Mesothelioma Legal

Mesothelioma can hit a victim and his or her family quick and hard. It is important that victims receive immediate and competent medical care once diagnosed. However, the affected family is often unprepared for such a blow and unable to support the resulting medical expenses.

Since the only known cause of mesothelioma is repeated asbestos exposure, manufactures utilizing asbestos can be held liable for damages and medical expenses associated with the disease.

An aggressive attorney representing your interests can work to ensure that the companies responsible for you or your loved one’s illness are held financially accountable. If you or a loved one is in need of an attorney who is not only experienced and competent but also compassionate, contact one of our qualified asbestos attorneys today. We will secure the maximum financial compensation possible and help relieve your financial burden during this difficult period.

Who is to Blame?
There are a number of companies involved in the production, use, and distribution of asbestos containing materials. The list provided below includes companies that manufacture asbestos products and those affected by asbestos litigation. Awareness of the major companies in this industry can aid mesothelioma victims in etermining where asbestos exposure may have taken place.

The initial groundbreaking asbestos litigation first held the following asbestos companies accountable for their negligent actions:

Owens Corning
Pittsburgh Corning
GAF / Ruberoid
Carey / Celotex / Rapid American
Babcock & Wilson

Listed below are other asbestos related companies that may be responsible for asbestos exposure:

The corporations named above do not represent a comprehensive list of asbestos companies responsible for exposing consumers to their dangerous product. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact a qualified attorney at our firm for legal assistance.

What the companies didn’t tell you
There is evidence that the manufacturers of asbestos knew about the risk this dangerous substance posed to workers long before they did anything to ensure safe working conditions. By the 1930s, asbestos companies were aware that inhalation of asbestos fibers increased the risk of developing serious health problems. However, documentation has revealed that the manufacturers of asbestos concealed its dangers to consumers in order to maintain the sales of their products.

From the 1940s to the 1960s, medical and scientific journals began to establish an association between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. Researchers found that individuals exposed to asbestos fibers developed mesothelioma at a higher rate than individuals who were not exposed. As these findings were revealed and the number of mesothelioma cases grew, victims and attorneys began to hold asbestos companies responsible for their negligent actions through asbestos litigation.

Because asbestos companies knew their products were hazardous to their employees’ health, mesothelioma cases in which the plaintiff can prove asbestos exposure can result in significant monetary recompense. Hiring an experienced mesothelioma attorney can greatly increase your chances of being awarded compensation.

Five Tips to the Legal Process for Mesothelioma Patients

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. Below are five tips to consider:

1) You Were Probably Exposed to Asbestos
Some mesothelioma patients know they worked around asbestos, but many do not how they were exposed. In fact, many are not sure if they were ever near this carcinogen. Unfortunately, there have been thousands of products that contain asbestos - cigarette filters, hair dryers, brakes, basement and roof materials, pipes, boilers, insulation, and many other products found throughout the home and at work. Mesothelioma patients are often not aware that the products around them contained this carcinogen. Also, the latency period (the time from asbestos exposure to mesothelioma diagnosis) can be over 30 years. 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. A skilled lawyer can help you identify the various ways you were exposed.

2) Don't Wait to Discover Your Legal Options
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 file a claim? should I talk to a lawyer? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:
A. 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. If you wait past this time period you cannot file. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.
B. Financial Pressure - A 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 great financial relief, make more treatment options available, and remove at least one stress.
C. 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.

3) Don't Pick an Attorney Based Solely on TV Ads
Many asbestos lawyers advertise on television, however, you should not use a TV commercial as the sole 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 cancer cases? How many other cases like yours have they handled?

4) Make Sure You Understand Fees
Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. Nearly all asbestos related lawsuits are handled on a contingency basis. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies by state. It is usually between 33% and 40% of the amount that is awarded to you after expenses are deducted. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.

5) Ask Yourself if This is a "Trusted Partner"
For something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who keeps you well informed. You have the right to know and understand every step of the legal process and to be included in key decisions about your case. You should ask a potential attorney to explain how they intend to include you in the decision-making.