subject: Choosing A Lawyer Experienced In Asbestos Cases Is Important [print this page] Its impossible for suffering and loss of life to be made up for with money. However when faced with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, many people seek financial recompense to cover their medical and loss of work expenses and to try to regain quality of life. The victim or their family can file a mesothelioma lawsuit in hopes of receiving a monetary settlement as an award of damages from the court.
One of the most important steps during this process is to find an experienced asbestos attorney whose law firm practices in their state. Many firms specialize in lawsuits which involve asbestos-related diseases. They can be found by searching online or from referrals from other patients and their families who have unfortunately been through the process.
One reason the law firm needs to have prior experience with asbestos-related cases is that the defendant may very well have been sued for this complaint before. A large company that has used asbestos over a prolonged period of time may have been sued by many other former employees. That means that the companys attorneys will be well rehearsed at their defense strategies and armed with tactics to protect the companys best interests.
An experienced asbestos attorney will be equally prepared. They may already have statistics compiled on the specific company, which can save valuable time in preparing the lawsuit. They will also have knowledge to help the plaintiff walk through the formalities and the decisions that come with a mesothelioma lawsuit.
One of the important decisions that an asbestos lawyer can advise their client on is whether or not to accept a settlement if one is offered. A mesothelioma settlement is a monetary offer from the defendant in lieu of waiting for the decision of the judge or jury. This cash settlement may be offered before the trial begins or after it has begun, depending on the circumstances of the particular case. Settling out of court saves both the plaintiff and the defandant time and expense, but the plaintiff needs to realize that the defendant will offer to settle for as little as possible.
To receive compensation, the asbestos attorney must be able to present a strong case that proves that the defendants negligence caused the patient to develop an asbestos-related disease. The amount of money the defendant offers will depend upon how strong they think the plaintiffs case is. If the plaintiff is a smoker or has other possible causes for lung cancer, they will offer less in their settlement offer, or just allow the case to go court, hoping to win.
