Mesothelioma Compensation
If you developed pleural plaques or mesothelioma as a result of exposure to industrial dust, you may be eligible for compensation. A North Carolina asbestos attorney can review your case and determine the probability of a successful outcome.
The long-term exposure to asbestos is connected to lung cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. People who work or live with boilermakers, shipbuilders and other asbestos workers may be at risk.
Asbestos Litigation
Asbestos litigation is among the longest-running mass torts in U.S. history. It has resulted in billions of dollars in settlements, juries verdicts and judgments for victims suffering from asbestos-related ailments such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and plaques in the pleural cavity.
Lawsuits are filed in federal or state courts and compensate victims for physical, financial and emotional loss. Compensation may also cover medical expenses related to treatment and ongoing treatment. Additionally the outcome of a lawsuit can aid families in coping with the death of a loved one due to asbestos-related diseases.
If someone is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, he or she may file a lawsuit against negligent companies responsible for the exposure. This could include companies who supplied the raw asbestos, as well as manufacturers of asbestos-containing items or employers who should have known of the risks associated with workplace asbestos exposure and failed to protect their employees.
An individual can start a lawsuit on or her own, or with the assistance of an attorney. The procedure varies according to state and the specific asbestos-related disease. When filing a lawsuit against mesothelioma, it's important to hire an experienced lawyer.
Attorneys who specialize in mesothelioma analyze the victim's health, family and work history to determine whether exposure to asbestos is possible. They have access databases of thousands of jobs sites and mesothelioma settlement records to aid in this process. Lawyers can identify the asbestos-related manufacturers and product lines that the victim might have been exposed to, as well as the possible places where exposure occurred.
Asbestos lawyers can also determine whether a case is eligible for punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish the company that is being sued and deter others from engaging in similar actions. This may encourage defendants to not to take mesothelioma lawsuits in court, but rather settle the cases.
Lawyers also have the ability to handle other asbestos claims like lung cancer lawsuits or cases that involve secondary asbestos exposure. They may represent clients with nontraditional asbestos exposure histories, such as those who worked as auto mechanics or the military. They have experience in filing lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout the United States.
Workers' Compensation
Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace and develop an asbestos-related disease could be qualified for compensation. The victims may bring a lawsuit and receive compensation for their financial, physical and emotional losses. The treatment of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, can be very expensive. The resulting loss of income for a family could be devastating. The death of a mesothelioma patient could also leave the family with financial issues.
Asbestos lawyers can aid victims and their families to determine the type of asbestos claim or claims they should pursue. They can begin by evaluating the patient's medical records as well as their work history, and the types of asbestos-containing product to which they've been exposed. A legal team with expertise will have the tools to locate old products, employment records and witness testimony.
People who are diagnosed with a disease that is caused by asbestos will typically have to record their exposure and symptoms, particularly when they suffer from a progressive asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma or lung cancer. As these illnesses progress, it becomes difficult for victims of asbestos-related diseases to recall their previous jobs and the specifics of their exposure. This is why it's crucial for asbestos victims to have an attorney by their side from the outset of their case.
In addition to pursuing legal action against negligent asbestos companies, some victims will need to make an asbestos trust fund claim in order to receive the compensation they are due. Asbestos attorneys can assist in determining whether a victim is eligible for trust fund claims and help them with the paperwork.
Veterans who were exposed in the military to asbestos can also seek compensation for their asbestos-related injuries. Veterans suffering from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma could apply for disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. This could include monthly payments for the person's mesothelioma or other illness and reimbursing expenses for travel related to treatment. An attorney can help veterans fill out the required VA forms and ensure that the application is correct and complete.
Social Security Disability
A mesothelioma diagnosis could result in patients facing significant medical bills that are not covered by insurance. This can result in financial difficulties and an inability to work, which could lead to further debt. Broken Arrow asbestos lawsuits who are unable to hold a job can qualify for social security disability benefits. A Columbia asbestos claims attorney can assist individuals who have been diagnosed with a debilitating health condition to qualify for these benefits.
Depending on the type of illness, patients may be eligible for compensation from one of several asbestos trust funds. Asbestos producers knew from the 1930s that exposure to asbestos could cause health problems, including mesothelioma but did not take the time to warn workers. Many asbestos-related exposure victims later developed mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases.
To be eligible for SSD applicants must have a severe medical condition that is expected to last a year or longer. A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer can help clients to understand the process of filing for social security and how to prepare an asbestos disability claim.
The SSA's Disability Determination Services (DDS) department reviews a claim after it is filed. This includes a review and assessment of the medical records of the claimant to determine if their condition meets or exceeds any of the SSA listings. Depending on the outcome of this review and the results of the review, the DDS may either approve or deny the claim.
If the claim is denied an asbestos lawyer can assist in filing a request for reconsideration or appeal. Appeals are typically heard by a separate DDS adjudicative panel rather than the original review.
Asbestos attorneys will work with medical professionals in order to ensure that all evidence is presented properly. This can include documentation of the individual's asbestos exposure history, symptoms and how the condition has affected their lives. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, chronic obstruction of the lungs, pleural plaque and atelectasis. People suffering from these conditions can file for mesothelioma lawsuits as well as asbestos trust fund claims, and VA benefits. The sooner a victim consults with an experienced mesothelioma attorney the better chance they have of receiving the disability benefits they are entitled to.
Veterans' Benefits
Veterans who suffer from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma are eligible for VA benefits. Individuals can qualify for different VA claim and compensation options based on their specific circumstances. Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma can receive monthly disability payments. These payments cover medical expenses and lost income. If mesothelioma is diagnosed as service-related, surviving spouses are entitled to a monthly allowance called DIC or Dependency and indemnity Compensation.
The military is a place where exposure to asbestos can be a risk factor for mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. This is due to the nature of their jobs, which often involved handling and insulating military equipment that contained asbestos. Many veterans also were employed outside of the military, and could have been exposed to asbestos in other occupations. These occupations included refinery workers, mill workers, railroad workers asbestos miners auto mechanics and building construction workers.
Veterans may be afflicted by additional asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and asbestos lung cancer. Mesothelioma symptoms can resemble other conditions and are often misdiagnosed particularly in the initial stages of the disease. This makes it important for patients to receive the correct diagnosis of mesothelioma from an asbestos specialist doctor.
A mesothelioma diagnosis often leads to financial hardship for veterans. There are a variety of resources available to mesothelioma sufferers and their families, such as VA claims asbestos trust funds, and lawsuits.
To qualify for VA benefits, mesothelioma patients must demonstrate that their exposure to asbestos led to their condition. The VA will consider asbestos-related diseases as well as mesothelioma to be service-connected when they are connected to a veteran's military service.
A mesothelioma sufferer can seek compensation through a lawsuit from an asbestos firm that is solvent that is typically separate from VA benefits or pension benefits. To discuss compensation options asbestos sufferers should speak with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can review the medical records of a veteran and other evidence to determine the best strategy to pursue compensation.