Mesothelioma is a deadly industrial malignant tumor that happens due to prolonged exposure to asbestos. The latter is a substance that was extensively used in building material in the past. Though there are stringent guidelines against the use of asbestos today, companies still continue to manufacture and supply as it is cheap and has extensive use in many industries, including construction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also reports an increase in cases related to mesothelioma. Moreover, from 1999 to 2015, mesothelioma caused the death of more than 45000 people.
Mesothelioma lawyers help affected clients and their loved ones file complaints against the perpetrators and demand compensation. A mesothelioma lawyer will discuss all the options open to them and help select the most appropriate path to take their case lawsuit forward.
A trusted and experienced lawyer also determines whether you should file an asbestos trust fund claim or go for a personal injury lawsuit. They even work with veterans who have been exposed to the deadly mineral during their job in the military.
Why Prefer Mesothelioma Law Firms?
Most mesothelioma lawyers work with specialized firms with years of experience representing clients and their families affected by mesothelioma. Mesothelioma law firms like Sokolove Law have been helping families receive their rightful compensation for the damage done to them. Sokolove Law has alone received $4.9 Billion in compensation for the families and affected members. They aim to provide access to the justice system to file mesothelioma cases regardless of the client’s financial standings and provide legal help to all.
Most reputable law firms also have an extensive database of the companies and products potentially responsible for their client’s exposure to asbestos. Whether you choose to go with mesothelioma lawyers working alone or associated with a law firm, there are a few necessary steps that you must take to find the right mesothelioma lawyer for your lawsuit.
1. Hire A Mesothelioma Firm
Instead of going for lawyers working individually, it is better to choose a reputable law firm that has plenty of experienced lawyers dedicated to handling cases related to mesothelioma only. Also, make sure the firm you hire has a multi-state reach. This way, they can file your case in the state where they have the chance of winning the maximum amount in compensation. On the contrary, a local law firm may not be as well-versed and experienced as their multi-state counterpart and may have a limited reach to resources.
2. Contact The Lawyer’s Office
The next step is to contact your prospective lawyers in their office. You can reach them via phone or through email. Many law firms offer free case reviews and initial legal consultation to their client.
3. Analyze Their Behavior
While contacting them over the phone or meeting them in person, analyze their behavior and their way of communication with you. Are they respectful and considerate towards your circumstances? Do they understand your unique situation and financial needs? Moreover, you must see if you feel valued or are considered just another client when talking to the lawyer. All these factors are important because they determine how seriously the lawyer will take your case, thus determining your chances of winning the case.
4. Ask About Their Experience
Experience is one important aspect to consider when choosing a lawyer for your case. You must ask about their prior experience working on mesothelioma-related cases, the clients they have represented, and the amount of compensation retrieved for their clients. You might be interested in knowing the maximum amount of compensation received for a client.
5. Know The Cost
A mesothelioma claim includes many costs such as court case filling expenses, photocopy, evidence gathering, hiring legal witnesses, and much more. Understand how they charge these costs and who pays them when they are made. The right lawyer is one that you can comfortably afford without any stress of making payments to them. Some lawyers do not charge any fees at the start and deduct all these client costs from the compensation money.
6. Know About The Contingency Fee Plan
A contingency fee plan is when lawyers do not charge for representing their client at the start of the case. Instead, they decide a certain percentage of the compensation as their fee. The percentage can vary depending on the type of claim and the time it takes to settle the case. This way, the client has no burden of paying any fees from their pocket, hence having no financial burden. A contingency fee is around 25% of the amount received in an asbestos claim fund and 33 to 40% of a personal injury claim.
A mesothelioma settlement can consist of a large sum of money, so you should know about your lawyer’s percentage before hiring them for your case. If you hire a lawyer with extensive experience handling similar cases with a reasonable success rate, you must not consider the percentage points even if they slightly go up by a few points. Hiring such a lawyer is still worth more than preferring one with doubtful claims and records.
7. Ask About Their Satisfied Clients
A trusted lawyer must be ready to connect you to their satisfied clients represented in the past. The lawyer may need to get the consent of the affected person or their family, but often it is possible to hold a meet. You can talk to those clients and ask about the services of the firm or the lawyer. Even if you have been given the names of the most satisfied clients only, this is still better than having no lead to follow. At the end of this meeting, there is a high probability that you have already decided about going or not going with the lawyer.
Hiring the right mesothelioma lawyer is a crucial step that you take after your mesothelioma diagnosis. The right mesothelioma lawyer must meet your requirements of having vast experience in the field, helping relieve your financial burden, working on the contingency plan, and sticking with you at every step of the legal procedure. Furthermore, you must choose the lawyer or the firm that makes you feel comfortable, respected, valuable, and pay attention to your concerns.