When you are faced with the fact that you are suffering from an asbestos-related illness, you should seek compensation for your condition. Hire a qualified asbestos attorney to help you in your legal battle.
Filing a claim against the persons or the company responsible for your condition is not easy. But if it can be proven that they are at fault, the monetary compensation you will receive can help you pay for a number of things like:
- Doctor’s fees
- Hospital bills
- Psychiatric care for emotional and mental anguish
- Lost wages
- Disability
- Legal fees
Following are the steps you need to take in order to hire an asbestos attorney in order to get compensation.
Get diagnosed. Before you can even file a claim through your asbestos lawyer, you need to be diagnosed with any of the asbestos-related illnesses such as asbestosis, mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer. A qualified physician can determine whether you are suffering from an asbestos-related illness through your past asbestos history and a comprehensive medical examination that may include one or more of the following: x-rays, MRI, CT scan, lung capacity test and biopsy.
Find out your state’s laws. There is such a thing as a “statute of limitations” when filing a claim for compensation due to an asbestos-related illness. Some states allow only a specific number of years after a person is diagnosed to file a claim for an asbestos-related illness. Check if you are still qualified. If not, seek counsel from an experienced asbestos attorney. There may still be some legal remedy for your situation.
Look for asbestos attorneys. You want an attorney who has had prior experience with asbestos claims. Ask people you know if they know of such a lawyer. Look in the phone book for possible attorneys or go online to search for lawyers in your area with the right experience.
Take time to select your attorney. Come up with a shortlist of possible asbestos attorneys. Interview them on their asbestos compensation experience: how many asbestos cases they have handled and how many they have won and lost. Ask how much they charge and what is their payment scheme. It is important to get an asbestos lawyer that has won asbestos cases before and one that you can afford to pay.
Discuss your options. Once you hire your asbestos attorney, ask him what your options are. He will need to go over all your information (including all pertinent documents related to your illness) and possibly do some investigate work or research on your case. After studying all the information, your lawyer can tell you whether the case should be tried in court or whether you can settle the matter with the defendant out of court.
Dealing with an asbestos-related illness is difficult physically, emotionally and financially. Once you have been diagnosed with any of the asbestos-related illnesses, find a highly qualified asbestos attorney who can help obtain for you the compensation you deserve according to the law.