Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawyers

How to Hire a Mesothelioma or Asbestos Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a disease caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma victims almost always win money damages if they sue, but the cases can be complicated and a mesothelioma lawyer is usually needed to identify the parties who are liable for the asbestos exposure (asbestos manufacturers, insurance companies, or asbestos victims' trust funds) and begin the lawsuit or settlement process. Because mesothelioma cases
are a specialized legal niche it's important to understand how mesothelioma lawyers operate and how to hire a good one. Read on to learn more. (For general information about hiring an attorney, check out Nolo's article Finding a Personal Injury Lawyer)

The Legal Background

People who find out that they are suffering from mesothelioma (often as a result of working with asbestos) usually have an excellent chance of recovering substantial money damages -- either from the company that manufactured or installed the asbestos, or from an asbestos victims' trust fund. But these cases can get complex, especially from a medical standpoint, since mesothelioma often shows up 10 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos. Having an experienced attorney on your side -- especially one with a record of success in mesothelioma cases -- can make all the difference. (To learn more about mesothelioma cases, read Nolo's article Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawsuits: What to Expect.)
Finding the right mesothelioma lawyer can be key to your case, but it can also take time and effort. If you are not feeling well, make sure you get help from a consumer savvy relative or friend. As discussed below, you'll get the best results if you do careful research as to a lawyer's qualifications and track record and then interview several. You also may need to bargain as to the amount of the contingency fee and other costs.

Ways to Find the Right Mesothelioma Lawyer

Ask former colleagues. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, chances are good that people who you worked with at the time of your exposure also suffer from it and may have already hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit. If they have achieved a good result through a lawyer they like and respect, this is one good place to start.
Check Nolo's online Lawyer Directory. Some attorneys featured in Nolo's lawyer directory handle mesothelioma cases (full disclosure: lawyers pay a fee to list with Nolo). These attorneys have filled out a detailed profile containing valuable information about their schooling, professional background, legal specialties, and personal attitudes. While there are also a number of other legal directories, we believe Nolo's provides the most consumer friendly information. Go to the Mesothelioma - Asbestos section of Nolo's Lawyer Directory to find a mesothelioma attorney in your area.
Investigate lawyers online. Because mesothelioma cases can be so profitable, many law firms spend big dollars on Internet ads and websites. Just Google mesothelioma lawyer and you'll find a long list. Click on a few ads or websites and you'll see that everyone claims to be the best of the best. How do you cut through all this hype to focus on a short list of hopefully excellent mesothelioma lawyers? We recommend that you carefully read the legal information each lawyer provides. In our experience lawyers who provide well-written, in-depth information demonstrate a superior sensitivity to client needs. By the same token, we distrust lawyers who say little more than "I can get you millions pronto -- trust me."

How to Choose the Right Mesothelioma Lawyer

Check a lawyer's references. A good mesothelioma lawyer should be able to provide you with the name and contact information of a few satisfied clients. Of course, the lawyer will have to get the permission of the client, but this can usually be arranged. Although you'll only be given the names of very satisfied clients, it can still be very helpful to talk to someone who has worked with the lawyer you are considering in a mesothelioma case.
Interview the lawyers. Once you develop a short list of mesothelioma lawyers, contact their offices (again, get help if you are very ill). Request a case evaluation and, if possible, arrange a personal interview. Ask who exactly will manage your case (often a case manager, who is a non-lawyer in larger firms). Find out who you can call or email if you have questions, and how long it will take to get back to you. Anticipating these questions, many law firms will give you a written overview of what to expect. Especially if it's detailed and guarantees that all calls and emails will be returned in 24 hours, this is a good sign.
Negotiate fees with the lawyer. Mesothelioma lawyers charge a contingency fee for their legal representation, plus additional costs to prepare your case. One good approach is to contact several lawyers, making it clear that you'll take your time before signing a fee agreement. Your goal is to find a good quality lawyer who will represent you for 25% to 30% of your recovery, instead of 33% to 40%. But keep in mind that mesothelioma cases can be very complex. If you find an attorney who comes well-recommended and has a lot of experience (and a record of success) representing mesothelioma clients, a few percentage points on a contingency fee probably shouldn't dictate whether or not you hire that attorney.
Find out how are costs handled. A good attorney will deduct costs (things like filing fees and expert witnesses' compensation) off the top of any settlement or award, before the money is divided and the attorney takes their agreed-upon percentage. That way you and the attorney share payment of the costs. And a good attorney will give you receipts showing that all costs incurred were specific to your case -- meaning you're not being saddled with part of the bill for the firm's general operating expenses.

 Mesothelioma Law

Exposure to asbestos is the SOLE CAUSE of mesothelioma. Did you know companies that used asbestos after 1918 knew that it was a dangerous material and was potentially harmful to workers, their family members and the general public? Even knowing these risks these companies hid these dangers from the public.
Even our brave armed forces that fought for our country during wartime were exposed to asbestos. These companies hid the dangers of asbestos from military personnel and as a result more soldiers, sailors and marines died from exposure to asbestos. Sailors were especially at risk as they were continually exposed to massive amounts of asbestos on Navy ships.
Many of the companies that used asbestos have already admitted their guilt and have established trust funds to compensate the victims of mesothelioma. And other companies that used asbestos and that have not already established these funds regularly pay out on claims brought upon them by mesothelioma victims.
Important Things about Your Legal Rights to Compensation:

• TAX-FREE - Since the compensation is not income, all mesothelioma compensation is taxfree.
• OTHER BENEFITS UNAFFECTED - Workers comp, disability or other benefits are unaffected by compensation.
• FAMILY RIGHTS IF LOVED ONE HAS PASSED - Family members still have rights to recover compensation if their loved one who suffered from mesothelioma has passed away.
• NO LAWSUIT REQUIRED - If the company involved has established a trust fund, no lawsuit is required to file the claim.
• NO CLASS ACTION - Mesothelioma claims are not part of any class action lawsuit.
• THERE IS A TIME LIMIT - Claims must be filed within a certain amount of time or you may lose your right to compensation. This time limit varies from state to state.
• MONEY ALREADY SET ASIDE - Often, the compensation has already been set aside for you and if you do not claim it in time the company that exposed you will get the money back.
• NO RISK/NO BILLS - Our firm will never bill you for our work. We only get paid if we recover for you. There is no risk to you.

Because each case is so unique, it is impossible to estimate the value of your claim until you have spoken with an experienced mesothelioma investigator who can trace your asbestos exposure history.
And if you are not sure when you were exposed, these investigators can help find all of your exposures to determine the responsible parties.
For example, did you know that the filters of Kent cigarettes during the 1950s contained the very deadly blue asbestos?
Mesothelioma law is a very complex area of law. Only a handful of law firms devote their full resources to mesothelioma claims.
We are proud to be the LARGEST LAW FIRM exclusively devoted to mesothelioma victims and their families. We don't handle auto accident cases or divorces or other types of legal claims.
If you or someone you know has mesothelioma,  speak with someone at our firm about the rights of mesothelioma victims and their families.
There is NO CHARGE to speak with an attorney at our firm and we only get paid if we recover for you. We will come to you and meet with you at your home or other place that is convenient to you.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers and Law Firms in Houston, TX

 Mesothelioma Attorney: Consumer Tips

 These pages provide consumer tips for how to deal with the financial aspects of selecting a mesothelioma attorney.   They do not provide any information regarding the medical aspects of this serious disease.

Since so much is at stake, selecting the right mesothelioma lawyer is very important. According the Wall Street Journal, lawyers say a typical mesothelioma award in a mesothelioma settlement is $1 million, and attorneys get 40% of this amount.   If the case actually goes to trial, the average award was $6 million in 2001, which was triple the amount awarded just two years earlier.

So, mesothelioma attorneys are very eager to find mesothelioma patients. And it’s vital that patients select the mesothelioma attorneys that are best for them.

A Brief Background on Your Legal Rights Regarding Mesothelioma

Companies that manufacture products that contain asbestos have known for over 60 years that asbestos can cause serious diseases.

Unfortunately, because many of these companies wanted to increase their profits, they kept this information quiet, thereby seriously endangering their workers.

There are now laws that help protect the workers who have been harmed by their exposure to these asbestos-related products.

However, since representing mesothelioma can be so profitable to attorneys, it is important that people who have mesothelioma be especially careful selecting attorneys who are really qualified to represent them.   Therefore, we have created a list of…

Important Questions to Ask When Selecting a Mesothelioma Attorney

Question #1 to Ask When Selecting a Mesothelioma Attorney:

What is your personal experience in representing mesothelioma patients?   Your goal is to find out how many cases the attorney has actually handled.

You also want to know: how many of these were settled, and how many of these went to trial?   What were the results of each case?

You should ask the same questions about his or her law firm.   You’re goal is to find out about the firm — is this an area the firm specializes in?

Question #2 to Ask When Selecting a Mesothelioma Attorney:

Next, you want to ask if the lawyer intends to actually handle your case him or herself. Many attorneys simply refer these cases to another law firm and receive part of the fee in exchange.   This may not be in your best interest.