When working with toxic substances, you may not feel any effects until many years later. Most people who worked around asbestos didn’t know they were sick until years later when they were diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you worked in an industry that used asbestos and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other respiratory issues, then you may be able to receive compensation from your past employer.
Hiring a Mesothelioma Lawyer
In order to get compensation for your medical expenses and general damages, you need to hire a lawyer who is experienced in cases involving mesothelioma. Since this disease, which is a form of lung cancer, may not be diagnosed for 10 years or more after you’ve quit working with asbestos, proving your case can take time. You need someone who knows how to prove these cases and has a staff dedicated to helping you seek the compensation you deserve.
It is important to research law firms to find the best lawyer to represent you in court. One way to research mesothelioma lawyers is to go online and read reviews from former clients. Although they may have testimonies from clients on their websites, you should also read reviews on other sites to get both positive and negative opinions.
If clients were unhappy about the outcome of their case or how they were treated by a law firm, they would gladly share that information. Reading reviews can give you some idea of how a firm treats the people they are supposed to be representing. It is also important to find out information about how successful lawyers were when handling mesothelioma cases.
Schedule Consultations
Many law firms, such as Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, may not charge people to schedule consultations with them to discuss their cases. A consultation is a good way for lawyers to find out if clients have a legitimate case and it is a good way for clients to find out more about the lawyers. By speaking with someone face-to-face, you can get a feel for how well you can work with them.
Since a mesothelioma case can take months to prepare, you will need to find a lawyer with whom you can communicate because you will need to share personal information with him or her. In addition, you will want someone who readily answers questions and is willing to clarify information that you don’t understand. If you cannot communicate with your lawyer, then winning a case can be much more difficult.
When interviewing with a law firm, find out if the lawyer you are speaking with is the one who will handle the case or if they will hire another firm to take the case to court. Some firms will outsource work when they have too many cases to handle, so you need to find out just exactly whom you can expect to do the work on your case. Don’t expect your case to be resolved overnight because it will involve extensive research to determine who is responsible for providing you with compensation for your asbestos-related condition.