The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Exposure To Asbestos Lawsuit
How an Asbestos Lawyer Can Help You Understand Your Claim Options
A New York asbestos lawyer who is experienced can help victims to determine their options. A lawyer can identify where and when someone was exposed to the asbestos and which companies could be responsible.
A victim can bring a personal injury lawsuit, a wrongful-deaths lawsuit, or an asbestos trust fund claim. Each of these options has its own requirements and can result in different award.
Personal Injury Cases
Someone who is injured by asbestos exposure may bring a personal injury lawsuit to claim compensation. Based on the nature of injury, the victim may seek damages for medical expenses as well as lost wages, suffering and pain. The family members of the victim could also file an action for wrongful death to receive financial support and closure after losing a loved ones to asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma.
An employer or manufacturer can be held accountable for an asbestos lawsuit if it violated its legal obligation to safeguard workers from harm. A breach of a duty of an employer could be due to negligent hiring, training, or maintenance, or supervision. A defective product that leads to injuries may also be sold or supplied.
It is important to speak with an attorney as soon as you can after an exposure to asbestos because the laws of each state set time limits, known as statutes of limitations on the time a plaintiff must file an action. In mesothelioma cases, the statute of limitations starts to run when the victim is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
The kind of lawsuit one can file depend on the manner and location they were exposed. If asbestos was present at work, the victim may be able to file a premises liability lawsuit. A construction worker could be injured by asbestos in an energy plant or on the deck of a Navy vessel. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos by secondhand methods such as washing the clothes of a loved one can also make a personal injury claim.
Many mesothelioma lawsuits have been filed against large corporations as they were responsible for the victim's exposure to asbestos. Some of these cases have resulted in substantial jury awards and settlements. Companies have also been sued in class action lawsuits for how they handled asbestos on their premises.
The amount of compensation you could receive from a mesothelioma case is contingent on a number of factors such as your age at the time you were diagnosed as well as the prognosis and expectancy of your disease, the extent of your injuries and the extent of suffering and pain. Your lawyer and you must review your case details to determine the fair value of your mesothelioma case.
Product Liability Cases
The law on product liability permits asbestos-related victims to sue manufacturers, distributors and retailers who sold hazardous products that caused their exposure. These defendants may also be held accountable for negligence. It's not common for more than one company due to the wide variety of exposure sources that they are held accountable in the event of asbestos.
Mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure in the workplace, like in shipbuilding and construction. Many cases of mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related illnesses, are the result of non-occupational exposure, such as working or living in homes constructed with asbestos materials or handling products containing asbestos that are manufactured by third parties.
The legal concepts of strict liability and breach of warranty are key to mesothelioma lawsuits. Strict liability is one type of negligence. It means that a defendant is responsible for injury if they fail to meet the standard of care that a person in their position would exercise under similar circumstances.
A breach of warranty is when a seller or manufacturer makes a claim about their product which leads to injuries. For example, if the seller or manufacturer states that an asbestos product is safe to use, and it proves to be excessively hazardous, the seller could be held accountable for the resultant injuries.
Asbestos litigation can be complicated by the fact many of the asbestos-exposed companies have gone bankrupt or were taken over by other companies. This is referred to as apportionment and state laws set the rules for how a judge or jury determines the liability of each defendant in a case.
In the case of Mary Wild, v. Owens Illinois 705 A.2d. The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, 58 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1998) The mesothelioma suit filed by the decedent claimed that she was exposed to asbestos when she handled and laundered husband's work clothes at Bethlehem Steel. The court declared that Bethlehem Steel did not owe Mrs. Wild a duty to warn her about the risks of asbestos exposure on the clothes and body of her husband.
Due to the lengthy mesothelioma's time of latency keeping a complete record of any suspected or known asbestos exposure is crucial. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can advise individuals about how best to approach this task.
Firefighter Cases
Firefighters are more likely to suffer from asbestos attorney-related illnesses such as mesothelioma than other people. They typically have to put out fires in buildings built with asbestos-containing materials. Even after a fire has been put out, firefighters may still need to inspect for asbestos residue and safety risks. This is especially applicable to firefighters who conduct in-depth building inspections for industrial and commercial facilities.
When the World Trade Center collapsed on 9/11 the firefighters were exposed to toxic asbestos dust. This dust contained massive metal particles, burning plastic and many tons of asbestos fibers. This is why those who worked at ground zero are at greater chance of developing mesothelioma and other cancers.
Asbestos particles can be breathed into the inner tissues of firefighters and then remain there for a long time. This can cause irritation, inflammation and scar tissue, which can lead to the development of a tumour. This tumor is called mesothelioma and is one of the four types of cancer that are related to asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma, the most frequent mesothelioma that is found in the lung's lining called the pleura.
In addition to mesothelioma, firefighters are also at risk of lung cancer as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. An attorney with experience in asbestos-related illnesses can help those who have been diagnosed. They could be eligible for workers' compensation benefits or an asbestos lawsuit against companies that are responsible for their exposure.
Levy Konigsberg is experienced in representing firefighters with mesothelioma or any other related illness. Our firm has also been successful in pursuing lawsuits against insurance companies to get the full amount of damages that our clients deserve.
A lot of states have passed presumptive cancer coverage laws for firefighters. These laws take the burden of proof for firefighters suffering from cancer and assume that their illness was caused by their occupational exposure to asbestos. This can make it easier to receive financial compensation, and help with medical expenses. We encourage anyone with an asbestos-related disease to contact a Mesothelioma Attorney to discuss their case. Contact us for a confidential, no-cost consultation.
Commercial Cases
If, for instance, someone who worked in an asbestos-containing building is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they may sue the owner. In these instances it is essential to prove the asbestos exposure wasn't just caused by occupational exposure, but also by other factors. This could include secondhand exposure by someone with the disease or from contamination of consumer products like talcum powder.
Workers may also make claims against asbestos attorneys manufacturers based on product liability law. These claims are usually backed by evidence that shows the asbestos manufacturer's products were dangerous and defective. These lawsuits aren't only targeted at paying compensation to asbestos victims, but also companies who did not follow the warnings and sell unsafe products to the marketplace.
Asbestos lawsuits often result in substantial payouts for plaintiffs and their families. People who have suffered injuries may receive compensation for past and upcoming medical expenses, loss of normal life, lost earning potential, and emotional stress. In addition, spouses of survivors of mesothelioma sufferers may claim compensation for loss of consortium.
Certain states' laws are more favorable to mesothelioma patients than others. Illinois for instance, has a law that allows residents to sue asbestos-related companies for negligence and negligent deaths. Their lawyers have won numerous multimillion-dollar judgments, and asbestos victims in other states have received compensation too.
Thousands of asbestos lawsuits led to bankruptcy for a number of asbestos manufacturers. The bankruptcy process allowed easier compensation for plaintiffs, since the companies didn't have to defend their cases in the public eye.
Nonetheless, asbestos litigation is complex. The process of litigation begins with the filing of a lawsuit, obtaining evidence like medical records, and obtaining interviews with former colleagues, family members, and doctors. It's important to consult with an attorney for mesothelioma who has the experience of handling cases that are complex. A mesothelioma lawyer will conduct an evaluation of your case for free to determine the date, time, and the extent to which you were exposed. This will allow you to make a claim. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can also help you file for an insurance or trust fund settlement.