The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Exposure To Asbestos Lawsuit
How an Asbestos Lawyer Can Help You Understand Your Claim Options
A knowledgeable New York asbestos lawyer can assist victims in understanding their options for claiming. A lawyer can help determine when and where someone was exposed to asbestos and which companies could be responsible.
A victim can bring a personal injury lawsuit, a wrongful death lawsuit or an asbestos trust funds claim. Each option has its own rules and award.
Personal Injury Cases
Anyone who suffers an injury from asbestos exposure may file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation. Based on the nature of injury, a person may seek damages for medical bills and lost wages as well as pain and suffering. Family members of the victim may also file a wrongful death lawsuit to receive financial assistance to pay funeral costs and to gain a sense of closure after losing a loved person to mesothelioma or an asbestos-related illness.
A manufacturer or employer could be held accountable for an asbestos lawsuit if it violated its legal obligation to safeguard workers from harm. Employers' obligations could be violated by negligent hiring, training, maintenance and supervision. It could also be violated by selling or supplying a defective product that causes injury.
It is crucial to consult with an attorney as soon as is possible after exposure to asbestos because state laws set time limits, also known as statutes of limitations on how long a plaintiff must bring an action. In mesothelioma cases the statute of limitations starts to run when the victim is diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos disease.
The type of lawsuits a person can file will depend on where and how they were exposed to asbestos. If asbestos was present at work, the victim could have a premises-liability lawsuit. A construction worker may be injured by asbestos in a power station or on an Navy vessel. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos by secondhand means such as washing the clothes of a loved one may also make a personal injury claim.
Asbest exposure was the basis for many mesothelioma cases. Certain of these cases have resulted into significant jury awards and settlements. Companies have also been accused of being sued in class action lawsuits for how they handled asbestos on their premises.
The amount of compensation you may receive in a mesothelioma case depends on several factors including the age at which you were diagnosed, your prognosis, your life expectancy, your injuries and your pain and suffering. Your attorney and you must look over the details of your case to determine a reasonable amount for your mesothelioma suit.
Product Liability Cases
The law governing product liability allows asbestos victims to sue the distributors, manufacturers, and retailers of dangerous products that caused their exposure. The defendants could also be held responsible for their negligence. It's not uncommon for more than one business due to the wide variety of exposure sources that they are held accountable in the case of asbestos.
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure in the workplace, for example in shipbuilding and construction. However mesothelioma cases in a majority of cases and other asbestos-related ailments result from non-occupational exposures as well, such as living in homes built with asbestos-containing materials, visiting or working on sites containing asbestos, or handling asbestos-containing products that are sold by third-party sellers.
The legal concepts of strict liability and breach of warranty are crucial to mesothelioma lawsuits. Strict liability is a type of negligence. It means that a defendant is responsible for injury if they fail to meet the standard level of care that any other person in their position would exercise in similar circumstances.
A breach of warranty is when a seller or manufacturer claims to be able to provide a product which leads to injury. For example, if an individual or company declares that their asbestos product is safe to use, and it is found to be unreasonable dangerous, the manufacturer or seller could be held accountable for the resultant injuries.
Asbestos litigation can be complicated by the fact that a lot of asbestos-exposed companies have gone bankrupt or were taken over by other companies. This is called apportionment, and state laws define the guidelines for how a judge or jury determines the liability of each defendant in a particular case.
For instance, in the case of Mary Wild v. Owens-Illinois 705 A.2d 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 her husband's work clothing at Bethlehem Steel. The court decided that Bethlehem Steel did not owe Mrs. Wild a duty to warn her about the risks of asbestos attorneys exposure to her husband's clothing and body.
Due to the long time frame associated with mesothelioma, it is essential to keep track of every asbestos exposure, whether known or suspected. A mesothelioma lawyer will help individuals determine the best way to proceed.
Firefighter Cases
Firefighters are more prone to develop asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma than other people. Their work typically involves the suppression of fires in older structures that were constructed using asbestos-containing materials. Even after a fire has been extinguished, firefighters may have to check the area for potential safety hazards and possible asbestos residue. This is especially applicable to firefighters who conduct in-depth building inspections for commercial and industrial facilities.
When the World Trade Center collapsed on 9/11 the firefighters were exposed to toxic asbestos dust. This dust was contaminated with heavy metal particles, burning plastic, and numerous tons of asbestos fibers. This is the reason that those who worked at ground zero have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma and other cancers.
Asbestos particles can get into the inner tissues of firefighters and then remain there for a long time. This can cause irritation, inflammation and scar tissue that can lead to the development of a tumor. This tumor is known as mesothelioma. It is one of four kinds of asbestos-related cancers. The most frequent mesothelioma form is found in the lining that lines the lungs, called the pleura.
Firefighters also face the risk of developing lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition should consult an experienced attorney about their situation. They could be qualified for benefits from workers' compensation or an asbestos lawsuit (Recommended Looking at) against the company that are responsible for their exposure.
Levy Konigsberg has experience representing firefighters with mesothelioma and related illnesses. Our firm is also experienced in pursuing litigation against insurance companies to ensure that our clients receive the full amount of damages that our clients are entitled to.
Many states have passed presumptive insurance laws for firefighters. These laws remove the burden on firefighters suffering from cancer and presume that their illness is due to asbestos exposure in their work. This could make it easier for firefighters to receive financial compensation and to pay medical expenses. We recommend those suffering from an asbestos-related illness to contact a mesothelioma attorney to discuss their case. Contact us for an initial, free, confidential consultation.
Commercial Cases
If, for instance someone who was employed in an asbestos-containing facility is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they could sue the property owner. In these cases, it is important to prove the asbestos exposure wasn't caused solely by occupational exposure, but also by other factors. This could be a result of secondhand exposure by someone with the disease, or from contaminated consumer products like talcum.
Workers may also make claims against asbestos manufacturers according to the law of product liability. These claims are often bolstered by evidence proving that the asbestos products of the manufacturer were dangerous and defective. These lawsuits aren't just targeted at compensating asbestos victims but also companies that ignored warnings and continued to sell unsafe products to the market.
Asbestos lawsuits often result in huge payouts for plaintiffs and their families. Injured people can receive compensation for the past and upcoming medical expenses, loss of normal life, lost earnings potential, and emotional stress. Moreover, surviving spouses of mesothelioma patients can claim compensation for loss of consortium.
Some states have laws that are more favorable to mesothelioma patients than other states' laws. For instance the state of Illinois has a law which permits residents to sue asbestos companies for negligence and wrongful death. The lawyers of the state have won a number multi-million dollar settlements, and asbestos victims from other states have also been compensated.
Thousands of asbestos lawsuits led to bankruptcy for many asbestos manufacturers. The bankruptcy process allowed for more lenient compensation for plaintiffs since the companies didn't need to defend their case in public.
Nonetheless, asbestos litigation is complex. The process of litigation begins with the filing of a lawsuit, collecting evidence like medical records, and appointing former family members, colleagues as well as doctors. It is essential to choose a seasoned mesothelioma lawyer who has dealt with complicated cases. A mesothelioma lawyer will conduct a case evaluation for free to determine the date, time, and how you were exposed. This will allow you to make a claim. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can also help you file for a trust fund or insurance settlement.