Have you, or a family member, received a mesothelioma diagnosis recently? If yes, then chances you might have been exposed to asbestos at your workplace. And it would be wise to take legal action and file a lawsuit against your employer. Doing so will allow you to obtain compensation for your suffering. After all, a mesothelioma diagnosis comes with thousands of dollars in medical treatment. Not to mention the big pay cut you will have to take when spending time in recovery. But before you can file a claim in court, you first have to understand what mesothelioma is. It is a rare type of lung-related cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs. Typically, life expectancy is around one year after diagnosis of this dangerous cancer.
When you’ve decided to file a lawsuit, the first thing to do is to hire a mesothelioma attorney or law firm. Sure, you can always represent yourself in court. But do you think you know all the legal requirements associated with such a type of claim? We guess not! Will you be able to prove your claim? So, keeping this in mind, your best course of action would be to hire an attorney or law firm to present you legally.
Let us look at how a lawyer can help you prove your mesothelioma case in court.
1. A Lawyer Has the Legal Knowledge Required for Mesothelioma Case
A mesothelioma lawsuit is a lot different than a personal injury case. One of the most obvious reasons is that you might’ve been exposed to asbestos several years ago. Plus, you don’t know where this exposure happened. Not to mention, the company in question might have gone out of business. So, it won’t be easy to determine where and when you were exposed to asbestos. In such a case, a reputable mesothelioma law firmor attorney will help you identify this. Your legal representation will require a history of the use of asbestos to determine if you have been exposed.
Moreover, your lawyer will also know where to pursue compensation from. For example, suppose the company you worked for has gone out of business. In that case, it might have set up a trust fund to compensate mesothelioma claims. In the end, working with a mesothelioma attorney will allow you to utilize their immense knowledge of such claims, especially if they have experience with such lawsuits.
2. A Lawyer Knows Everything about the Statute of Limitations
You will also have to hire a lawyer who knows how to identify the statute of limitations for your case. This way, they can act accordingly and file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. A statute of limitations is the time limit you have to file your claim in court. Typically it can range anywhere from one to five years.
It means you have a limited time after your mesothelioma diagnosis to file your claim in court. If you don’t, you will lose your right to compensation. A mesothelioma attorney knows of this and will act accordingly.
3. A Lawyer Has the Time and Resources to Investigate Your Case
A mesothelioma claim requires tons of investigative work to prove it in court. Such an investigation can take a lot of time. However, your lawyer has the time and resources to gather evidence such as medical reports and records to ensure your cancer was a result of your employer’s negligence. In the end, you will find it challenging to build a strong case if you don’t hire an expert lawyer or law firm. An expert lawyer has the connections, resources, and time to perform a thorough investigation your claim requires.
4. A Lawyer Will Know How to Value Your Claim
One of the most challenging parts of any mesothelioma claim is identifying how much it is worth. As a result, you will have to consider every type of damage you suffered from your diagnosis. Such a thing might include financial damages like medical expenses and non-financial ones such as physical and emotional pain and suffering. So, you will have to hire a knowledgeable lawyer who can consult with medical experts and perform a comprehensive analysis to value your damages and injuries accurately.
5. A Lawyer Will Help You Pursue Your Claim on a Contingency Basis
One of the main reasons people hesitate to contact a mesothelioma lawyer or law firm is that they are concerned about the amount of money they will have to spend. So, if you’re amongst those people, then we have good news for you. You will have to pay your lawyer or law firm on a contingency basis, meaning they won’t charge you until you receive compensation. Due to this, you won’t have to worry about paying upfront to acquire legal representation.
Conclusion
In the end, it would be wise to contact a lawyer or law firm as soon as you receive your diagnosis. Doing so will ensure you get the compensation you’re entitled to. After all, if you miss the deadline your state has set to file mesothelioma claims, there is a high chance the judge will dismiss your lawsuit. So, hurry up and hire a mesothelioma lawyer to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve!
