What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is the most serious asbestos causing disease. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum). For many years asbestos manufacturers have claimed that cigarette smoking caused mesothelioma, however medical research has clearly proven that mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure.
How many People are affected with Mesothelioma each year?
There are currently about 3000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40. It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of mesothelioma before 2020. Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos. That means that if you worked around asbestos 50 years ago, you could be developing mesothelioma now.
How long after filing a mesothelioma claim will I receive financial compensation?
Recovering compensation and the amount of that compensation depend on many things. Factors such as the state and county where the case is filed, as well as the judge assigned to the case, can have a very large impact on how quickly your case is set for trial and, therefore, how soon you will be able to receive any payments. If you have a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis and are still living, you will likely receive some money within 4 months from some of the defendants. Your case will be completely finished in approximately one to two years.
How much time and involvement does a mesothelioma lawsuit take from both the mesothelioma patient and family?
Mesothelioma patients and their families are going through a very difficult time and need to concentrate on health care, not legal issues. With this in mind and because most cases settle out of court, little involvement is required beyond the initial and product identification meetings and in some situations a deposition.
Will I have to go to trial? I would prefer to settle rather than going through a full trial?
Most mesothelioma cases settle without having to go to trial. It is highly unlikely that you will have to go to trial.
How much will it cost me to bring a lawsuit?
In most cases attorney fees can range from 33% to 40% range of the settlement. If an attorney is unable to collect money on your behalf, there is no cost or charge associated with your end of the agreement. This is important because the cost of a trial can become an enormous burden for a patient that is already suffering enough; therefore a lawyer that works with no upfront costs to you is a great asset.
All of the attorneys that we refer you to take asbestos and mesothelioma cases on a contingent fee basis. What this means is the law firm takes a percentage of the recovery. If there is no recovery the client is NOT responsible for any lawyer fees or any costs or expenses. Therefore, you are not taking any risks in filing a lawsuit.
Will I be responsible for huge expenses even if I don't receive any money?
No. Expenses are part of the costs to bring a lawsuit. If you don't receive any money, you are not responsible for the costs to bring that lawsuit.
How long do I have to file?
Each state has its own statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. In most cases, the statute of limitations for filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is one or two years from the date a person is diagnosed with the disease or, in the case of a wrongful death, the date that a person died of mesothelioma. It is very important to contact one of mesothelioma lawyers before the statute of limitation passes.
How Much Can I expect to receive in compensation?
Mesothelioma settlement figures in Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma cases generally range from hundreds of thousand to several millions. The settlement figure depends on a range of factors such as length of time exposed to asbestos, the state of exposure, your medical history and other such details. Each settlement is given on a case-by-case basis.
Your compensation will be determined by factors such as lost income, the laws in your state, and the parties responsible. Compensation for Mesothelioma can vary from several thousand to several million. Getting the highest possible compensation for your damages requires tough and experienced attorneys. Our mission is to match your case with those capable attorneys.
How soon can I talk to an attorney about my case?
Please carefully fill out our contact form and an attorney will contact you within 24 hours.
