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If you or a family member were recently diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you might be struggling to come to terms with this devastating news. It’s common to feel helpless during this time, but it’s important to know that you’re not, as you have the option to file a mesothelioma claim for financial compensation with the help of skilled mesothelioma lawyers.
While taking legal action can’t cure mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, it can ensure you get the money you deserve while dealing with a deadly illness you developed through no fault of your own. So, if you’re worried about how you’ll afford the medical expenses and lifestyle changes that come with a mesothelioma diagnosis, you should consider filing a mesothelioma claim to get compensated by the at-fault party.
A qualified mesothelioma attorney from Frost Law Firm will provide the guidance you’ll need throughout the legal process, so contact our law office to learn more about mesothelioma lawsuits.
What Should You Know About Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that grows in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue lining most internal organs. There are a few types of mesothelioma, with the most common kind being pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs.
However, some mesothelioma patients suffer from less common forms of this disease, such as peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdominal lining. Much rarer forms of this cancer include pericardial mesothelioma, which grows on the tissue surrounding the heart, and testicular mesothelioma.
The specific symptoms and life expectancy tend to vary depending on the stage and type of mesothelioma you have, but one detail that all mesothelioma cases share is that this disease often results in death within a matter of months.
More specifically, if you have pleural mesothelioma like most mesothelioma patients do, your symptoms could include chest pain, dry cough, shortness of breath, and sudden weight loss. The average life expectancy for mesothelioma patients is about six months without treatment and approximately one to two years with treatment, though this varies based on several factors.
Another detail that nearly all mesothelioma cases have in common is the cause, as this cancer is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. This is because simply breathing around asbestos can make you inhale asbestos fibers, which can eventually lead to mesothelioma.
Unfortunately, many jobs over the years have subjected employees to constant asbestos exposure, especially those in industries that include construction, mining, manufacturing, plumbing, remodeling, HVAC, and the Navy, to name a few. Even living with someone who has asbestos exposure through work can result in mesothelioma, as can living in a home that has asbestos inside it.
If you or a family member were diagnosed with mesothelioma after years of asbestos exposure, you deserve to seek compensation from asbestos manufacturers. After all, they were aware that their product was hazardous, but they decided to keep that information to themselves so they could keep profiting as thousands of people died.
This is why our compassionate mesothelioma lawyers work hard to help patients with the mesothelioma claims process as they pursue compensation. If you have questions about filing a mesothelioma claim, contact our skilled mesothelioma attorneys for the legal assistance you deserve.
What Types of Mesothelioma Claims Can You File?
You should not have to worry about how you’ll pay for your medical expenses when you’re facing a life-threatening asbestos-related illness. This is why patients are urged to take legal action against the asbestos companies that are at fault for the asbestos exposure that often causes mesothelioma. When you file a mesothelioma claim with the help of experienced mesothelioma lawyers, you can get the compensation you need to pay for medical bills and more.
Before you begin the legal process, you and your mesothelioma lawyer will need to determine what type of asbestos claim is the right one to pursue, as there are several to choose from. This decision will depend on a few factors, such as when and where the asbestos exposure occurred and whether the victim is still alive.
An experienced mesothelioma attorney can look at the details of your case before recommending the right mesothelioma claim for you. Note that you may be able to file a couple of types of mesothelioma claims, depending on your asbestos exposure history.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
If you’re unsure if you want to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, you should ask your mesothelioma lawyer about asbestos trust fund claims. These are trusts that bankrupt asbestos companies were required to set up for victims. After all, as these companies started to face personal injury claims for mesothelioma compensation, many declared bankruptcy to avoid having to pay what they owed.
Fortunately, they couldn’t get away with this without first setting up asbestos bankruptcy trusts, which still have billions of dollars available for paying mesothelioma claims. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to discuss whether an asbestos trust fund claim is the right way for you to seek mesothelioma compensation.
Veterans Affairs Claims
If you’re a veteran whose asbestos exposure happened on the job, you can file a mesothelioma claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In fact, a large percentage of mesothelioma claims are filed by veterans since asbestos was present in many planes, ships, and buildings used by the armed forces for years.
If you file a mesothelioma claim through the Department of Veterans Affairs, note that you can still file a personal injury lawsuit in addition to this legal claim. Your mesothelioma lawyer can help you through both types of legal claims so you get the mesothelioma compensation you deserve.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
If you lost a family member to mesothelioma, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim on their behalf. This type of settlement should result in enough money to pay for their funeral and burial costs, hospital bills, lost wages, and any other expenses that their estate or family members have incurred due to their death. A skilled mesothelioma lawyer will guide you through your wrongful death claim from start to finish so you can pursue compensation on behalf of your loved one.
What Compensation Can You Seek When You File Mesothelioma Claims?
While the types of mesothelioma claims you can file may differ, they all have the same purpose, which is to provide mesothelioma patients with the financial assistance they need. In particular, your mesothelioma compensation should pay for all costs associated with this asbestos-related disease so you do not have to pay for them out of your own pocket.
Skilled asbestos attorneys who have handled numerous mesothelioma claims also work hard to get their clients additional money to ensure they and their family members can afford more than just medical bills.
The mesothelioma law firm you choose will give you an estimate of the compensation to expect depending on the details of your mesothelioma claims.
If you want to get an idea of how much to expect from your mesothelioma claim, you should schedule a consultation with an asbestos attorney to discuss the damages you may be entitled to. Most mesothelioma lawsuits get asbestos victims or their family members compensation for economic and non-economic damages, which can include:
- Medical expenses, including hospital stays, medication, and home healthcare
- Bills for future medical treatment, such as physical therapy, surgery, and end-of-life care
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earning capacity
- Loss of companionship
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Punitive damages
Your asbestos attorney will review these and other costs associated with asbestos-related diseases before determining an amount to request for your mesothelioma claim. However, actual expenses aren’t the only factors considered when determining suitable compensation for mesothelioma claims. The following details can also make a significant difference in your mesothelioma compensation:
- The type of asbestos claim you file, since mesothelioma lawsuits often lead to different amounts than asbestos trust fund claims and other legal claims do
- The state where you file a mesothelioma claim
- How many companies you file asbestos claims against
- How much proof of negligence you have
- The amount of harm the asbestos exposure caused you and your family members
Once your asbestos attorney fully understands your case, they will advise you on what type of mesothelioma claim to make and how much compensation to expect. Mesothelioma victims deserve to collect as much financial assistance as they need for medical bills and more, whether they do so through asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, Veterans Affairs asbestos claims, or other types of mesothelioma claims.
Contact our trusted mesothelioma law firm if you’re ready to discuss filing a mesothelioma claim with caring lawyers.
What Can You Expect from the Mesothelioma Claim Process?
If you wish to seek compensation for your asbestos-related disease, you should start researching mesothelioma law firms that have helped numerous mesothelioma victims with their asbestos claims. Most offer free initial consultations so asbestos victims can learn more about the mesothelioma claims process before they commit to taking legal action. Once you talk to a lawyer with asbestos litigation experience, you will find out if you have a case worth pursuing.
At that point, your lawyer will discuss your legal options. These might include filing personal injury lawsuits or wrongful death claims, or pursuing money from asbestos trust funds held by bankrupt asbestos companies.
Your lawyer will consider the details of your case before recommending the most effective way to get the compensation you need to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses you likely have as a mesothelioma patient.
Once you and your lawyer agree on the type of asbestos claim to make, they will begin the process of finding evidence that you were exposed to asbestos through no fault of your own. This will involve reviewing your work history to determine where and when the asbestos exposure happened. Your lawyer will then collect your medical records to prove that you began experiencing symptoms of asbestos-related diseases in the years after the asbestos exposure.
The next step for your case will depend on what type of asbestos claim you plan to pursue. Most asbestos victims find it’s faster and simpler to get compensated through asbestos trust funds and veterans benefits than through other types of asbestos claims, such as lawsuits.
However, you might not have to choose between them, depending on the details of your case as a mesothelioma patient. For example, asbestos victims who can prove their asbestos diseases are the fault of two or more parties can seek mesothelioma compensation from both an asbestos trust fund claim and a lawsuit.
Similarly, the family members of deceased asbestos victims may be able to file wrongful death claims against more than one party so they get the maximum compensation on behalf of their loved ones. If you have questions about the asbestos litigation process, it’s time to contact a trusted law firm that has helped countless asbestos victims get their rightful compensation.
At Frost Law Firm, our compassionate lawyers believe anyone exposed to asbestos deserves to seek justice from the at-fault parties that put profits over safety for years. When you contact our law firm for a free consultation, our legal team will answer any questions you have about trust fund claims, wrongful death lawsuits, the statute of limitations that could affect your case, and other complex legal matters.
If you’re ready to find out what compensation you’re entitled to, call us at 866-FROST-WINS to schedule your initial consultation with a caring, experienced mesothelioma attorney prepared to fight for you.