mesothelioma settlement
A mesothelioma settlement or verdict can help victims of asbestos exposure pay for many of the costs incurred during the course of their diagnosis and treatment, as well as replace lost income and help families recover from financial hardship. The amount of compensation received from a settlement can vary significantly depending on the individual elements of each case.
Most mesothelioma lawsuits are settled before going to trial. However, even in cases that do end up going to trial, plaintiffs who receive a favorable verdict will be awarded money based on their expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and sometimes even punitive damages.
You should always find legal representation from an experienced attorney who has dealt specifically with asbestos-related cases, whether mesothelioma class action lawsuits or individual cases. Asbestos laws and lawsuits have an array of complications and details that many general practice lawyers may not be familiar with, let alone an average person who is already dealing with a life-threatening disease. Again, an experienced, knowledgeable asbestos lawyer understands the detailed process of a lawsuit and will help you significantly.
Personal Injury Claims
A person diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a personal injury lawsuit against a company that may be responsible for exposing them to asbestos.
Wrongful Death Claims
If a mesothelioma patient files a lawsuit but passes away before it's resolved, their loved ones may be able to step in as plaintiffs. Family members may have the option to file their own wrongful death claims, which can provide compensation to assist with medical bills, funeral expenses and loss of income. Although mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer are all diseases caused by asbestos, filing lawsuits for different kinds of asbestos illnesses aren’t always the same.
Differences between Mesothelioma Lawsuits and Asbestosis
Asbestosis is life-threatening because it can lead to mesothelioma, but asbestosis alone is not considered as dire as mesothelioma. Therefore, the compensation amount may be less when compared to mesothelioma lawsuits, but there are cases in which plaintiffs have won millions for their asbestosis lawsuit. Many states will accept cases in which people with asbestosis may reasonably develop mesothelioma, and in turn, the compensation may be higher.
Asbestos-related lung cancer lawsuits have reached the thousands, annually, for the past several years. It’s considered just as life-threatening as mesothelioma, and it’s also usually diagnosed when the patient reaches the later, more advanced of the disease (also similar to mesothelioma). After surgery, however, lung cancer patients generally have a better survival rate when compared to mesothelioma patients.
Furthermore, treatment options, pain, suffering, and other conditions that come along with asbestos-related lung cancer differ from other types of asbestos illnesses, and therefore the claims process and the compensation amount may also differ.
For example, a New York boilermaker who was diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer won a settlement of $3.7 million, while during the same year, a building maintenance worker who was diagnosed with mesothelioma won a settlement of $2 million. Thomas Brown, Jr., a former oil field worker from Mississippi, was awarded $322 million for present and future medical costs after he developed asbestosis. It’s important to reiterate that each case is unique, regardless of the type of asbestos disease the plaintiff has, and the compensation can vary greatly.
