The 10 Scariest Things About Exposure To Asbestos Lawsuit
How an Asbestos Lawyer Can Help You Understand Your Claim Options
A skilled New York asbestos lawyer can help victims understand their options regarding claims. A lawyer can help determine when and where someone was exposed to asbestos and which businesses could be accountable.
A victim can make a personal injury claim, a wrongful death lawsuit or an asbestos trust fund claim. Each type of claim has different requirements and can result in different award.
Personal Injury Cases
Anyone who is injured by asbestos exposure can pursue a personal injury suit to recover compensation. A person may be able to claim damages for medical expenses, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering dependent on the nature and severity of their injury. The family members of the victim could also file a wrongful-death lawsuit to receive financial assistance to cover funeral expenses and gain a sense of closure following the loss of a beloved person to mesothelioma or an asbestos-related illness.
A manufacturer or employer could be held accountable for an asbestos lawsuit if they violated its legal obligation to safeguard workers from injury. A breach of the duty of an employer could be due to negligence in hiring, training, or maintenance, or supervision. It can also be breached by selling or the supply of a defective product which results in injury.
It is important to consult an attorney as soon following exposure to asbestos as you can. State laws have time limitations (known as statutes or limitations) on the time that plaintiffs are required to file a suit. In mesothelioma, the statute of limitations begins to run when the patient is diagnosed as having mesothelioma.
The types of lawsuits that an individual can be able to file will depend on the place and how they were exposed to asbestos. A victim may have a premises liability lawsuit if they were exposed to asbestos at work. For instance an employee working in construction could be injured by asbestos at an energy plant or on the deck of a Navy ship. Someone who was exposed by second-hand exposure to asbestos, for instance, while washing the clothes of a beloved one, can also file a lawsuit for personal injury.
Many mesothelioma lawsuits have been filed against large corporations as they were the ones responsible for the exposure of the victim to asbestos. Certain of these cases resulted in large jury awards and settlements. Class action lawsuits have also been filed against companies regarding how they dealt with asbestos or stored it on their properties.
The amount you could receive from a mesothelioma case is contingent on a number of factors, including your age when diagnosed and the prognosis as well as life duration of your illness and the severity of your injuries, and the amount of pain and suffering. Your lawyer and you should review your case details to determine the fair value of your mesothelioma lawsuit.
Product Liability Cases
The law of product liability permits asbestos victims to sue manufacturers, distributors and retailers of dangerous products that led to their exposure. They can also be held accountable for negligence. In the case of asbestos, it's not uncommon for more than one company to be found liable because of the many different types of possible exposure sources.
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure in the workplace, like in construction and shipbuilding. However, many cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related ailments stem from non-occupational exposure too, like living in homes that are constructed with asbestos materials, visiting or working on sites containing asbestos or handling asbestos-containing products offered by third party sellers.
Mesothelioma cases are based upon the legal concepts of strict responsibility and breach of warranty. Strict liability, which is a kind of negligence, means that the defendant is liable for any injury they suffer if they fail to take the same amount of care that other people do in similar situations.
A breach of warranty is when a manufacturer or seller makes a claim regarding their product which leads to injuries. For instance, if the seller or manufacturer claims that an asbestos product will be safe to use but it turns out to be unreasonably dangerous the seller could be held responsible for the injuries.
Asbestos litigation can be complicated by the fact that many of the asbestos-exposed businesses have gone under or were acquired by other companies. This is known as apportionment and state laws establish the rules that govern how a judge or jury assigns liability to each defendant in a case.
In the case of Mary Wild, v. Owens Illinois, 705 A.2d. 58 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1998), the mesothelioma case of the deceased claimed that she was exposed to asbestos when she handled and laundered her husband's work clothes at Bethlehem Steel. The court ruled that Bethlehem Steel did not owe Mrs. Wild a duty to warn her about the potential dangers of asbestos exposure on the clothing and body of her husband.
Due to the long mesothelioma's latency, it is essential to keep track of all asbestos exposure, regardless of whether it is known or suspected. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist people determine the best method to proceed.
Firefighter Cases
Firefighters are more likely than the general population to contract asbestos attorney-related illnesses such as mesothelioma. They often have to deal with fires in buildings constructed with asbestos-containing materials. Even after a fire is extinguished, firefighters may have to examine the area for potential safety hazards and potential asbestos residue. This is especially relevant for firefighters who conduct thorough inspections of buildings for commercial and industrial facilities.
When the World Trade Center towers collapsed on September 11, many firefighters were exposed to toxic asbestos dust. This dust was contaminated with heavy metal particles, burning plastic, and countless tons of asbestos fibers. This is the reason that those who worked in the ground zero area are more likely to developing mesothelioma and other cancers.
Asbestos particles can get into the inner tissues of firefighters and remain there for a long time. This can cause irritation, inflammation and scar tissue that results in the development of a tumor. This type of tumor is known as mesothelioma and is one of the four types of cancer related to asbestos attorneys. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most frequent mesothelioma that develops in the lung's lining known as the pleura.
In addition to mesothelioma, firefighters are at risk for lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. Anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition should speak with an experienced lawyer regarding their situation. They may be qualified for benefits from workers' compensation or an asbestos lawsuit against companies accountable for their exposure.
Levy Konigsberg has experience representing firefighters with mesothelioma and related diseases. Our firm is also experienced in pursuing lawsuits against insurance companies to get the full amount of damages that our clients are entitled to.
A number of states have passed presumptive insurance laws for firefighters. These laws take the burden on firefighters with cancer and presume that their illness is due to their occupational asbestos exposure. This can make it easier for them to receive financial compensation and to pay medical expenses. We recommend anyone suffering from an asbestos-related condition to contact a Mesothelioma Attorney to discuss their case. Contact us to arrange a free, confidential consultation.
Commercial Cases
If, for instance someone who worked in an asbestos-containing structure is diagnosed with mesothelioma they may sue the owner. In these types of cases, it's crucial to prove that the asbestos exposure wasn't just caused by occupational exposure but as well by other causes. This could include secondhand exposure by someone with the disease or by the use of contaminated consumer products, such as talcum powder.
Workers may also file lawsuits that are based on the law of product liability against asbestos producers. These claims are usually supported by evidence that shows the asbestos manufacturer's product was dangerous and defective. In addition to remuneration for asbestos victims These lawsuits aim to penalize companies who ignored warning signs and kept making unsafe products available on the market.
Asbestos lawsuits often result in substantial payouts for plaintiffs and their families. For example, injured people are entitled to the compensation they deserved for their past and future medical costs and loss of their normal lifestyle as well as lost earning capacity and emotional stress. Spouses of victims of mesothelioma are also able to be able to sue for loss of consortium.
Some states' laws are more favorable to mesothelioma sufferers than other. Illinois, for example, has a law that permits residents to sue companies involved in asbestos for negligence and the wrongful death of a victim. Their lawyers have won numerous multimillion-dollar judgments and asbestos victims in other states have received compensation as well.
Thousands of asbestos lawsuits led to bankruptcy for many asbestos manufacturers. The bankruptcy process made it easier for plaintiffs to receive compensation since the companies would not have to defend themselves in public trials.
Nonetheless, asbestos litigation is complex. The process of litigation involves the filing of a complaint, gathering evidence like medical records and interviews with former coworkers as well as family members and doctors. It's important to work with a mesothelioma attorney who has the experience of handling cases that are complex. A mesothelioma lawyer will conduct a free case evaluation to determine when, where and how you were exposed asbestos so that you can make an claim. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can also help you file for an insurance or trust fund settlement.