The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you have fallen victim to mesothelioma, you will need a seasoned mesothelioma attorney to represent you. While you might see services advertised on late-night television, you probably aren’t comfortable dealing with a lawyer based on a commercial. This condition has likely profoundly affected you, so you want an attorney you can connect with personally.
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that currently has no cure. The primary cause of this disease is asbestos exposure, a commonly used fire-protection material for many decades. To read more and learn about other toxic torts click this link.
By the time the dangers and health hazards of asbestos were discovered, the substance was pervasive in buildings, car brakes and stoves all over the country, affecting the very fabric of life.
According to Cancer.net, about 3,000 people annually are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Many jurisdictions have strict time limitations to file a claim after you have been diagnosed.
The diagnosis often comes when the disease has advanced, so you will want to secure a competent personal injury lawyer. This will involve interviewing potential candidates and covering the following topics to ensure you retain the best possible professional for you and your case.
Experience in Handling High-Profile Cases
Although asbestos has been proven to contain cancer-causing elements, it is still mined and sold outside of the United States. Many companies have been sued for asbestos exposure, including Johns Manville Corporation, Mobile Oil Corporation, and the Owens Corning Corporation. As a result, some class action lawsuits have made headlines in recent years.
When you are looking for a mesothelioma lawyer, you will want to choose someone with experience handling these high-profile cases. Your attorney should have experience in suing large corporations and being involved in a case that receives plenty of national and global attention. A novice personal injury lawyer will not have the background to handle your case competently. You will want to find one with the experience, courage, and resources necessary to secure the most favorable outcome possible for you.
A History of Serious Injury Cases
Before you hire an attorney, ask him or her about their success in past cases. Your mesothelioma lawyer should have a documented track record of strong results in these tough and highly sensitive cases.
When you file your personal injury claim against the offending company, the defense team will research your lawyer’s history to find any cracks in their armor. While your goal is to seek the maximum compensation to help your family, the opposition is only interested in winning.
Suppose your personal injury lawyer does not have a winning track record. In that case, the defense team will find any possible weaknesses in your lawyer’s approach to exploiting the company’s advantage. When you sue a corporation for causing you to contract mesothelioma, you need to prepare for a fight and understand that the opposition will do everything possible to win. A solid legal team with the right lawyer will prepare to dig in and help you succeed in battle.
This is not the time to speak to your family law or criminal defense attorney. You will want to find an attorney who can assemble the correct team to get you the best result possible. Suppose the lawyer you choose does not already have a history of securing high-profile victories in mesothelioma cases. In that case, you want to ensure that your chosen attorney can get you the best team of attorneys possible for the best result. You want an attorney who has already shown that they can bring together the right talented attorneys and medical experts to ensure you will have a positive result.
Exceptional Resources
To win a mesothelioma case, your legal team must present a lot of accurate data from various sources. They will need to do the following:
- gather medical data from several specialists,
- research an accurate history of the company you are suing,
- submit proof of your work history and
- obtain information that directly ties your condition to the defendant.
This extensive data requires many doctors, private investigators, and other professionals who provide accurate information for cases like this. Not only will you need extensive and detailed information, but that information also needs to stand up in court against the defendant’s team of lawyers and experts.
To win your case, you need a mesothelioma lawyer with a tremendous network of renowned professionals to back him or her. Your case will also last a long time. Defense attorneys are professionals at dragging out the case so their client does not have to pay quickly. Remember, it is a marathon and not a sprint.
During your interview, ask each potential lawyer about their network of professionals and the resources they can bring to the table. You should do your homework and research those resources to confirm their history and ensure they are not exaggerating. Any lawyer can present you with a list of people with degrees to try and impress you. Still, the personal injury lawyer you want will have legitimate resources with actual histories of solid contributions to winning cases.
One of the most important factors is whether the law firm you choose can finance the case. Mesothelioma cases require large amounts of medical and expert fees that must be paid along the way.
Securing the Maximum Possible Compensation
As of 2016, $30 billion is being held by various asbestos trusts, set up by asbestos companies to pay claims made by former company workers who have contracted mesothelioma. This means that compensation is available to you if you win your case. However, each mesothelioma case differs, with various factors that can affect your case, including:
- Your age
- The severity of your condition
- How long have you worked for the company in question
- Your earning potential
- The length of your exposure to asbestos and more.
As such, you want to ensure you receive the maximum compensation for your situation. Ask the attorneys you are interviewing hard questions about their knowledge of how the asbestos trust works. While the asbestos trust is often the parachute companies use to pay settlements, it is not necessarily the best path for every case. The lawyer you choose needs to understand all of your compensation options, which include options outside of any trusts or other protective measures set up for the affected companies.
Your lawyer should have a history of maximizing client awards. You can find this information with a little research. Since you are already talking to attorneys with similar backgrounds and experience, you can compare their award histories and see which attorney consistently wins the biggest settlements or verdicts for their clients. A knowledgeable lawyer will show a trend of consistently outperforming other attorneys when it comes to maximizing compensation.
This case is about securing a future for your family that you never had the chance to secure. Mesothelioma can rob you of your ability to work, limit your income-making opportunities, and prevent you from buying life insurance to protect your family financially. For most people with mesothelioma, compensation from their lawsuits is the only way to care for their families. That is why maximizing your compensation from your lawsuit is so important.
As you review your choices for a mesothelioma lawyer, remember that you should expect your attorney to be compassionate, professional, and respectful throughout the process. You are facing an uncertain future at the hands of a terminal disease, and the last thing you need is stress or aggravation from the legal team that should be helping you during this difficult time.
They should focus on making you feel as comfortable as possible while doing their best to secure your family’s future.
Attorneys who regularly handle mesothelioma cases have extensive experience in helping shape their approach to their clients. You can see the results of this experience when you talk to each attorney you are considering. Each legal team will have a certain vision and style of dealing with clients.
Even if a certain lawyer has a great track record, you might not connect with him or her. Trust your instincts. The attorneys that show extra compassion and professionalism usually have the track record and experience you need.
The paperwork and administrative red tape that a company these cases can overwhelm a rookie before they even start. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer understands clients’ frustration when their case starts to get bogged down in paperwork.
Time is precious in your case, and an experienced attorney understands that. You can expect a competent legal team to tackle your case with patience and reassurance while working to resolve your case as efficiently as possible without unnecessary delays.
You should not face your battle against mesothelioma alone or with an ineffective legal team. Take the time to research the best mesothelioma lawyers, and then choose the one who provides you with the most confidence in their abilities.
Contact Smiley Law Firm About Your Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Contact our Smiley Law Firm today to learn more about filing your claim. Remember that consultations for mesothelioma cases are always free. However, due to the laws surrounding these time-sensitive cases, you have a limited time to file.
We are a leading national legal firm with live chat available 24/7. Our years of experience in winning client cases, just like you, mean that we understand what you are going through. Contact our firm today to make a no-obligation and no-cost appointment for an initial consultation with one of our compassionate and professional attorneys. Let us help you secure the compensation you deserve for you and your family.
