"Ask Me Anything": Ten Answers To Your Questions About Asbestos Law

An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

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

Many companies offer a no-cost case review for mesothelioma patients. This will let you see how a firm manages these claims and determine if they are the right fit for your.

A lawsuit against a company that manufactures asbestos can result in compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs. However, litigation is expensive.

The history of asbestos-related lawsuits

Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, is used as an insulator and fire-resistant material. For a long time it was utilized in various manufacturing commercial, industrial, and settings in New York and across the country. Workers working in many of these locations, such as shipyards, power stations and textile mills, were often exposed to asbestos. Some of these workers later developed mesothelioma or other lung diseases that are directly linked to their exposure. The affected individuals should seek out an experienced New York mesothelioma attorney to ensure they receive the compensation they're due.

Researchers proved what many believed to be true: that exposure to asbestos can cause lung disease and damage. This information triggered a wave of claims that caused dozens of asbestos manufacturers to file for bankruptcy. In bankruptcy proceedings these companies established asbestos trust funds for the families of victims. The money paid into these trusts now amounts to hundreds of millions of dollar.

Although Congress has attempted to pass legislation in order to settle the asbestos litigation issue, these bills have failed for a variety of reasons. For example they did not consider the treatment of mesothelioma sufferers who are suffering from recurrences of their disease or who have passed away.

Another roadblock has been the asbestos defense industry's effort to discredit and undermine the scientific consensus that asbestos in all forms even at low levels, are capable of producing mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. These campaigns include funding and publishing research that are meant to support the asbestos industry's arguments in the courtroom.

Individual cases can be combined into multidistrict litigations to speed the process. In 1991, for instance one judge combined 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to allow for faster resolution of these cases. Plaintiffs may appeal a ruling between 30 and 180 days. This could delay any financial award. Depending on the outcome of the appeal a defendant could be required to post a bond for any monetary award received.

Filing a Claim

An asbestos lawyer can assist families and individuals with filing various asbestos claims. These claims could include compensation for funeral expenses, medical costs lost income loss of consortium and suffering and pain. They may also sue companies for exposing asbestos workers. They can also aid veterans to apply for disability compensation through the Veteran's Administration.

A lawyer with expertise in asbestos litigation can look over your case for free to determine if there are any legal options. They will be able to answer your questions and explain the various legal procedures. They can travel to your home, office or hospital to provide a consultation. They are on a contingent basis, so you don't need to pay any upfront legal costs.

When a client engages an asbestos attorney they must ensure that the lawsuit is filed within the correct time frame. Most states require victims to start a lawsuit for asbestos within a few years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma lung cancer or another asbestos-related illness. It can be difficult to determine if an individual has been exposed to asbestos since symptoms typically don't manifest until decades later. An experienced asbestos attorney can assist clients with understanding the specific laws of their state and ensure that the suit is filed in a timely manner.

After filing a complaint a mesothelioma attorney will gather evidence to support your claim. This includes records from the company and interviews conducted with your family. They can also subpoena records from asbestos-related companies in order to prove negligence.

An experienced asbestos attorney will also assist you in filing a wrongful death suit when a loved-one has passed away due to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. In a wrongful death lawsuit survivors are entitled to compensation for emotional stress, funeral expenses and loss of companionship. They may also pursue punitive damages against the asbestos-related company.

An experienced asbestos attorney has the resources to quickly access records from different states and asbestos companies. They also give you more legal options than a local law firm could offer. The resources offered by an asbestos law firm will provide victims with a better chance at winning significant compensation.

Prepare for the trial

Asbestos is a poisonous mineral that was extensively used in industrial work. Workers exposed to asbestos in the construction, shipbuilding and Asbestos Law automotive manufacturing industries among others, suffer from severe diseases like mesothelioma (lung cancer) or asbestosis or the pleural effusion (inflammation of lungs' lining). If you've been identified with a condition that is related to asbestos exposure, you are entitled to compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.

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

The statutes of limitation differ in each state for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. It is essential to hire a mesothelioma lawyer to make sure that you don't exceed the deadline for filing an action.

Once the legal process has begun your lawyer will begin working on your behalf to gather and investigate evidence. They will interview you and any former employers, landowners, or other individuals that were involved in your exposure asbestos. They will also look into the specifics of your case to determine the extent, where, and when you were exposed.

Most asbestos cases are handled by a contingency-fee system. This means that your attorney will be paid a percentage of the compensation you receive. Your attorney will also pay any expenses associated with your case If you win an award or settlement they will receive their fees from the winning party.

If you and your asbestos attorney can't reach an agreement on the cost of a contingency you may choose to hire a different firm. However, the lawyers in the second firm must sign a contract that shares the costs and work.

Typically, mesothelioma victims and their family members receive compensation if they get an appeals court verdict in favor of the plaintiff. However, many asbestos lawsuits settle out of court. On average asbestos lawsuits that get an outcome that is successful will pay between $1 million and $1.4 million to the victims.

Going to Trial

Asbestos attorneys can assist their clients get compensation through settlement or winning a trial. Compensation is contingent upon a variety of aspects, including the duration of time and type of asbestos exposure and the severity of the symptoms. Asbestos lawsuits may award damages for physical pain and suffering, loss of income and future earnings, medical expenses, and household expenses like childcare transportation, housekeeping and childcare.

Compensation for wrongful death claims can be obtained through an asbestos lawsuit, which includes money to cover funeral costs and other expenses associated with the death of loved ones. In addition family members could be entitled to compensation for the emotional distress and grief caused by the death of a loved one.

Lawyers who have experience in asbestos litigation may aid victims of mesothelioma lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses to seek compensation from responsible asbestos manufacturers. In addition, mesothelioma lawyers could provide assistance in filing claims using trust funds set up by asbestos companies that went bankrupt.

It isn't always easy to determine who is accountable for an asbestos-related illness because of the lengthy time between exposure and the an onset of symptoms. In addition, evidence may disappear or be destroyed over time, and asbestos-related companies may cease to be in business, thereby complicating the situation even more.

The lawyer representing mesothelioma plaintiffs must determine all possible asbestos-related asbestos companies and asbestos products involved in the claim before submitting an action. A knowledgeable attorney will then conduct an extensive 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 manufacturers accountable for the hardworking people they exposed to this dangerous material. They have secured more than $1 billion in compensation for their clients over the years. The firm has won a number of notable verdicts like the $22 million verdict for an Navy veteran who contracted mesothelioma from repairing boilers aboard ships. Another $8 million verdict for a construction worker who died from exposure to asbestos in joint sealing compounds in an Manhattan high-rise.