Monday 15 August 2011

Mesothelioma Class Action Lawsuits

When people with similar claims join forces to seek monetary compensation through litigation, we talk about a class action lawsuit.

This process can be highly time and cost efficient, for both, the claimants and the courts. Mesothelioma is a fatal disease, and along with asbestosis and certain kinds of lung cancer, is caused by exposure to asbestos particles. A cure is yet to be found and even though the available treatments can help to improve a patient's quality of life, they are very expensive. I am a cancer patient, too, and so is my wife. Therefore, we know that our unwanted 'hobby' cancer can leave a person with a huge bill. But Mesothelioma treatments are on the extreme side and for that reason, filing for a compensation claim might result in the needed financial funding to keep up with the medical expenses. Of course, a mesothelioma patient needs to have the legal grounds before he is eligible to file a claim.

Mesothelioma class action lawsuits are complex and may therefore go on for a long time. Quite frequently we see a whole group of asbestos lawyers or a law firm taking on the litigation for the claimants. Finding the best legal representatives is imperative. They can make sure that the filing process will be handled quickly plus they can help you with the entire administrative burden. If you ever had to deal with completing any kind of legal paper-work, you probably know what I'm talking about. A mesothelioma class action lawsuit needs to be authorized by a judge, who will evaluate the claim, taking into consideration the number of claimants, the scope of the claim and the similarity of the individual cases to validate that everything can be handled in one bundled lawsuit.

Mesothelioma class action lawsuits are not always the best option for an asbestos victim who seeks to get compensated for his pain and suffering. Strategically, it might make more sense to pursue legal action individually as opposed to a group approach. It all depends on the circumstances and this is why the advice of a reputable and accredited mesothelioma lawyer is absolutely crucial. The single most important aspect is to consult with a legal expert as soon as the diagnosis is conclusive, since the statue of limitations sets forth a timeframe in which a claimant has to file his case. Rules and regulations may vary from state to state and jurisdiction.

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers go back to the 1960s. Former workers in the shipbuilding, mining and construction industries, who got sick because their employers either failed to warn or adequately protect them from asbestos exposure, decided to gather their efforts and file one combined class action lawsuit.

Since then, nearly 800,000 asbestos lawsuits have been filed, either through mesothelioma class actions or individual claims.


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