The first mesothelioma claim was made in 1929. The next claim didn’t appear until over 30 years later in the 1960s when asbestos was widely identified as the main cause of mesothelioma. According to records, claims regarding asbestos resulting in mesothelioma are now in the billions of dollars thanks to over 600,000 cases in the US alone. A key factor in the increasing amount of asbestos/mesothelioma claims being filed is the amount of time it takes for symptoms to appear, sometimes taking as long as 50 years. Mesothelioma is a cancer nobody deserves, especially when no warnings of the high risk disease was presented every time someone entered a building insulated by asbestos, the main source of mesothelioma. By filing a mesothelioma claim you are teaching the big companies and corporations that you want them to look into working conditions and not just go with the cheapest, highest profit solutions.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma you may be eligible to file a claim to reimburse all of your medical expenses. Being eligible for legal action is not common knowledge to mesothelioma sufferers. It is our goal is to fix that by educating you on all the important information required on filing a claim for mesothelioma. In this article we will break down the basics steps on: filing a mesothelioma claim, what is required, who you need to speak to, and most importantly who is eligible.
Am I Eligible To File A Mesothelioma Claim?
You are eligible to file a mesothelioma claim if you have suffered one or more of these unfortunate losses due to mesothelioma: medical expenses, loss of income, loss of earning potential, physical disability, mental disability, and/or psychological suffering. Have you suffered something due to mesothelioma that is not listed? A specialized lawyer will try to assist you in winning these priceless expenses back.
It is important to remember the statue of limitations when considering filing a mesothelioma claim, as it will affect your eligibility. What this means is that there is a restriction on the time you have since the initial “injury” to file a mesothelioma claim. This seems quite convenient considering some people do not see any symptoms of mesothelioma until over 40 years after initial contact with asbestos. This amount of time as well as the definition of “injury” will vary depending on your state making this an important factor to consider before moving on and arranging a meeting with your law firm.
Filing a Claim
Filing a claim for mesothelioma isn’t as difficult as it is made out to be. It requires only patience, time, and cooperation with your law firm of choice. Step one requires you to contact a law firm and arrange a meeting. Some law firms consider themselves specialists in mesothelioma related cases based on their previous successes in court regarding mesothelioma claims. It may be a wise decision to seek out one of these firms because of their experience. They will know what to expect in court as they have gone through the process many times before. Once you meet with the law firm of choice they will go through your mesothelioma history with you. This includes your work history, where and when you were first in contact with asbestos, your symptoms of mesothelioma and what treatment has been/will be required because of mesothelioma. After your mesothelioma history is collected you will team up with a specialty lawyer to use that information to decide on specifics such as; whom exactly are you seeking compensation from? Depending on your specific case it may be a government organization, your employer, or even a company that claimed to remove the asbestos from the location you contracted mesothelioma from. After the specifics are discussed you will have a basic outline of how things will be carried on with. This is where you make your decision on whether or not you are pleased with this plan, and the law firm which has laid things out for you. If you decide to stick with a law firm after this consultation you will likely sign an agreement detailing how you will proceed to take legal action regarding your case. The agreement may include incentives including not having to pay unless the case is won. Be sure to ask about this during your consultation.
Proceeding Actions
Now that you have discovered you are eligible to file a mesothelioma claim and you have chosen a law firm to represent you in filing the claim, it is now time for you to give your specialty lawyer the raw specifics in order for him/her to ensure a solid push in court. At this stage your job is to give your lawyer enough information so they are able to prove the exact location you were exposed to asbestos at, which company or corporation was responsible for the asbestos being exposed, and the end result/damages the exposed asbestos and the resulting mesothelioma has caused you and your family. At this point in filing a mesothelioma claim it is critical that you cooperate with your lawyer and give them every single detail regarding your mesothelioma. Even details you think are minor could be the turning point in the case. Your lawyer needs as much information as they can get in order to build a strong case.
Sit Back And Watch
After you have assisted your lawyer in providing him/her with all the information you could possibly give them regarding your mesothelioma there really isn’t too much you can do yourself. The best advice for you would be to regularly contact your lawyer to make sure he doesn’t need anymore information. As you may have learned, the more information a mesothelioma lawyer has to work with, the easier your case will go. However, I must stress that once your lawyer has all the information he/she needs, leave them alone! You will not be of assistance if you are interrupting your lawyers work. It is best to work out an agreement with your lawyer that he/she will call you once every 24 hours with updates on the case as well with any questions he/she may have regarding your case. This bit of advice is not specific to mesothelioma cases, but does also apply to them.
That is all it takes to file a mesothelioma case. It is a very simple task that requires only your ongoing communication that can result in only positive things for you, and other mesothelioma patients.
