When you have been given the news
about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal
with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim?
However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at
least three reasons:
Statutes of Limitations - There
are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file
your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by
individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of
diagnosis.
Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma
diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and
treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the
way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.
Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The
more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent
sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available
for this disease.
But, picking a lawyer is serious
business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney.
Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments
has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos
cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small
piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?
Also, make sure you understand
the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets
paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee
that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is
important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are
calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.
Finally, for something as
important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be
experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands
that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that
are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive,
thoughtful and compassionate.