An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases
An experienced asbestos attorney can help victims of asbestos-related diseases. These include mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Many companies offer free case reviews for mesothelioma sufferers. This will let you see how a firm responds to these claims and determine if they are the right fit for you.
A lawsuit against an asbestos company can result in the payment of medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. Legal proceedings can be costly.
The history of asbestos-related lawsuits
Asbestos is a hazard, naturally occurring mineral used to create insulation and fire resistance. For decades it was utilized in a variety of manufacturing, industrial, and commercial settings in New York and across the nation. Many of these facilities, including textile mills, power plants, and shipyards, exposed workers to large amounts of asbestos regularly. Some of those workers developed mesothelioma or other lung diseases directly related to their asbestos exposure. A New York mesothelioma lawyer can help those affected receive the amount of compensation they're entitled to.
As the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of the 1960s, researchers confirmed what many had long suspected - that asbestos exposure causes lung damage and disease. This information triggered a wave of claims that led to dozens of asbestos producers to declare bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings, the companies set up asbestos trust funds for victims and their families. The amount of money that was deposited into these trusts is now in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Congress has tried to pass legislation in order to settle the asbestos litigation. However these bills have been unable to pass due to a variety reasons. For instance they did not discuss the treatment options for mesothelioma victims who are recurrently suffering from their illness or who are deceased.
The asbestos defense industry has also been a stumbling block in its efforts to debunk the scientific consensus that asbestos even at a low level is a risk factor for mesothelioma or lung cancer. These campaigns include obtaining funding and publishing articles designed to back the asbestos industry's arguments in court.
To accelerate the process to speed up the process, individual cases can be consolidated to multidistrict litigation. In 1991, a judge combined 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to speed up the resolution of these cases. Plaintiffs may appeal a ruling between 30 and 180 days. This can delay any financial award. Depending on the outcome of the appeal, the defendant could end up being legally required to pay a bond for any award of money.
How to File a Claim
An asbestos lawyer can help individuals and families file various types of asbestos claims. These claims could include compensation to pay for medical expenses, funeral costs as well as lost income, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering. They may also seek restitution from companies who exposed workers to asbestos. They may also aid veterans submit a claim to the Veteran's Administration for disability compensation.
A lawyer with expertise in asbestos litigation can look over your case for free to determine if you are eligible for legal options. They can provide you with information on the various legal processes and answer any questions that you have. They are often able to travel to your hospital or at home to meet with you and work on a contingency basis which means you won't be liable for any upfront legal fees.
When a client hires a asbestos lawyer, he/ will have to ensure that the lawsuit is filed in accordance with the applicable statute of limitation. Many states require that victims file an asbestos lawsuit within a couple of years of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or an asbestos-related illness. It is often difficult to determine whether a person has been exposed to asbestos because the symptoms usually do not manifest until years after exposure. A lawyer for asbestos can help clients navigate the laws of their respective states and ensure that lawsuits are filed within the timeframe.
After filing the complaint a mesothelioma lawyer will gather evidence to support your claim. This includes company records and interviews with your family members. They may also request old documents from asbestos-related companies that could reveal negligent behavior.
An experienced asbestos attorney can also help you file the wrongful-death suit when a loved-one has died from mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases. In a wrongful death suit, survivors can seek compensation for their emotional stress, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. They may also seek punitive damages against the asbestos company.
A reputable asbestos lawyer has the capability to quickly access records from various states or asbestos companies and can provide you with more legal options than local law firms. The resources offered by an asbestos law firm could also give victims a much better chance at winning substantial compensation.
Preparing for Trial
Asbestos is a noxious mineral which was used for many years in industrial work. Workers exposed to asbestos in the construction, shipbuilding and automotive manufacturing industries, among others, frequently suffer from severe illnesses such as mesothelioma (lung cancer) or asbestosis or Pleural effusion (inflammation of the lining of the lungs). If you've been diagnosed as suffering from a condition related to asbestos exposure you deserve compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help you bring a suit for personal injury or wrongful death against the companies that are accountable for your exposure. allentown asbestos attorneys allows you to receive financial compensation for medical costs as well as lost wages as well as pain and discomfort, emotional distress, etc.
The statutes of limitations vary by state for both personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. You'll need a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer in order to ensure you don't miss your deadline for filing a claim.
Your attorney will conduct an investigation and gather evidence on behalf of you once the legal process has started. They will interview both you and your former employer, landowner or other party who could have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also investigate the specifics of your case to determine how, where and when you could be exposed.
Most asbestos cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning that the attorney is paid part of any compensation you receive as a representation. Your attorney will pay for all expenses associated with your case. If you win you will be paid by the winning party.
If you and your asbestos attorney cannot come to an agreement over a contingency fee, you can hire another firm. The attorneys of the second law firm will have to sign a contract dividing the work and fees.
Usually, mesothelioma sufferers and their family members receive compensation if they get the verdict of a juror in favor of the plaintiff. However many asbestos lawsuits settle out of court. Asbestos lawsuits that are successful will pay between $1 million and $1.4 millions to the victims.
Going to Trial
Asbestos attorneys can assist their client get compensation by settling or winning a trial. Compensation is contingent on many aspects, including the duration of time and type of asbestos exposure and severity of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuits can result in damages for suffering and pain, lost income and future earnings, as also medical expenses as well as transportation, childcare, and housekeeping.
A lawsuit against asbestos can also result in compensation for the wrongful death of a person, including money to cover funeral costs as well as other expenses relating to the death of loved ones. Families could also be entitled to compensation for the emotional pain caused by the passing of a loved one.
Attorneys with expertise in asbestos litigation can help victims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses seek compensation from responsible asbestos manufacturers. Mesothelioma lawyers can also assist file claims with trust funds set up by asbestos-related companies that have gone bankrupt.
The passage of decades between the time of exposure to asbestos and the onset of disease can make it difficult to determine which defendants are responsible for an asbestos-related disease. In addition, evidence may disappear or be lost over time, and asbestos-related companies can cease to be in business, which complicates the case further.
In the event of you file an asbestos lawsuit the mesothelioma attorney representing the plaintiff must identify every potential asbestos manufacturer and asbestos product involved in the claim. A knowledgeable attorney will then conduct a thorough investigation of each asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer to ensure that the case is complete with all facts.
Belluck and Fox's asbestos lawyers have been holding negligent asbestos manufacturers accountable for the hardworking people they exposed to this dangerous material. Over the years they have managed to secure more than a billion dollars in compensation for their clients. The firm has secured notable verdicts, including a $22million award for a Navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma during the repair of boilers on ships, as well as an $8million verdict for a construction employee who passed away after being exposed to asbestos in joint sealing compounds in the top of a Manhattan skyscraper.