Were you or a loved one diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases? If you’re one of those individuals suffering due to this incurable cancer, you can actually take legal actions to recover compensation for medical bills and other damages.
Though it has slightly gone down, the American Cancer Society says that 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in the United States per year.
What is Mesothelioma?
Simply put, Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Mostly, a man who is 65 years old and older with a blue-collar job like construction, manufacturing, chemical refining, shipbuilding, and power generation or a military background gets this deadly cancer. However, anyone with a history of asbestos exposure is at risk.
Louisiana is one of the states in the country that struggled with asbestos exposure for many years. Because it is home to the biggest and one of the most active seaports in the United States, it provided hundreds of jobs to the locals. Unfortunately, its shipyards and oil refineries were the exact reasons why the state has been the center of asbestos controversies for generations.
What you Want in your Mesothelioma Attorney
If you’re seriously considering hiring a mesothelioma lawyer to help you fight for your rights, look for these traits to ensure favorable outcomes:
1. Experience
Mesothelioma cases are different from other personal injury cases. That’s why your lawyer must have a long history of representing patients and families in court. In order to defend you, they must have deep knowledge of the types of industries and jobs where asbestos may have occurred, as well as what occupational hazards existed in these industries. Most importantly, they should be well versed in state asbestos laws and state and federal legislation.
Waddell Anderman Law Firm has over four decades of handling asbestos-related lawsuits. They are locals in Louisiana, so they are familiar with the courts, jurisdictions, and intricacies of the state’s asbestos litigation process.
2. Proven Results
You can meet attorneys who can claim they are experienced and expert. Unfortunately, not all law firms are created equal. You need to dig deeper to ensure that your potential mesothelioma attorney has actual asbestos case results, proven successes at trial, and successful recovering large settlements. At Waddell Anderman Law Firm, their attorneys will be happy to speak about their cases and answer any questions you may have about their trial results.
They have helped many clients not only in Louisiana but also in other states like Texas and Los Angeles to bring about large settlements as high as more than $4 million. You can check out their website to see more of their successful case results.
3. Provide Free Legal Case Review
A reputable law firm will let you know if they can take your case and evaluate it for free. They will answer all your inquiries and provide legal options without asking for fees. In this way, you know that they will not only defend you to collect fees but also help you stand up for your rights.
4. Strong Resources
Top mesothelioma legal experts have access to information about companies that used asbestos in the past, manufacturers of these products, and other valuable tools that are not available to other attorneys. They also maintain evidence from previous asbestos cases, which are helpful in their future cases.
5. Ability to Handle Asbestos-Related Lawsuits Nationwide
States have distinct statutes of limitations for filing cases. For instance, one state may allow a mesothelioma lawsuit to be heard in court in one year, but it may take several years in other states. Make sure that your mesothelioma lawyer has a nationwide reach and can handle cases anywhere in the country. Furthermore, they must have the ability to help the victims receive as much compensation as possible in the shortest amount of time.
Moreover, good mesothelioma lawyers are knowledgeable about the statute of limitations, so they will help you understand, depending on where you live, allowing you to file your claim on time.
6. Good Communication Skills
You want a lawyer who makes you feel at ease when talking about sensitive and intimate health and work details. They will listen to all your problems without the need to interrupt and give unnecessary comments.
At the same time, they should also gladly answer your questions so you will understand the process, not only through emails and phone calls, but they take time to meet you in person.