Costs of filing a mesothelioma lawsuit
Some mesothelioma patients are reluctant to file a lawsuit because they fear high legal costs. However, in most cases you needn't worry about having cash up front because mesothelioma lawyers usually work on a no win no fee basis. You will not have to pay a penny unless you receive compensation, and then the lawyer will take a percentage of the compensation as his fee.
Incidence of mesothelioma
How common is mesothelioma? Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
Collecting damages because of mesothelioma
Not every mesothelioma lawsuit will end up in court. Many lawyers are able to get substantial out of court payouts for their clients. You will not have to worry about paying your lawyer unless you do get compensation, as most mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency fee. This means that they agree to accept a percentage of the compensation claimed. If they are unsuccessful in getting compensation, then you do not have to pay anything.
Risks of asbestos exposure
In addition to mesothelioma, another health problem caused by exposure to asbestos is asbestosis. This is a lung disease that was first found in naval shipyard workers. As asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can become trapped in thye lunk tissue. The body tries to dissolve the fibers by secreting an acid. This acid is unable to affect the fiber, due to its high chmical resistance. But the surrounding tissue can become scarred. Over time, this scarring can become so severe that the lungs cannot function. Generally, a case of asbestosis takes between 25 to 40 years to fully develop.
Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit
Your mesothelioma lawsuit might not take place in the state where you live. Your lawyer will select the state in which you have the best chance of success and where you are likely to get the highest compensation. This will make no difference to you because you will not have to pay any extra. You may end up getting far more compensation in another state.