Friday, February 6, 2009

How Effective are Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuits?

By Heidi Wingrain

If you're suffering from the effects of mesothelioma or someone in your family has been devastated by the disease, it could be to your benefit to file a lawsuit. After all, it's your legal right, and as a victim you aren't to blame for the disease that is ravaging your health and taking away your life. In these cases, you can either file a personal injury claim if you're the one who has contracted the disease, or you can file a wrongful death suit on the part of another person. The county and state where the lawsuits are being filed will make some differences on the kind of lawsuit you're eligible to file, but if you hire a lawyer specializing in mesothelioma cancer lawsuits, you're sure to come out ahead.

People who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma usually feel like their world has fallen apart. Any time we hear the word "cancer" we all think the worst, and mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that was brought on by working in an environment where asbestos was present. Even if you never worked in such a place but got the disease from close contact with a person who did, you still may be eligible to file a claim. If you know where it was that you worked with asbestos it's great, because your lawyer will be better able to expedite your claim. Even if you don't know where you came in contact with it, though, you should still look into filing a claim. The lawyer will be able to have research done to pinpoint where the exposure took place.

Time limits for filing mesothelioma lawsuits vary from state to state, so you'll want to check out what they are in the state where you're filing your suit to make sure that you don't act too late. Although most states have time limits from 1 to 2 years, be sure to check the laws where you are. Time limits are based on the date of diagnosis, and they hold true for both personal injury suits and wrongful death lawsuits. In both cases, failure to file within the time limits will result in your being unable to file a suit against your employer at any time in the future.

Don't hesitate to file mesothelioma lawsuits because you're afraid of what an expert lawyer is going to cost you. These people are well aware of the lost wages and medical bills you're already facing, and so they work on a no win, no fee basis. By so doing they guarantee that they will win your case and get adequate restitution for you or else the work they put in will be given free of charge.

After talking your claim over with your lawyer, you'll be able to get an idea of about how much he thinks he'll be able to get for you in restitution. The evidence that he can gather regarding your case and how severe of a disability the disease has caused you will help determine the amount of settlement you can expect. There have been many mesothelioma lawsuits in the past, and many of them have been settled for amounts in the 6 or even 7 figures. So, as soon as you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, hire a lawyer and start fighting for what is rightfully yours. - 15437

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