The amount of time required to pursue a mesothelioma case and to receive compensation will depend on the legal team you choose, how you decide to seek justice, and whether the defendant’s legal team insists on a low settlement or tries to delay the process.
An attorney might be able to help you handle the mesothelioma case, getting you a financial award relatively quickly without taking the case to trial. In other cases, if the defendant’s settlement offer is low, and your attorney thinks you deserve more, they might take your case to trial.
Time Is of the Essence
If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you and your family are likely feeling overwhelmed. In addition to the pain and other physical symptoms of the disease that you may be suffering, you and your loved ones may be feeling burdened by bills for medical treatments and other household expenses. You may be struggling to pay for necessities, and are worried about what may happen to your family in the future.
Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed decades after exposure to asbestos, and it is often mistaken for other medical conditions. By the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, the disease has often progressed to an advanced stage, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Cancer.net. That means that the chance of long-term survival is low.
If you are suffering from mesothelioma, you may be able to seek financial compensation. How long a mesothelioma case takes depends on many factors. Attorneys representing mesothelioma patients understand that their clients may not have much time left and can seek to obtain compensation expeditiously, while still working to reach a fair settlement.
Companies that have exposed people to asbestos also understand that for mesothelioma patients, time is not on their side. In some cases, defendants offer smaller settlements than mesothelioma patients deserve to encourage desperate plaintiffs to settle quickly. A mesothelioma attorney can work to avoid delays while reaching a fair settlement as quickly as possible.
Settling Outside of Court
There is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to how long a mesothelioma case takes. People who have been injured or who have become ill due to the negligence of another party often seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. While a lawsuit may eventually go to court and result in a large settlement, that process can take a significant amount of time because the parties must gather information and follow a series of procedures.
Patients with advanced mesothelioma simply do not have enough time to take their cases to trial. You could receive compensation faster through a negotiated settlement outside of court.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 307-3113
Asbestos Trust Funds
Even if the company responsible for your mesothelioma has gone bankrupt, you may be able to receive compensation. Many businesses that used asbestos in their products declared bankruptcy due to an overwhelming number of asbestos-related lawsuits, and set up trust funds to compensate victims. You can pursue compensation from an asbestos trust fund to receive compensation faster.
Determining Liability for Your Illness
Although the federal government began to regulate the use of asbestos in the 1970s, companies that manufactured products containing the carcinogen often knew of its dangers decades earlier. Despite that knowledge, businesses continued to make and sell products containing asbestos to an unsuspecting public.
If you worked for a company (or bought products from one) that used asbestos in production, and you were diagnosed with mesothelioma even decades later, there might be other victims. One of the best ways to determine whether a company is liable for your diagnosis is if they have a track record.
While you are in treatment for your mesothelioma, it can be daunting to take on a mesothelioma case. An attorney might be able to help you track down other victims, determine liability, and get you a settlement.
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Seeking Assistance from a Mesothelioma Lawyer
Many patients and their families are unable to afford the out-of-pocket costs of mesothelioma treatment. Patients are often unable to work, which can lead to financial hardships, and can take an emotional toll on the entire family.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help. We understand that if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, time might not be a luxury you have. While we cannot tell you exactly how long a mesothelioma case might take, we might be able to work towards a settlement quickly to relieve at least the financial stressor on you and your family.
Call our office at (800) 307-3113 to talk to a member of our staff about what you and your family are going through, and how we may be able to assist you.
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