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An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Victims of Asbestos-Related Diseases

A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer can assist victims of asbestos-related diseases. They include asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Many firms provide free case reviews for mesothelioma sufferers. This gives you the opportunity to learn about how a firm handles these claims and decide whether they are right for you.

A lawsuit against an asbestos-related company can result in compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other costs. However, litigation is expensive.

The history of asbestos law suits

Asbestos is a hazard naturally occurring mineral that is used to create insulation and fire resistance. For many years, it was used in a variety of manufacturing, industrial, and commercial settings in New York and across the nation. Many of these establishments, including power plants, textile mills and shipyards, exposed workers to significant amounts of asbestos on a regular basis. Some of these workers later developed mesothelioma or other lung diseases directly related to their exposure. People who are affected should consult an expert New York mesothelioma attorney to help them receive the compensation they deserve.

When the first lawsuits were filed in the latter half of 1960, scientists confirmed what people had believed - that exposure to asbestos causes lung damage and disease. This discovery triggered a flood of claims that led to dozens of asbestos companies to declare bankruptcy. In the bankruptcy proceedings, these companies set up asbestos trust funds for victims and their families. The amount that was paid to these trusts is currently in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Although Congress has attempted to pass legislation that would end the asbestos litigation process these bills have failed for a variety of reasons. For instance they didn't address how to treat mesothelioma patients who are suffering from recurrences of their illness or who are deceased.

Another obstacle has been the asbestos defense industry's efforts to undermine and discredit the scientific consensus that all forms of asbestos even at very low levels, are capable of causing mesothelioma, lung cancer as well as other asbestos-related diseases. These campaigns include obtaining funding and publishing articles that are intended to support the asbestos industry's arguments in the courtroom.

Individual cases can be consolidated into multidistrict litigations to speed the process. In 1991, a judge consolidated 885 asbestos lawsuits against power plants to speed the resolution of these cases. Plaintiffs may appeal a ruling between 30 and 180 days. This could delay any financial award. Based on the outcome of the appeal a defendant could be legally required to pay a bond for any award of money.

Making a Claim

An asbestos lawyer can help individuals and families in filing various types of asbestos claims. These claims could be for reimbursement for medical expenses, funeral fees lost income, loss in consortium or consortium, pain and suffering and other damages. They may also sue companies for exposing asbestos workers. They may also help veterans make a claim to the Veteran's Administration for disability compensation.

A lawyer who is specialized in asbestos litigation can review your case free of charge to determine if you are eligible for legal options. They can explain the different legal procedures and answer any questions you might have. They will often visit your hospital or at home to consult and operate on a contingency fee, so you will not be held accountable for any upfront legal fees.

If a client employs an asbestos lawyer, he or will need to ensure that the lawsuit is filed in line to the applicable statute of limitations. The majority of states require victims to make an asbestos lawsuit within a couple of years of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related illness. It can be difficult to determine the time a person was exposed to asbestos because the symptoms don't usually manifest until years after exposure. An experienced asbestos attorney can assist clients in understanding the laws specific to their state and ensure that the suit is filed on time.

After submitting a complaint, mesothelioma lawyers will collect evidence to support your claim. This includes company records and interviews conducted with your family. They may also request old documents from asbestos-related companies that could reveal negligent behavior.

A skilled asbestos lawyer can help you start a lawsuit to claim wrongful death if your loved one died of mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related disease. In a suit for wrongful death, survivors can seek compensation for funeral expenses, emotional distress and loss of companionship. They can also seek punitive damages against the asbestos company.

A good asbestos attorney has the ability to quickly access records from different states and asbestos companies, and can offer you more legal options than any local law firm would offer. The national resources of an asbestos law firm could provide victims with a better chance of obtaining substantial compensation.

Preparing for the trial

Asbestos is a noxious mineral which was used for asbestos litigation many years in industrial work. Workers exposed to asbestos in the shipbuilding, construction and automotive manufacturing industries, among others, suffer from severe illnesses such as mesothelioma (lung cancer) asbestosis, the pleural effusion (inflammation of lungs' lining). If you've been identified as having a disease related to asbestos exposure, you're entitled to compensation. An experienced New York asbestos lawyer can help you recover damages.

A mesothelioma lawyer can assist you file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against companies accountable for your exposure. A mesothelioma lawsuit will allow you to receive financial compensation for medical expenses and lost wages as well as pain and discomfort, emotional distress, etc.

State statutes of limitation differ for personal injury and wrongful deaths lawsuits. You need an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who can ensure you don't miss the deadline for filing a claim.

Once the legal process has begun the attorney will work on your behalf to conduct an investigation and gather evidence. They will interview both you and any former landowner, employer, or other persons who may have been involved in your asbestos exposure. They will also examine the details of your situation to determine if they came to know when, where, and how you were exposed.

Most asbestos cases are handled by a contingency fee, meaning that the attorney takes a percentage of any compensation you receive for your representation. Your attorney will also be responsible for any expenses associated with your case, and if you win a judgment or settlement, they will collect their fees from the winner.

If you and your asbestos legal attorney are unable to reach an agreement on an hourly fee, you can hire another firm. The attorneys of the second firm must sign a contract that shares the cost of work and fees.

Typically, mesothelioma patients and their families are awarded compensation after obtaining an appeals court verdict in favor of the plaintiff. However, many asbestos lawsuits are settled out 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 lawyers are able to help their clients obtain compensation through either a settlement or successful trial verdict. Compensation is determined by a number of factors, including the length of exposure to asbestos as well as the severity and frequency of symptoms. Asbestos lawsuit damages could include damages for pain and suffering, loss of income and future earnings as well as medical expenses and childcare, transportation and housekeeping.

Compensation for wrongful death claims can also be obtained through an asbestos lawsuit, which will pay for funeral costs and other expenses associated with the death of loved ones. Additionally family members could be entitled to compensation for the emotional stress and grief caused by the death of a loved one.

Lawyers who have experience in asbestos litigation can aid victims of mesothelioma lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses seek compensation from responsible asbestos manufacturers. Additionally, mesothelioma lawyers are able to assist in filing claims with trust funds created by asbestos companies that have gone bankrupt.

The time between the time of exposure to asbestos and the onset of illness can make it difficult to determine which defendants are responsible for an asbestos-related disease. In addition, evidence may disappear or be lost over time and asbestos companies can cease to be in business, thereby complicating the case further.

When you file an asbestos lawsuit the plaintiff's mesothelioma lawyer should identify every potential asbestos manufacturer and asbestos product involved in the case. A knowledgeable attorney will then conduct an exhaustive investigation of each asbestos product and asbestos manufacturer to ensure that the case has all the facts.

Belluck and Fox's asbestos lawyers have been holding negligent asbestos producers accountable for the hardworking employees they exposed to this dangerous material. Over the years, they have been able to secure more than one billion dollars in compensation for their clients. The firm has won significant verdicts like the $22 million verdict for a Navy veteran who contracted mesothelioma from repairing boilers aboard ships and another $8 million verdict for an employee of a construction firm who died from exposure to asbestos in joint sealing compounds at an Manhattan high rise.