Mesothelioma Cases Easy Or A Nightmare: Most people believe that cancer is the worst thing that could happen to a person and a family. Imagine fighting a lawsuit against your employer or an organization responsible for the asbestos exposure leading to your mesothelioma diagnosis. Thousands of mesothelioma patients have to choose between filing for a settlement or taking the trial route to secure compensation. 

Mesothelioma goes undetected for long periods and spreads quickly, giving patients an average life expectancy of 12-20 months. A cancer diagnosis as deadly as mesothelioma comes with numerous complications and exuberant medical bills that pile up quickly. Patients and family members explore legal remedies to demand compensations from parties responsible for the asbestos exposure. 

Most patients fight legal battles to secure compensation for their loved ones, while family members look to finance quality treatments. Settlement payouts allow mesothelioma patients to access leading cancer treatment facilities, ensuring the best care possible with increased life quality. However, fighting a mesothelioma case isn’t easy like all legal battles. 

Keep reading to understand the complexities of mesothelioma cases and settlements. 

Settlements Vs. Verdicts: Which route should you take? 

Once you decide to take legal action against the parties responsible for your diagnosis, you must determine the right route. Settlements and verdicts are two viable legal means to secure compensation after filing a mesothelioma case. These legal alternatives carry distinct benefits and drawbacks, and patients must choose the option that aligns with their best interests. 

Settlements

Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones can file a claim against their employers or manufacturers who use asbestos-containing materials. Settlements are a viable route for patients and families anxious to avoid long-drawn trials and complex legal battles. Settlements are handled through speedy negotiations between your lawyer and the legal team representing the organization you sued. On average, mesothelioma settlements help patients secure around $1-1.5 million in compensation.

Companies, manufacturers, and public service organizations look to resolve asbestos exposure claims with settlements to avoid going to court. The company’s legal team will work with your attorney to secure a sizable compensation amount that eliminates the need for a trial. Most families struggle with overwhelming financial burdens after a cancer diagnosis, and mesothelioma treatment fees are skyrocketing. A settlement is a viable and speedy legal route to gain compensation to fund treatments and improve life quality. 

Settlements come with legally binding clauses, and if the compensation isn’t paid on time, the victim can pursue further legal action. Most people prefer settlements over verdicts because negotiated payouts are nontaxable. 

Trial Verdicts

Mesothelioma trials are lengthy, complex, and emotionally draining, but they secure higher compensation payouts. On average, trial verdicts award asbestos exposure victims around $5-11 million in compensation. However, victims and family members choosing this route must brace themselves for a lengthy legal battle that demands resource-gathering. 

It isn’t easy for patients and their caregivers to combine mesothelioma treatments with legal proceedings. However, verdicts help victims achieve financial independence with higher payouts to fund their treatments and create security for their dependents. If you’re struggling with the settlement vs. verdict debate, we advise reflecting on your disease prognosis and life expectancy. 

Suppose your doctor has predicted an average lifespan of 12 months. In that case, a settlement can provide faster compensation to join a clinical trial or go abroad for treatment. Verdicts help secure higher payouts, and most high-profile defendants seek out-of-court settlements before the trial. 

Statute of Limitations 

Patients contemplating legal action must act decisively and file their lawsuits without delaying the proceedings. You see, mesothelioma cases and asbestos exposure claims come with a specific statute of limitations. The time frame varies, depending on state legislation and local rules. Typically, patients have a narrow time frame to file a claim for asbestos exposure after receiving their preliminary diagnosis.

Unfortunately, a cancer diagnosis is a life-changing moment that envelopes patients and families like a tumultuous storm. It throws patients and their families into an emotional warzone of conflicts. Many patients give up before the fight begins. It’s crucial to plan your legal recourse immediately after the initial diagnosis as the deadlines are narrow.

We advise patients to consult attorneys specializing in mesothelioma cases and settlements. Consulting an attorney will help you explore multiple legal options when considering filing a claim. Most retirees and senior patients assume that filing a lawsuit won’t help as they would have to unearth decades’ old evidence. 

Evidence-gathering isn’t challenging as attorneys and law firms recruit researchers and investigators to gather evidence and double-check facts. Even if your asbestos exposure began in the 1970s or 1980s, filing a lawsuit is a viable solution. 

Lawsuits Targeting Corporations & the Military 

Suppose you’re filing a claim against a large corporation alongside multiple victims in a class-action lawsuit. In that case, the court will likely order the defendant to set up a trust fund to resolve all existing and future claimants. Courts worldwide have set the precedent of ordering large-scale asbestos manufacturers to compensate victims through trust funds. 

These trust funds hold billions of dollars to resolve all claims filed in the past, present, or future. The attorney leading the lawsuit or class-action suit is responsible for accessing the funds and compensating victims. 

How does one file a lawsuit against the US military for asbestos exposure? A growing population of US military and navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma after prolonged asbestos exposure during service. The Department of Veteran Affairs has set up several divisions to provide patients with compensation, financial support, and treatment facilities. 

Military veterans and civilian military personnel can pursue legal action to gain compensation through different financial streams. Veterans are compensated through the Department of Veterans Affairs, while civilians gain support through insurance funds. It’s wise to consult an attorney specializing in aiding mesothelioma patients to secure administrative compensation. 

Final Thoughts 

A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering reality that accompanies physical, emotional, mental, and financial turmoil. Mesothelioma progresses at lightning speed, and it doesn’t take long for patients to lose their livelihoods and bodily strength. Treatments are exuberantly expensive, with mesothelioma specialists charging skyrocketing fees. What’s more, most health insurance plans don’t offer coverage for consulting high-cost mesothelioma specialists. 

Filing a claim and securing compensation is a mesothelioma patient’s best chance at fighting and beating cancer. Patients need access to the best facilities and state-of-the-art medical technologies to prevent disease progression. Money offers financial security and stability, elevating life quality and offering patients numerous choices. Filing a lawsuit alongside handling your deteriorating health may seem overwhelming, but the right attorney will make it easier.