An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

An experienced asbestos lawyer can assist victims of asbestos-related diseases. These include asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Many firms offer free case reviews for mesothelioma sufferers. This lets you learn about the process a company uses to handle the claims, and determine if they are the right choice for you.

A lawsuit against an asbestos-related firm can result in the payment of medical bills, lost wages and other expenses. The cost of litigation is high.

The History of Asbestos Lawsuits

Asbestos is a dangerous naturally occurring mineral used for insulation and fire resistance. It was extensively used in New York, as well as in other regions of the nation, in manufacturing, industrial and commercial settings. Many of these facilities, including power plants, textile mills and shipyards, exposed workers substantial amounts of asbestos on a regular basis. Some of these workers developed mesothelioma as well as other lung diseases directly connected to their exposure to asbestos. Those affected should hire an skilled New York mesothelioma attorney to help them get the compensation they deserve.

When the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of the 1960s, researchers confirmed what many had long believed to be true - that exposure to asbestos causes lung damage and diseases. This revelation triggered a flurry of complaints that prompted a number of asbestos producers to declare bankruptcy. In the course of bankruptcy procedures, these companies set up asbestos trust funds to pay the victims and their families. The amount that was deposited into these trusts is now in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Congress has attempted to pass legislation in order to end the asbestos lawsuit. However, these bills have failed due to a variety reasons. For example they didn't address the treatment options for mesothelioma victims who are suffering from recurrences of their illness or who are deceased.

The asbestos defense industry has also been a hindrance in its campaign to discredit the scientific consensus that asbestos, even when it is at a low level can cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. These campaigns have included financing and publishing articles in scientific journals that aim to assist the asbestos industry's legal arguments at trial.

Individual cases may be consolidated into multidistrict litigation to expedite the process. In 1991, for instance, one judge consolidated 850 power plant asbestos lawsuits to facilitate the faster resolution of those cases. The defendants can appeal a verdict between 30 and 180 days. This will delay any monetary award. Based on the outcome of the appeal, the defendant could be required to make a bail for any award of money.

The process of filing a claim

An asbestos lawyer can assist individuals and families in filing different types of asbestos claims. These claims may be for compensation for medical expenses, funeral fees loss of income, loss in consortium, pain and suffering, and other damages. They can also seek restitution from companies which exposed workers to asbestos. They can also aid veterans to file a claim for disability compensation through the Veteran's Administration.

A lawyer who is an expert in asbestos litigation will evaluate your case for free to determine if there are legal options available. They can help you understand the various legal processes and answer any questions you might have. They can come to your workplace, hospital or home for a consult. They are on a contingent basis, meaning that you don't have to pay any upfront legal costs.

If a client employs an asbestos lawyer they must ensure that the lawsuit is filed within the correct time frame. Many states require that victims file an asbestos lawsuit within a few years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness. It is often difficult to determine whether a person has been exposed to asbestos since the symptoms usually do not appear until decades after exposure. An experienced asbestos legal attorney can assist clients with understanding the laws specific to their state and ensure that the suit is filed on time.

After filing the complaint, mesothelioma lawyers gather evidence to support your claim, including company records as well as interviews with family members. They can also subpoena older documents from asbestos companies to prove negligent behavior.

An experienced asbestos attorney can also assist you in filing the wrongful-death suit when a loved one died from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. In a wrongful demise lawsuit, survivors can seek compensation for emotional grief, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship. They can also seek punitive damages against an asbestos company.

An experienced asbestos attorney can quickly access information from various states and asbestos companies, and will give you more legal options than an individual law firm could provide. A national asbestos law firm's resources will provide victims with a greater chances of winning a substantial settlement.

Preparing for Trial

Asbestos, a highly toxic mineral, has been employed in industrial settings for decades. Workers exposed to asbestos in the shipbuilding, construction and automotive manufacturing industries, among others, suffer from serious illnesses like mesothelioma (lung cancer) as well as asbestosis or the pleural effusion (inflammation of the lining of your lungs). If you have been diagnosed with an illness due 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 companies that are accountable for your exposure. A mesothelioma suit permits you to claim financial compensation for medical costs, lost wages as well as pain and discomfort, emotional distress, etc.

The statutes of limitations in each state differ for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It is essential to hire a mesothelioma lawyer in order to ensure you don't miss your deadline for filing an action.

Your lawyer will investigate and collect evidence on behalf of you once the legal process has started. They will speak with you as well as any former landowners, asbestos lawsuit employers, or other parties that were involved in your exposure asbestos. They will also study the details of your case to determine how, where you were exposed, and the time at which you have been exposed.

The majority of asbestos cases are handled by a contingency fee which means that the attorney takes an amount of the compensation you receive as a representation. Your attorney will also cover 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 cannot come to an agreement on a contingent payment, you can hire an alternative firm. The attorneys of the second firm must sign a contract to share the work and fees.

In most instances, compensation is paid to mesothelioma patients and their families when a jury decides in their favor. However many asbestos lawsuits settle outside of court. On average, asbestos lawsuits that reach an agreement that is successful pay between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.

Going to Trial

Asbestos attorneys can assist their clients obtain compensation by either winning or settling a case. Compensation is based on many factors, such as the length of exposure to asbestos and the severity and frequency of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages may include damages for suffering and pain, lost income and future earnings, as along with medical expenses including childcare, transportation and housekeeping.

Compensation for claims of wrongful death can also be obtained through an asbestos lawsuit, that includes funds to cover funeral costs as well as other expenses associated with the death of loved ones. In addition, family members may be entitled to compensation for the emotional stress and grief that comes from the loss of loved ones.

Lawyers with experience in asbestos litigation can help patients with lung cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases seek compensation from asbestos producers. In addition, mesothelioma lawyers could provide assistance in filing claims using trust funds established by asbestos companies that have gone into bankruptcy.

The time between the time of exposure to asbestos and the beginning of illness can make it difficult to determine who were the ones responsible for an asbestos-related disease. Evidence can also disappear or be destroyed with time, and asbestos businesses could be forced out of business. This can make the case more difficult.

When filing an asbestos lawsuit, the mesothelioma lawyer representing the plaintiff must identify every potential asbestos-related asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer relevant to the claim. A knowledgeable attorney will then conduct an exhaustive investigation of each asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer to ensure the case is complete with all facts.

Belluck & Fox's asbestos lawyers have been holding negligent asbestos producers accountable for the hardworking people who were exposed to this hazardous material. Through the years they have been able to secure more than a billion dollars in compensation for their clients. The firm has won a number of notable verdicts, including a $22million award to an 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.