Mesothelioma Lawyers & Your Legal Rights

Each year, thousands of people pass away or become ill due to the negligence of asbestos manufacturers and the development of asbestos-related disease. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos such as mesothelioma, you may have legal options for compensation. In recent years, mesothelioma litigation has helped thousands receive financial assistance to cover medical expenses and lost income.

Mesothelioma, which is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, and other asbestos-related illnesses are attributed to negligence because companies that manufactured asbestos-containing products knew about the health risks of asbestos exposure, but decided not to tell employees or leak this information to the general public. It is believed that companies which manufactured asbestos-containing materials knew about these hazards as early as the 1920s.

By the 1930s and '40s, medical evidence had clearly linked asbestos exposure to lung disease and deadly asbestos cancers. Although asbestos companies were warned of these dangers, many chose not to use alternative substances in order to keep their profits high. Mesothelioma litigation exists because of these unethical actions and asbestos manufacturers are held liable for the undue suffering of those coping with asbestos-related disease. To read more about this corporate scandal, please see The Asbestos Cover-Up.

Those diagnosed with mesothelioma have legal options and may seek compensation through mesothelioma litigation. Filing a claim against the entity responsible for your asbestos exposure may result in compensation for the costs, as well as pain and suffering, associated with asbestos-induced illnesses. The following include some of the expenses for which compensation may be pursued:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Group support for you and your loved ones
• Funeral expenses
• Travel expenses relating to medical treatments
• Other expenses not covered by health insurance

A mesothelioma lawyer can review additional expenses that could be covered under each claim, as each case varies. It is important to save all medical and financial records relating to asbestos-induced illness for this purpose. Aside from providing these types of documents and answering questions about how you may have been exposed to asbestos, you will not have to be involved with other stages of the case. Mesothelioma lawyers understand their clients may be too tired to deal with the details of filing a lawsuit or attending trial. For this reason, mesothelioma lawyers handle every aspect of the case.

Mesothelioma Litigation - Types of Lawsuits

There are two types of lawsuits that can be filed in asbestos injury cases. If a family member has passed away from an asbestos-related disease, a wrongful death suit can be filed. In a personal injury claim, the individual suffering with an asbestos-related illness must be the one to file suit. Specific rights in these lawsuits depend on the county and state where the case is filed.

Employees of companies that used asbestos are not the only individuals who have rights against asbestos manufacturers. Although the vast majority of mesothelioma litigation cases are between primary asbestos exposure victims and the manufacturers of asbestos containing products, other groups have rights as well. For example, if you experienced secondary exposure and have developed an asbestos-related disease because a spouse or family member worked with asbestos, you may also have a claim.

Additional Resources

Resources available at Asbestos.com can only offer basic assistance in understanding the generalities of the mesothelioma litigation process.  If you seek legal information, it is always a good idea to  speak with a qualified lawyer of your choosing to ensure that you get accurate information regarding any potential claim that you might have.