The risks of asbestos are well-known to us nowadays, which is why new rules and regulations have been developed and introduced in order to vastly reduce the usage of asbestos around the US, and many other countries worldwide as well.
Unfortunately, for a very long time, the serious side effects of asbestos exposure went unnoticed, and many people found themselves living in asbestos-filled homes or working with asbestos on a daily basis, putting themselves at great risk of severe long-term illnesses.
Mesothelioma is one of the most severe conditions that can be caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The fibers travel down into the respiratory system, sticking in the mesothelium, leading to cell and DNA damage, which can ultimately cause tumors to grow and potentially lead to death within a few years of diagnosis.
While experts have been able to understand and prove how asbestos and mesothelioma are connected, many people fail when it comes to making the connection between exposure and mesothelioma, as the symptoms may develop many years after their first exposure.
Building a Case
If you've worked in asbestos mines, asbestos plants, construction, military facilities containing asbestos, etc. and later found yourself suffering from mesothelioma, a mesothelioma lawyer can help you build a case.
Asbestos attorneys and mesothelioma lawyers work to represent victims of asbestos exposure and their loved ones, pursuing compensation and justice for the negligence of their former employers. When you're looking for your mesothelioma lawyer, here are some key questions to ask.
How much experience do you have?
This is one of the most important questions to ask, so it might be one of the first to bring up in an interview or consultation. When it comes to complicated legal matters like mesothelioma cases, you need to be working with a lawyer who knows what they're doing. Find out how many years of experience they have and how many similar cases they've handled in the past.
Are you a specialist in asbestos and mesothelioma litigation?
This is another of the most vital questions to ask. Mesothelioma litigation can be immensely complicated and cases can involve far more complexities than typical personal injury claims, but if negotiated properly, they can lead to payouts of well over $1 million. This is why you definitely don't want to hire a simple, run of the mill, personal injury lawyer. Instead, you need to find a specialist who knows all about asbestos, mesothelioma, and associated issues.
What kinds of claims can you assist me with?
Be sure to ask your chosen lawyer what kinds of claims they can help you with too. Most lawyers are specialized in certain areas and some tend to only work with certain kinds of clients. They might be more used to dealing with work-related claims, like people who were exposed to asbestos in their day to day working lives, rather than home-related claims, like those who were living in asbestos-filled homes without being aware of the risks.
How much do you charge and how can I pay?
Obviously, payment is a key issue on the minds of many people when contacting a lawyer for the first time, so don't be afraid to bring it up and find out more. Lawyers can charge in various ways. Some will offer flat rates, while others will have more variables involved in their payment structure. Find out all you need to know about how much your attorney will expect to be paid and check how you will be expected to pay as well.
Are you able to file lawsuits in other states?
This can be another big issue to bring up when consulting with a mesothelioma lawyer. You may no longer be living in the same state as you were when you were exposed to asbestos, for instance, or the company responsible for your exposure may have relocated elsewhere. You need to make sure that the attorney you contact is actually able to file lawsuits in the right locations to suit the case at hand. If not, your case could fall flat before it even starts.
How will we communicate?
This can be an essential question to ask any kind of attorney the first time you contact them, as some lawyers can have totally different ways of working and communicating when compared to others. Some of them will be hyper-communicative, wanting to be in touch with you on a very regular basis to provide updates and share new information, while others will be more independent in their approach. It's up to you to find an attorney who communicates in a way that suits you.
How do you see the case progressing?
This is another good question to ask almost any kind of lawyer, as it gives you at least some idea of what the future might hold and what kinds of chances of success you actually have. Honest lawyers will let you know, right from the outset, what chances you have and how they can imagine the case playing out. If they don't think it has a great chance of success, they may be able to suggest alternative options for you to consider.
What level of success have you had with similar cases in the past?
This ties into some of the earlier questions, regarding how much experience the lawyer has and whether or not they're a specialist in asbestos and mesothelioma cases, but it's still an important one to bring up. After sharing some information about your case and situation, ask the lawyer if they've had similar cases and how they turned out. Again, this will give you some idea of how your own case may play out as time goes by.
Conclusion
If you've developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in the past, there's no need to suffer in silence. This disease is a terrible one to deal with, both for the patients themselves and their loved ones, but there is, at the very least, a way for you to seek some form of justice and compensation. Contact an asbestos attorney and start building your case today.
