A mesothelioma diagnosis is a scary event. There is a lot of stress and much to understand about various treatment options. You are busy with doctor's appointments and learning about mesothelioma surgery, chemo and other therapies. But, you should not forget that mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, a carcinogen. The money you can receive from filing an asbestos claim can help pay for medical bills and provide security for your family. It also punishes the companies that made you sick. But, selecting a mesothelioma lawyer should be done carefully.
In this brief article, I have tried to explain a few things to consider when selecting a mesothelioma attorney. As you will read, the outcome of your case can depend on your choice of mesothelioma lawyer. As an attorney, the President of Cancer Monthly, and the publisher of various cancer books and publications including two on mesothelioma, I have helped hundreds of mesothelioma patients over the years. Give me a call when you are ready to learn how to identify reputable mesothelioma law firms, what questions to ask when you interview lawyers, and what mistakes you should avoid. This is a free service provided by Cancer Monthly. My phone number is 619-599-3112.
If you are ready to select a mesothelioma lawyer without additional information, I have listed at the bottom some firms with a tremendous amount of experience.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Deciding to pursue legal recourse and selecting an attorney to represent you in a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit are important decisions that should be made carefully. I have seen some families receive $500,000 and others be awarded nearly $30 million. I have seen some lawyers reject a case only to have another firm accept it and make a big success of it. And I have seen some families wait nearly three years to receive their first check while others received large checks within three months of filing a claim. The main reasons for these differences are the facts of the patient's situation and the law firm chosen.
The Facts of Your Situation
Some mesothelioma patients know they worked around asbestos, but many do not know how they were exposed or how often. In fact, many people are not sure if they were ever near this carcinogen. Unfortunately, there have been thousands of products that contained asbestos - cigarette filters, hair dryers, brakes, basement and roof materials, pipes, boilers, insulation, and many other products found throughout the home and at work. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma it is more than likely that you were exposed to asbestos multiple times in your life and that this happened decades before your diagnosis.
In general, the value of your case depends on how many asbestos containing products you were exposed to, the number of identifiable defendants that still exist (many have declared bankruptcy), your age and earning capacity. And the speed of your case can depend on a number of variables including the state where you worked and lived when you were exposed to asbestos.
The Law Firm You Choose
When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:
Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.
Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.
Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.
But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?
Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.
Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate.
Below are experienced mesothelioma law firms you can contact. If you would like additional information on choosing a reputable mesothelioma law firm please feel free to call me at 1-619-599-3112.
Post a Comment