews. This lets you learn about how a particular company handles the claims, and determine if they are the right choice for you.

A lawsuit against an asbestos-related company could result in settlement for medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. It is costly to litigate.

The History of Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally, is used as an insulator and a fire-resistant material. It was widely used in New York, as well as other regions of the nation, in industrial, manufacturing and commercial environments. Many of these facilities, like textile mills, power plants and shipyards, exposed workers significant amounts of asbestos regularly. A few of them later developed mesothelioma and other lung diseases that are directly linked to their exposure. A New York mesothelioma lawyer can help those affected receive the compensation they're entitled to.

When the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of the 1960s, researchers confirmed what people had long suspected - that exposure causes lung damage and diseases. This knowledge sparked a wave complaints that prompted a number of asbestos producers to declare bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings these companies established asbestos trust funds for the families of victims. The amount of money that was paid into these trusts is now in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Congress has tried to pass legislation in order to end the Asbestos Lawsuit (Magachem.Com). However, these bills have failed due to a variety reasons. They didn't address, for example, the treatment options for patients suffering from mesothelioma that have recurrences or are deceased.

The asbestos defense industry has also been a hindrance in its efforts to debunk the scientific consensus that asbestos, even when it is at a low level can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. These campaigns include funding and publishing articles designed to back the asbestos industry's arguments in court.

Individual cases may be consolidated into multidistrict litigation to expedite the process. In 1991, for example one judge consolidated 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to facilitate faster resolution of these cases. Defendants are allowed to appeal a decision within 30 to 180 days, which could delay the payment of any award in cash until after the appeal is decided. A defendant may be required to post bond for any monetary awards received, based on the outcome of an appeal.

The process of filing a claim

An asbestos lawyer can assist families and individuals in filing various types of asbestos claims. These claims could include compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs as well as lost income loss of consortium and pain and suffering. They can also sue companies that exposed asbestos workers. They may also help veterans file a claim with the Veteran's Administration for disability compensation.

A lawyer that specializes in asbestos litigation can examine your case free of charge to determine if you are eligible for legal options. They can answer your questions and explain the different legal procedures. They are able to travel to your home, office or hospital to meet with you for a consultation. They work on a contingent basis, meaning that you don't have to pay any upfront legal fees.

If a client hires an asbestos lawyer they must ensure that the lawsuit is filed within the correct statute of limitations. Most states require victims to make an asbestos lawsuit within a few years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or another asbestos-related illness. It isn't always easy to determine the time a person was exposed to asbestos, as the symptoms typically do not show up for decades after exposure. An experienced asbestos attorney can help clients navigate their state's specific laws and ensure that the suit is filed in time.

After filing the complaint mesothelioma lawyers gather evidence to support your claim, including company documents and interviews with family members. They may also request old documents from the asbestos companies to prove the negligence of the company.

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 diseases. In a suit for the wrongful death of a loved one, survivors can seek compensation for funeral expenses, emotional distress and loss of companionship. They can also seek punitive damages against asbestos companies.

A good asbestos lawyer will have the ability to quickly access documents from different states or asbestos firms and can offer you more legal options than local law firms. A national asbestos law firm's resources can provide victims with a greater chance of receiving a large amount of compensation.

Prepare for trial

Asbestos is a noxious mineral that was extensively used in industrial work. Workers exposed to asbestos in shipbuilding, construction and automotive manufacturing industries, among others, often suffer from serious diseases such as mesothelioma (lung cancer) asbestosis, 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 help you file a lawsuit for personal injury or wrongful death against the companies that are accountable for your exposure. A mesothelioma suit allows you to pursue financial compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings or income, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages.

The statutes of limitations differ in each state for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It is crucial to have a seasoned mesothelioma attorney on your side to ensure that you don't run out of time to file an claim.

When the legal process is initiated the attorney will work on your behalf to conduct an investigation and gather evidence. They will conduct an interview with you and any former employers, landowners or other individuals who were involved in your exposure to asbestos. They will also review the details of your case to determine the extent they came to know when, where, and how you were exposed.

Most asbestos cases are handled by a contingency-fee system. This means that your attorney will be paid a percentage of the compensation you receive. Your attorney will pay for the entire cost of your case. If you win and are awarded the money by the winning party.

If you and your asbestos attorney can't agree on a contingency fee then you can choose to work with a different firm. However, the lawyers in the second firm must agree to a contract for sharing the costs and work.

Typically, mesothelioma victims and their families receive compensation when they win the verdict of a jury in favor of the plaintiff. However, many asbestos lawsuits settle out of court. On average asbestos lawsuits that get a successful outcome pay out between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.

Going to Trial

Asbestos attorneys can assist their clients obtain compensation by settling or winning a trial. Compensation is based on a number of factors, including the duration of exposure to asbestos, as well as the severity and frequency of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuits can result in damages for pain and suffering, lost income and future earnings, as also medical expenses, childcare, transportation, and housekeeping.

A lawsuit against asbestos could also result in compensation for the wrongful death of a person as well as money to pay for funeral expenses as well as other expenses relating to the death of loved ones. Families could also be entitled to compensation due to the emotional distress that is caused by the death of the loss of a loved one.

Attorneys with asbestos litigation experience can assist victims of lung cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases to seek compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Mesothelioma lawyers can help file claims with trust funds set up by asbestos-related companies that have gone bankrupt.

It is often difficult to determine who is accountable for an asbestos-related disease due to the long period between the first exposure and the an onset of symptoms. Evidence can also disappear or be destroyed with time, and asbestos businesses could be forced out of business. This makes the case more complicated.

When you file an asbestos lawsuit the mesothelioma lawyer representing the plaintiff must determine every possible asbestos producer and asbestos product involved in the case. An experienced attorney will conduct an exhaustive investigation of every asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer to ensure that the case contains all the facts.

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 helped them secure more than $1 billion in compensation for their clients over the years. The firm has achieved notable verdicts, including a $22million settlement for an Navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma during the repair of boilers on ships, as well as an $8million verdict for a construction worker who died after being exposed asbestos in joint sealing compounds at a Manhattan skyscraper.