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What Is an Asbestos Law Firm?
An asbestos law firm is a firm that specializes in claims relating to asbestos. Personal injury suits for people who were exposed to asbestos and suffered harm like contracting mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related diseases are a major focus of any asbestos firm.
The firm will also have experience and expertise in wrongful death suits against manufacturers of asbestos products.
In addition to these legal options, a good asbestos law firm will be knowledgeable about accessing money from asbestos trust funds and working with the department of veterans affairs on behalf of clients who served in the armed forces.
Asbestos was used extensively in military buildings, equipment, and vehicles until the 1970s. Over 30% of all asbestos patients were former service members.
Why You Should Work With a Mesothelioma Law Firm
Any time you have a specialized legal need, it’s a good idea to find a law firm that specializes in that area of the law. The firm that handles nothing but car crashes might be able to help you if you’re writing a will, but you’d probably prefer the law firm that specializes in estate planning.
In the same way, if you or a loved one has a mesothelioma diagnosis, you should look for help from a law firm that specializes in exactly those kinds of cases.
Getting asbestos-related claims heard and making sure you get the compensation you deserve can be complicated. You should make sure you have a team of experts with plenty of experience in seeking asbestos payments to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.
How Law Firms Can Secure Mesothelioma Compensation
Even though the asbestos industry knew that asbestos was dangerous as early as the 1930s, it wasn’t until the 1970s that the risks began to be known by the general public. Since then, billions of dollars in compensation have gone to helping those who were unknowingly exposed and injured.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
A personal injury suit is probably the first thing you think of if you were exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease. The asbestos law firm you decide to work with should have a track record of successful settlements or verdicts in personal injury cases.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
If your loved one has passed away from their asbestos-related illness, a personal injury suit is impossible. It doesn’t, however, mean that you can’t be compensated for the expense and emotional harm caused by their suffering.
A wrongful death suit can be brought against the companies that manufactured the asbestos product or exposed your loved one to asbestos. Sadly, any experienced asbestos law firm will have worked on a number of wrongful death lawsuits.
Asbestos Trust Funds
After the dangers of asbestos became known, many asbestos companies declared bankruptcy and went out of business. Courts ordered these companies to pay into trust funds as a term of their bankruptcy so they couldn’t avoid paying for the harms they caused.
These asbestos trust funds were created specifically to compensate people hurt by asbestos exposure who couldn’t get compensation from the company responsible. After all, it’s hard to sue a company that hasn’t existed for 40 years.
Because mesothelioma symptoms may not appear for up to 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure, these trust funds are essential for protecting the rights of people hurt by asbestos.
VA Benefits
Because the U.S. armed forces used asbestos extensively between the 1940s and 1970s, many veterans developed asbestos-related illnesses. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of different help for veterans with mesothelioma and their families.
While providing VA benefits is outside the scope of services an asbestos law firm provides, many employ VA-accredited mesothelioma lawyers who can help prepare a claim for benefits.
How Much Can an Asbestos Law Firm Secure for Me?
The amount of compensation a law firm can get for a client varies. Each case is unique, and any compensation will depend on a number of factors.
Among the factors that can contribute to a mesothelioma lawsuit award are:
- Cost of medical treatments, including doctor and hospital visits, medication, chemotherapy, and surgeries
- Travel costs associated with seeing doctors, specialists, physical therapists, and other professionals
- Lost wages due to an inability to work
- Pain and suffering caused by the illness
- Funeral and burial expenses (in wrongful death cases)
While compensation varies from case to case, the average mesothelioma settlement ranges from $1 million to $1.4 million.
How to Find the Right Asbestos Law Firm and Lawyer
Who you choose to work with for your asbestos lawsuit is an important and personal decision. There are a few key characteristics you should look for, however.
Free Consultations
You should never have to pay for a consultation about your case. In fact, there should be no upfront costs at all.
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means they will get a percentage of your compensation, and you will pay none of the costs until they win your case through a verdict or settlement.
Asbestos law firms generally operate the same way. When there are so many law firms that can help with your asbestos case with no upfront costs, why would you pay for a consultation with another firm?
Individualized Attention
The best law firms for anyone harmed by asbestos exposure will never make you feel confused or like you’re going it alone. Not only does this mean getting your legal questions answered quickly and thoroughly, it also means getting help for everything related to your case.
If you need to find treatment options or don’t understand a procedure or medical bill, the best asbestos law firms have experts in-house and relationships with top mesothelioma doctors around the country. These firms can provide the kind of support you need while going through the process of a lawsuit and coping with a deadly disease.
Nationwide Reach
Because asbestos manufacturers operated in different states and people who were exposed can live anywhere, it’s essential to find an asbestos law firm with a nationwide reach. In order to secure the best outcome, a law firm needs to be able to operate in the states where clients live and where defendants (i.e. asbestos companies or their successors) are or were headquartered.
Each state has different rules and laws concerning asbestos litigation. The best law firms can file in whichever state is best suited to your specific case.
Experienced Mesothelioma Lawyers
A law firm needs to have many years of experience litigating asbestos claims. It’s essential that the law firm you choose has a team of mesothelioma lawyers with a long track record of achieving favorable verdicts, settlements, and asbestos trust fund payouts.
If finding that law firm on your own sounds difficult, our team at LawFirm.com can help connect you with firms that meet all of these criteria. Contact us today to learn more.
What’s It Like Working With an Asbestos Law Firm?
Working with an asbestos firm should be a relief. By working together with an asbestos law firm, many families can focus their time and energy on caring for their sick loved one. The legal team, meanwhile, can take on the responsibility of pursuing financial payouts from the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure and the resulting illness.
- Case Evaluation: The law firm’s legal team will determine the facts such as where, when, and how the exposure occurred and who is responsible. Team members will also determine the best jurisdiction to file the claim.
- Filing a Claim: The lawyer for the injured party (plaintiff) informs the court and the other parties (defendants) that their client has been harmed, it’s the defendants’ fault, and the client wants compensation.
- Defendant Response: After being notified, the defendants will have a set amount of time to decide whether to agree to the request for compensation or to refuse. If they refuse, the trial proceeds.
- Discovery Phase: The two sides will collect evidence during this phase. Each side can request documents, records, interviews, and information from the other.
- Trial Phase: This is the part of the legal process usually seen on TV. There’s a judge and jury (sometimes) and space for the public to observe. Over 95% of cases reach a settlement or other resolution before trial.
- Conclusion: If the case goes all the way through to trial, a judge or jury will decide if the defendant is responsible and how much to award the plaintiff. Usually, these cases settle long before the trial phase.
Do I Qualify to Work With an Asbestos Law Firm?
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma may be eligible to work with an asbestos law firm to seek compensation. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, so a diagnosis is a particularly strong indicator of asbestos exposure.
If you have other asbestos-related illnesses like lung cancer or asbestosis, you may also qualify to work with a mesothelioma attorney to seek compensation. If you have a diagnosis and know or suspect you’ve been exposed to asbestos, your chances of being taken on as a client are even greater.
To find out if you qualify to work with an asbestos law firm, get a free case evaluation today.
FAQs About Asbestos Law Firms
How long do I have to contact a mesothelioma law firm?
The statute of limitations on asbestos lawsuits is different in each state. Some states allow as many as 6 years while other states only allow 1 to 2 years. The statute of limitations for a personal injury suit begins after a diagnosis, not at the time of exposure, however.
If your loved one died from an asbestos-related illness, the statute of limitations for wrongful death suits begins at the time of death.
When can I expect compensation from an asbestos law firm?
Some asbestos claims can be paid out in less than 90 days. The average asbestos claim usually takes 1 year or less to complete.
If this seems fast, it is. However, many years of previous lawsuits and the existence of asbestos trust funds make these cases much quicker than many other personal injury suits.
How can I find out if a mesothelioma law firm is experienced?
Often, the best way to learn about a law firm is through research. However, we can save you that time and effort.
Dealing with an asbestos-related illness doesn’t leave a lot of time to search through reviews and interview potential firms. At LawFirm.com, we only work with the best asbestos and mesothelioma law firms across the country. Let us save you time and energy and connect you with the help you need.
How do I choose the right mesothelioma law firm for me?
Choosing the right law firm for your mesothelioma case is an important and personal decision. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek references, and talk to several lawyers at different law firms. You can and should ask to speak to former clients, too.
It’s important to find a law firm that you’re confident and comfortable with, so take your time. The team at LawFirm.com can help you get started with a free consultation now. Just call (888) 726-9160 to get started.
Speak With an Asbestos Lawyer
