Mesothelioma is a cancerous medical condition that results from asbestos exposure. Despite its well-known dangers, many companies continue to use asbestos for various purposes. This means their employees (and maybe even their customers) could be exposed to unhealthy amounts of asbestos. If you or someone you love is afflicted by mesothelioma, it is essential to know your rights.
You Have The Right To Seek Compensation
No matter how your asbestos exposure occurred, you have the right to seek compensation. If you have medical expenses associated with asbestos exposure, make sure to get documentation showing exactly how much those expenses were. You should also get documentation from your doctor so that no one can question the validity of your condition. You might be pleased to know that the average mesothelioma lawsuit is between one and two million dollars. By partnering with the correct Kentucky mesothelioma law firm, you can be assured of getting timely compensation.
A Lawsuit May Not Be Required
Sometimes, mesothelioma victims can receive compensation without suing the offending company. These companies sometimes file for bankruptcy or change names to avoid paying settlements. Judges started demanding that these companies create asbestos trust funds to deal with this. These funds are meant to provide monetary compensation for both present and future claims. If the company responsible for your asbestos exposure has gone out of business, you still have options.
Understanding Settlements Vs Verdicts
If you seek compensation for mesothelioma-related problems, you should understand the difference between a settlement and a verdict. The offending company will probably make a settlement offer if you have a strong case. This will consist of a certain monetary sum, and you must decide if it is enough. If not, you return to court and seek a judgment (or verdict) against them.
Verdict judgments tend to incur higher damages (meaning more money for you), but a settlement is an easy way to get paid. If the settlement is large enough to cover your needs, it might be worthwhile to take that settlement, saving you both risk and hassle. However, a verdict is a better goal if you have a strong case and/or the settlement is too low.
Avoiding Delay Is Essential
Many states have statutes of limitations regarding asbestos claims. Thus, if you do not file your claim within a certain period of time, it will be thrown out. These statutes vary by state, so ensure you are within those limits.
In some cases, companies will attempt to stall mesothelioma cases. If this occurs, having good legal representation of your own is highly essential. Most judges know that these stalling tactics are common, so a good attorney should be able to prevent that and make them pay what they owe on time. You have the right to seek compensation, and you also have the right to receive that compensation within a reasonable time frame.
Miners Are Particularly At Risk
Those working in the mining industry, especially coal mining, are likelier to contract mesothelioma. Asbestos occurs naturally in many coal mines, which means that the miners will be somewhat exposed. These days, miners wear a lot more protective equipment, but in the old days, they wore very little. Thus, older coal mine workers are at very high risk for mesothelioma.
Like much of Appalachia, Kentucky is rich in coal, so many people have made their living in the mining industry. However, many of those mining companies have not done a good job of protecting their workers. If you are one of those workers, you have every right to seek compensation and damages.
Mesothelioma has affected thousands of families, and those in the Appalachian region have been some of the worst. If you are among those affected by this condition, the time to seek justice is today. By partnering with the right Kentucky mesothelioma law firm, you can make sure that justice is done. There may not be a cure for mesothelioma, but you can ensure that you and your family are properly cared for.
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