If you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have multiple legal options for claiming compensation, but you need an experienced attorney’s help to reach optimal results in whichever options you pursue. You should know how to choose the right mesothelioma lawyer for your case, what to expect as the case unfolds, and how your attorney can help you claim compensation.
How To Choose the Right Mesothelioma Lawyer for Your Case
Mesothelioma is a terminal form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. This disease has a very long latency period, often taking decades to progress enough to cause noticeable symptoms. However, this is an incurable form of cancer, and once symptoms appear, the disease has already reached a critical stage.
Once you or a family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma, time is a crucial factor when it comes to determining your legal options and building a cohesive case. You may be eligible to claim compensation in various ways, such as a claim to a mesothelioma injury trust, a workers’ compensation claim through your employer if your mesothelioma is work-related, or a personal injury claim against a product manufacturer, employer, distributor, or other defendant.
Many mesothelioma attorneys offer initial consultations to prospective clients. A consultation is essentially an interview, during which you can decide whether the attorney is right for handling your case. There are a few key factors you should carefully assess when choosing a mesothelioma attorney to represent you, including:
- Experience. You should verify that your attorney has a strong record of success handling cases like yours. At Kelley Ferraro, LLC, our team has nearly 30 years of experience handling mesothelioma cases, and we have helped more than 40,000 clients nationwide recover more than $1 billion in compensation. We are confident we can address the unique details of your case fluently.
- Availability. A good attorney should maintain a balanced caseload to provide adequate time and attention to each client. When meeting with a potential mesothelioma attorney, ask them how you can expect updates on your case, how you can contact them, and how much time they expect to devote to handling your case.
- Reviews. Research a potential attorney to see what previous clients have to say about working with them. You should not only look at reviews on the attorney’s website but also those on third-party websites to get a more holistic view of what others have to say about their experiences.
During an initial consultation with a prospective mesothelioma attorney, ask questions about their general experience with mesothelioma cases, their initial impression of your case, and what you can expect when working with them. Once you hire a mesothelioma lawyer to represent you, they should immediately begin investigating and building your case.
The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have nearly 30 years of experience representing mesothelioma cases across the US. Many attorneys do not accept mesothelioma cases because of their inherent complexities and the volume of work they require, but we have cultivated a strong record of success for clients nationwide.
We can assist you with determining the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that led to your mesothelioma. This may require reviewing decades’ worth of employment history and other records, cross-referencing them against known asbestos manufacturers, distributors, and high-risk worksites in specific areas. Once we determine the most likely source of your exposure, this will determine your legal options for claiming compensation.
What to Expect From Your Mesothelioma Lawyer
A mesothelioma case is challenging in several ways, so it’s vital to work with an attorney who has a strong record of successful representation in cases like yours. There are only about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed nationwide each year, so mesothelioma is not a very common form of cancer. However, new cases consistently appear because of asbestos exposure that happened many years ago.
Mesothelioma develops after asbestos particles enter the body. The most common way this occurs is inhalation of airborne asbestos particles. When any asbestos-containing material is damaged, it can release these particles into the surrounding area, where they could be inhaled or attach to skin or clothing. Over time, these particles gradually cause mesothelioma to develop.
The average five-year survival rate for mesothelioma is just 23% when the cancer is localized and has not spread very far, but this drops to just 11% if it has spread to distant parts of the body. This is distressing news for anyone, and it’s understandable to feel lost and uncertain after your diagnosis. However, when you hire a mesothelioma lawyer with proven experience, they can help you pursue accountability and compensation as efficiently as possible.
Your mesothelioma attorney can determine your most viable legal options for claiming compensation. You could be eligible to file a claim against an asbestos trust fund if the company responsible for your asbestos exposure has gone out of business. Many US companies that formerly produced asbestos products were required to establish these trust funds, and they continue disbursing billions in compensation every year.
If you were exposed to asbestos at your current job, a mesothelioma attorney can help you claim workers’ compensation benefits through your employer. While these benefits may not fully repay all of your damages, a workers’ compensation claim could still be a valuable avenue of compensation for you. A skilled attorney can help you secure a fair determination of benefits.
When you are eligible to file a personal injury case against a specific party for your mesothelioma, it is crucial to have an experienced attorney on your side who can help you resolve your case swiftly and secure as much compensation as possible for your damages. Many mesothelioma personal injury cases are settled outside of court, but litigation is sometimes unavoidable. Choosing an experienced trial attorney is a tremendous asset for your case.
Ultimately, every mesothelioma case is unique, and you need to hire a mesothelioma lawyer with an extensive record of success with cases like yours. The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC are confident we can provide peace of mind throughout the difficult proceedings ahead, but you have limited time to build your case. Reach out to our firm as soon as possible to learn how our team can assist you.
FAQs
Q: When Should I Hire a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
A: You should hire a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis. Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer with a relatively low average five-year survival rate, even when it is detected at an early stage. It can take time to gather evidence of liability and to determine your most viable legal options, so it’s important to connect with experienced legal counsel as soon as possible. A skilled mesothelioma attorney can help you build a stronger case.
Q: What Is a Mesothelioma Case Worth?
A: The value of a mesothelioma case varies based on several factors. You may be eligible to claim compensation for all economic damages related to your condition, such as your immediate and future medical expenses and your lost earning capacity if you are forced to stop working. Additionally, you have the right to claim compensation for pain and suffering. Your mesothelioma attorney can assess the full potential value of your case.
Q: What Happens if a Family Member Has Died From Mesothelioma?
A: If a family member has died from mesothelioma, you could have grounds to file a wrongful death claim against whoever is responsible for their diagnosis. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you trace the most likely source of the asbestos exposure that caused the victim’s mesothelioma, and this will show who is liable. Kelley Ferraro, LLC has extensive experience handling wrongful death cases for mesothelioma nationwide.
Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
A: The time it could take to settle a mesothelioma lawsuit varies based on several factors, but a skilled attorney may be able to resolve your case faster than you expect. Kelley Ferraro, LLC, prepares every mesothelioma case for trial, even if we think it can be settled. This strengthens our negotiating position, and if litigation becomes unavoidable, we will be prepared to represent our client in the courtroom. Settlement is often faster than litigation, but it is not always possible.
Q: What Does it Cost to Hire a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
A: The cost to hire a mesothelioma lawyer varies from lawyer to lawyer. At Kelley Ferraro, LLC, we take many of these cases on a contingency fee basis. Under this billing arrangement, we charge a fee only if we succeed in securing compensation for our client. There is no upfront cost to hire our firm, and we only charge a percentage of the total recovery as our contingency fee. There is no cost to you if we are unable to obtain compensation on your behalf.
The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have extensive experience representing clients in mesothelioma cases nationwide. We are confident we can provide unmatched representation for your mesothelioma case, but you have a short time to get started. If you are unsure how to choose the right mesothelioma lawyer for your case, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our team and learn more about our legal services.
