Mesothelioma law firms have become common in recent years as the full extent of damage that asbestos can cause is now known. Asbestos is a dangerous material that will cause cancer and respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma after long term exposure to dust and asbestos laden diseases. Watching a loved one suffer due to mesothelioma is difficult and litigation will be the last matter on your mind, but rest assured that by pursuing litigation, you will receive the damages you or your loved are entitled to and these damages will go a long way to treating the illness and making those suffering from asbestos-related illnesses receive the treatment they need. The mesothelioma law firm, through years of working with clients in similar situations will be able to guide you through the process, eventually securing a settlement or taking on the responsible party in court.
What to tell the mesothelioma law firm
The mesothelioma law firm will assist you in determining how you were exposed to asbestos and what share of the liability that party has in the exposure. To assist in this process, be ready to present all information you have that expresses your relationship with the party responsible for the exposure. This includes employment contracts, pay stubs, leases, tenant agreements and other evidence of employment or occupancy in an asbestos laced building. If you are unsure how and where you were exposed, the mesothelioma law firm will try their best to help you figure it out, generally through investigating former employers or landlords.
You should also provide the mesothelioma law firm with an estimate of medical expenses and other costs related to the asbestos related illness. This will provide a reasonable benchmark of the appropriate sum to seek in settlement or at trial. The mesothelioma law firm will inevitably quote a higher number for damages as the other party responsible for the exposure will try to force the settlement offer lower.
Where to look for a mesothelioma law firm
This website can help you find a mesothelioma law firm. Use the Find Attorneys search function at the top of the page for listing and more information.
Advertising is very prevalent when dealing with mesothelioma law firm, especially the larger, national law firms. Advertising will provide you with a potential lead, but it should not be used as the final determinant of a good law firm and you will need to use criteria other than advertising to make your decision.
Class action suits
Some mesothelioma law firms will coordinate several plaintiffs into a class action suit against an entity that has sickened multiple persons. If you are informed of a class action suit you must replay in the negative if you do not wish to tie your settlement to the other plaintiffs. Agreeing to be part of the suit or declining to answer will entitle you to the damages collected as a result of the lawsuit and nothing more.
Personality & Values
The best mesothelioma law firms will be objective and impartial when evaluating your claims. This will prevent you from being misled or overestimating the strength of your case. Litigation will not be a short process and you should be informed beforehand of the potential risks, costs and time investment needed to win damages. If you feel the mesothelioma law firm is making unreasonable promises or too readily agreeing with you, you should be concerned. You do not want validation for you beliefs on the merits of this case. You need objective and impartial opinions and results.
Communication is also critical when dealing with sensitive matters such as this. Poor communication with clients should be grounds to find another lawyer that is interested in the outcome of the case and keeping the client informed of the process.
The worst mesothelioma law firms will rush to a settlement, prematurely collecting their fees so that they may accommodate other clients. Expect the big mesothelioma law firms with hundreds of clients to do this.
Fee disputes and ethics
If you have a fee dispute with the mesothelioma law firm, bar associations and some state discipline authorities will maintain dispute resolution and grievance services for clients. You need to be willing to demonstrate how the fee arrangement is exploitive. Fee disputes are usually due to a failure of communication and the lawyer is not typically punished for this lack of communication.
Matters that are more serious will involve complaints and grievance boards. All attorney discipline will proceed through here and members of the mesothelioma law firm will face potential sanctions for unethical behavior, if they are found to have violated those rules. Lesser violations will result in public or private warnings.
Rates, Fees & Retainers
Whenever you work with any law firm, you need to agree on the cost of the legal services first and get applicable fees in writing. Once you communicate effectively here, you may proceed to deal with other matters related to the case.
Contingency fees are the most typical fee arrangement collected by mesothelioma attorneys. Many states place limitations on the percentage of contingency fees that may be collected and you should ask about this limitation when meeting with a mesothelioma attorney. Codes of professional responsibility may also place limitations on the percentage that a mesothelioma attorney can collect from a client.
A retainer fee is a non-refundable advance payment by the client that covers the cost of services provided by the lawyer. If you cannot afford to keep a lawyer on retainer, the lawyer may work by hour or on contingency. Lawyers working on an hourly basis will become very expensive if the litigation is not settled outside of court. It is rare to have a mesothelioma attorney working on retainer rather than contingency.
Interviewing your attorney
The following questions are important when interviewing your attorney:
Is my case within the statute of limitations?
Can you help me determine when and where I might have been exposed?
Will I pay for the services of an expert witness?
Do you think the defendant will try to settle before we go to trial?
