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

An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

An experienced asbestos lawyer can aid victims of asbestos-related ailments. They include asbestosis and mesothelioma as well as lung cancer.

Many companies offer free case reviews for mesothelioma sufferers. This allows you to learn about how a particular company handles the claims, and determine if they are right for Asbestos Litigation you.

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

The History of Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous, naturally occurring mineral used for insulation and fire resistance. For decades it was employed in various manufacturing, industrial, and commercial settings in New York and across the across the country. The workers in these facilities, such as shipyards, power plants and textile mills, were frequently exposed to asbestos. Some of these workers developed mesothelioma as well as other lung diseases directly linked to their exposure to asbestos. A New York mesothelioma lawyer can help those affected receive the benefits they are entitled to.

When the first lawsuits were filed in the late 1960s, scientists confirmed what many had long suspected - that asbestos exposure causes lung damage and diseases. This discovery triggered a flood of claims that led to dozens of asbestos manufacturers to declare bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings the companies set up asbestos trust funds for victims and their families. The money deposited into these trusts has now amounted to hundreds of millions of dollar.

Congress has tried to pass legislation to resolve the asbestos litigation. However, these bills have failed due to a variety reasons. They didn't address the issues of the best way to treat patients suffering from mesothelioma who are recurrent or who have died.

Another issue has been the asbestos defense industry's effort to defame and undermine the scientific consensus that all forms of asbestos even at very low levels, can be responsible for creating mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related ailments. These campaigns include funding and publishing papers that are intended to support the asbestos industry's arguments in the courtroom.

Individual cases can be combined into multidistrict litigation to expedite the process. In 1991, a judge consolidated the asbestos lawsuits of 850 against power plants to speed the resolution of these cases. Defendants are allowed to appeal a verdict within 30 to 180 days, which could delay the payment of any money award until after the appeal has been concluded. Depending on the outcome of the appeal the defendant could be required to make a bail for any monetary award received.

The process of filing a claim

An asbestos lawyer can assist individuals and families file various types of asbestos claims. These claims may be for compensation for medical expenses, funeral fees, lost income, loss of consortium or consortium, pain and suffering and other damages. They may also sue companies that exposed asbestos workers. They can also assist veterans submit a claim to the Veteran's Administration for disability compensation.

A lawyer who is an expert in asbestos litigation can review your case at no cost to determine if there are legal options available. They will explain the various legal procedures and answer any questions that you have. They can often travel to your hospital or at home to consult and operate on a contingency fee, so you will not be liable for any upfront legal costs.

If a client employs an asbestos attorney, they must make sure that the lawsuit is filed within the appropriate deadline. Most states require victims to start a lawsuit for asbestos within a few years of being diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer, or an asbestos-related disease. It can be difficult to determine the date a person was exposed to asbestos, since the symptoms don't usually manifest until years after exposure. An experienced asbestos lawyer can help clients navigate the laws specific to their state and ensure that the suit is filed in a timely manner.

After filing the complaint mesothelioma lawyers will collect evidence to prove your claim, which could include company documents and interviews with family members. They can also subpoena records from asbestos-related companies in order to prove negligence.

A seasoned asbestos lawyer can help you start a lawsuit to claim wrongful death if your loved one died of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. In a lawsuit involving victims of wrongful deaths, survivors may seek compensation to help with funeral expenses, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. They may also seek punitive damage against the asbestos company.

A reputable asbestos attorney has the resources to quickly access information from various states and asbestos companies. They can provide you with more legal options than an individual law firm could provide. A national asbestos law firm's resources can provide victims with a greater chance of receiving a large amount of compensation.

Preparing for the trial

Asbestos, a toxic mineral is used in industrial jobs for a long time. Workers exposed to asbestos in shipbuilding, construction and automotive manufacturing industries among others, often suffer from serious illnesses like mesothelioma (lung cancer) asbestosis, the pleural effusion (inflammation of the lung's lining). If you have been diagnosed with an illness due to asbestos exposure, you should be compensated. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.

A mesothelioma attorney can help you file a personal injury or wrongful death suit against the companies responsible for your exposure. A mesothelioma suit will allow you to receive financial compensation for medical expenses and lost wages or income, pain and discomfort, emotional distress, etc.

The statutes of limitations differ by state for both personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It is essential to have a mesothelioma attorney by your side to ensure that you don't miss the deadline to file an action.

Your lawyer will conduct an investigation and gather evidence on your behalf once the legal process has begun. They will interview both you and your former employer, landowner, or other individuals who could have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also examine the specifics of your case to determine how they came to know when, where, and how you were exposed.

Most asbestos cases are handled on a contingency fee basis which means that the attorney takes an amount of the compensation you receive as a representation. Your attorney will pay for all costs associated with your case. If you win you will be paid by the winning party.

If you and your asbestos lawyer are unable to agree on a contingency fee then you can choose to work with a different firm. However, the attorneys of the second firm must sign a contract that shares the costs and work.

In most cases, compensation is granted to mesothelioma sufferers and their families when a jury comes that they are in their favor. Many asbestos lawsuits are settled outside of court. On average, asbestos legal lawsuits that reach an agreement that is successful pay between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.

Going to Trial

Asbestos lawyers can help their clients get compensation through settlement or winning a trial. Compensation is contingent on a variety of factors, including the length of time and the type of asbestos exposure and severity of the symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages may include damages for suffering and suffering, asbestos litigation lost income and future earnings as along with medical expenses, childcare, transportation, and housekeeping.

A lawsuit against asbestos may also result in compensation for deaths caused by negligence that include money to pay funeral costs and other costs associated with the death of loved relatives. In addition family members could be entitled to compensation for the emotional stress and grief caused by the death of a loved one.

Attorneys with asbestos litigation experience can assist patients suffering from mesothelioma, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases seek compensation from asbestos producers. Mesothelioma lawyers can help make claims using trust funds created by asbestos companies that went bankrupt.

It is often difficult to determine who is responsible for an asbestos-related disease because of the lengthy time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms. Evidence may also disappear or be destroyed with time, and asbestos companies could cease to be in business. This complicates the case.

The plaintiff's lawyer for mesothelioma should identify all potential asbestos-related asbestos companies and asbestos products involved in the lawsuit before submitting a lawsuit. A knowledgeable attorney will then conduct a thorough investigation of each asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer to ensure that the case has all the facts.

Belluck & Fox's asbestos lawyers have been holding negligent asbestos manufacturers accountable for the hardworking workers exposed to the hazardous material. This has helped them secure more than $1 billion in compensation for their clients over the years. The firm has secured notable verdicts, including a $22 million award to a Navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma during the repair of boilers on ships, as well as an $8 million verdict for a construction worker who passed away after being exposed to asbestos in joint sealing compounds at the top of a Manhattan skyscraper.