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Every year in the United States, close to 3000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illness. Many decades have passed since asbestos mining and manufacturing of its products was stopped. However, there are still asbestos-like materials from Russia, which the US and other countries purchase. The illnesses associated with asbestos exposure are heavy and expensive and takes a toll on the patients’ families for so many years. Before the companies dealing with asbestos mining and manufacturing were closed, the government required them to set up a trust fund before declaring bankruptcy.
Through this initiative, experienced attorneys and this law firm have reviewed and studied mesothelioma cases and got large compensations for their clients. Many victims are those who worked in factories, manufacturing, auto industry, firefighters, miners, construction workers, and even those in the military who breathed in dangerous asbestos fibers on the job. Mesothelioma lawyers assist the clients in accessing a trust fund claim associated with the company or organization they were working for. Asbestos and asbestos-containing materials are not banned in the US. The federal laws and state laws govern how asbestos is manufactured, disposed and used by individuals. Not all states have similar procedures in ensuring that fairness and justice are served.
Examples of laws governing different states in the US are;
- In California, schools are required to keep records that go back 30 years. Employers are also required to minimize exposure to asbestos materials and to document so.
- Ohio State is one of the active states and has passed several legislations. This state has provided a series of updates for companies whose mesothelioma patients sue.
- In Hawaii state, most of the residential buildings contain asbestos products in the floors, ceilings, and walls. However, this state is not aggressive in the filing of lawsuits compared to other states like Texas.
As a mesothelioma patient and friends and family, it is advisable to choose a firm that works nationwide. This is because a lawsuit in one state might be more successful than in another state. Also, a mesothelioma lawyer is well experienced and well updated with the changing laws in different forms. The criteria for choosing a mesothelioma lawyer and firm is;
- Experience- mesothelioma cases are different from personal injury cases. The lawyer should know the fields with high risk, occupational hazards, and the legal remedies you as the patient will get.
- Contingency- the lawyer should understand that there will be no payments upfront till the client has been compensated and the lawsuit is successful or has been settled out of court.
- The lawyer should be keen to detail. He/she should explain how unique your case, define the legality of the proceedings, and possibly estimate a value given your claims’ specificity.
- The firm should have a good reputation. Moreover, this gives the patient a sense of confidence that their mesothelioma cases will be handled well individually.
- The firm should have a track of proven results. The lawyers should show proof of cases and lawsuits won both related and unrelated to the patient.
Laws globally change over time. A law that was applicable today could not be tomorrow. The more asbestos lawsuits are increasing, and the increasing number of compensations awarded to the claimants will also dictate future rules.
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