What Do You Need for a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?

Mesothelioma is a devastating type of cancer that can leave you and your loved ones asking plenty of questions. Mesothelioma does its damage by attacking the lungs and other organs like the heart and liver. The average life expectancy of this disease is between 18 and 31 months. Treatment advances have allowed patients to live longer and achieve a greater rate of survival.

If you have been exposed to asbestos at your job, in the military, or at home, contact Phillips Law Group today. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Our experienced mesothelioma attorneys have helped clients win over $1 billion in damages.

You can reach Phillips Law Group today at (800) 706-3000 for a free consultation. There is no fee unless you win, so call us today.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit Options

Victims of mesothelioma can file one of three main types of lawsuits:

• Personal injury
• Wrongful death
• Class-action lawsuit

Survivors may file a personal injury suit while loved ones can fight a wrongful death case.

The main cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. While known as a dangerous, cancer-causing mineral, asbestos exposure is still common around the world. Victims can encounter it at work, at home, in the military, and from products. Approximately 125 million people worldwide are at risk of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

Personal injury lawsuit

Once a mesothelioma diagnosis has been made, the patient can file a personal injury lawsuit. The suit will be filed against the party responsible for causing the asbestos exposure. The patient will want to be compensated for treatment costs, pain and suffering, lost income, and more.

Wrongful death suit

A wrongful death suit is often filed by the family of the deceased victim who died from mesothelioma, exposed to asbestos at work or in the military, for example. The family can go after the liable party who caused the exposure that resulted in death. They can be compensated for funeral expenses, any remaining medical expenses, loss of consortium, lost income, and more.

Class-action lawsuit

With a class-action lawsuit, a suit can be filed on behalf of multiple plaintiffs. For example, if a group of factory workers all develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure at their job, they can band together in a single lawsuit against their employer.

A class-action lawsuit can include anywhere from a few people to several thousand. As an individual, you can decide to join the suit or go your way and file an individual claim.

Why File a Lawsuit for Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a deadly type of cancer that can infect the lungs and spread to other organs. If you have developed this disease through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to receive compensation. Considering that most mesothelioma cases are due to asbestos exposure, you can go after the responsible party.

The average mesothelioma lawsuit compensation averages between $1 and $1.4 million for a settlement and upwards of $2.4 million if a trial verdict is reached. While health insurance can cover most of the cost of treatment, it does not pay for many long-term expenses you may be facing for follow-up care, transportation costs, and other financial losses.

Ultimately, mesothelioma lawsuits help hold companies that use asbestos responsible for their actions. The dangerous properties of asbestos have been known since 1918. That was when the US Bureau of Labor Statistics found an abnormally high risk of early death among workers exposed to the substance. Sadly, more than 39,000 Americans die from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases annually today.

Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a sneaky substance that does not bring about immediate exposure symptoms. You would have to be around it for years before noticing any harm. Even then, you might not realize that asbestos is the cause of your health problems. Asbestos symptoms can match problems caused by other ailments and diseases. It is important to check for asbestos in your home before moving in to prevent prolonged exposure.

The symptoms of asbestos exposure include:

• Wheezing
• Hoarseness
• Lingering cough
• Feeling like you cannot get enough air
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swelling in the neck or face
• Coughing up blood
• Weight loss
• Lack of appetite
• Exhaustion
• Anemia

If you have any of these symptoms, do not wait to see a doctor. After your appointment, call Phillips Law Group right away to seek compensation for your injuries.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit Eligibility

If you want to file a lawsuit for asbestos exposure that caused mesothelioma, you must meet a few requirements.

These requirements include:

• Having proper medical documentation of a mesothelioma diagnosis from medical professionals
• Being able to prove the defendant caused the asbestos exposure
• Submitting the lawsuit within the statute of limitations

Every state’s statute of limitations is different and can be anywhere between 1 and 4 years from the time the patient is diagnosed. Hiring a personal injury attorney can help you gather all the evidence you need and ensure all the paperwork is filed before the deadline that applies to you. He or she can guide you through the difficult and complicated legal process.

How to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

After you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may feel anxiety and have plenty of questions. How did this happen? Who is responsible for exposing me to asbestos? What are the next steps I should take?

Here is what you can do next.

Call Phillips Law Group

The average person knows very little about personal injury law. You can make things much easier and more stress-free by leaving it all up to the legal professionals to show you how to navigate the process.

When you contact Phillips Law Group for the first time, you will receive a free consultation. This is an in-depth conversation where you can ask questions freely and find the answers you are looking for.

We will probably ask you to share your medical history and discuss how you might have been exposed to asbestos. From this point on, our lawyers can do most of the heavy lifting.

Research the facts

Once the consultation with your lawyer is finished and he or she has taken on your case, it will be time to start collecting all the information and evidence possible. This is where your case will be built up. Evidence must be gathered to prove you were injured due to the negligence of the defendant.

The types of evidence your lawyer may collect include:

• Witness statements
• Medical reports
• Employment history
• Information to determine your compensation

You may be eligible for different types of compensation you may not know about yet. Your attorney will investigate everything to help you get every dollar you deserve. This includes all your economic losses as well as other awards. There may be asbestos trust funds and money set aside for veterans that you can claim. Your lawyer will know what you can qualify for.

Find a resolution

After the evidence has been combed through and you have a solid case, it will be time to find a resolution. Most personal injury cases are settled before they ever make it to court. Your lawyer will attempt to negotiate a fair settlement. If one cannot be reached, the case will go to trial.

If you developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, call Phillips Law Group today. We will help you get on the path to receiving the compensation you deserve. You have too many other worries on your plate already. Let us take care of the legal process for you. We have over 26 years of experience handling all kinds of personal injury cases.

For your free consultation, call Phillips Law Group at (800) 706-3000. There is no fee unless you win your case.