Can I pursue compensation on behalf of a family member who was diagnosed with mesothelioma?

A diagnosis of mesothelioma is a serious issue, one that often involves the entire family attempting to figure out how to cope.

If you have recently lost a loved one because of mesothelioma, you may be able to recover compensation. Contact Morgan & Morgan to learn more.

Can Family Members Get Compensation for the Loss of a Loved One?

Surviving family members who recently lost a loved one because of mesothelioma could be eligible for mesothelioma compensation. Those family members may represent the estate of the loved one and could therefore be in a position to file a wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer should sit down with you to review your case and determine whether or not you have eligibility to open a claim, as well as the best claim to file. There are many complex issues involved in this process, and it is critical to get help from an attorney right away.

How Long Does It Take to Get Compensation for a Mesothelioma Case?

Waiting to go to a jury trial for a mesothelioma claim or wrongful death suit could take years. In many cases, however, mesothelioma claims settle outside of court within a period of a few months. The amount of time that it will take to receive compensation in a mesothelioma case will also depend on the kind of claim that you file. If there is an asbestos trust that you are naming in your lawsuit, you may be able to get money from these trusts within a couple of months. It is very important to consider how and when you file a mesothelioma lawsuit because of the complex issues involved, and the fact that your loved one may still be alive to cope with the aftermath of this condition.

Which People Are Eligible for Compensation for Exposure to Asbestos?

Anyone who has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos is eligible to file a claim for compensation. Talking with a knowledgeable asbestos attorney is the best way to determine if you are eligible and to get a baseline idea of the value of your case. Surviving family members may also be eligible to receive compensation if they lost a loved one to mesothelioma. Spouses and children who lost their loved ones may file a wrongful death claim.

Proving the diagnosis of mesothelioma and the evidence of asbestos exposure are some of the most important components of a claim like this. Do not hesitate to contact the qualified lawyers at Morgan and Morgan to help you file a claim for mesothelioma benefits.

How Do We Document Exposure?

Whether you are filing a claim on behalf of a family member or representing your own interests, one of the most important components of your case is documenting exposure. Most people do not remember everything about their life, health, work, and asbestos exposure history. This is especially true because mesothelioma often develops years or decades after the initial exposure. So it can be difficult for someone with a varied work history to determine when the exposure to asbestos happened.

Your attorney will help you gather the evidence needed to document asbestos exposure by asking questions about your work history. The primary purpose of these questions is to learn more about exposure to products containing asbestos. The right lawyers, including those working at Morgan and Morgan, have done exhaustive investigations into numerous job sites all over the country that reveal exactly which kind of asbestos products were used and when they were used. Using your work history to compare to this information, can help identify those situations and give you a good idea of when you may have been exposed to asbestos.

A full review of your work history might reveal that you worked at a certain place or with kinds of materials related to other asbestos exposure cases. This is why it's so important to find a law firm with a background in filing cases like this already, since your lawyer may need to evaluate all these resources when bringing your own legal claim.

New investigations can also be launched by your attorneys into workplaces to find out whether or not asbestos was used. Reviewing historical records and purchase order histories are some of the leading ways to accomplish this.

If you're ready to move forward with a mesothelioma claim for yourself or on behalf of a family member, contact Morgan and Morgan today for free, no-obligation case evaluation.