Choosing Your Lawyer / Law Firm

Choose The Law Firm

There are two types of law firms that can handle mesothelioma lawsuits: larger, more traditional firms that handle many asbestos-related disease cases, many of which are non-cancerous, and smaller, newer law firms that deal exclusively with mesothelioma cases. Firms that take on a wide variety of asbestos-related cases often times have pre-established settlement agreements with asbestos manufacturers and, in general, spend less time on individual cases as they are more concerned with larger, group settlements.

Other advantages of mesothelioma exclusive firms:

Selective when choosing which cases to take
Give plaintiffs individual attention
Experienced in trial and settlement arrangements for single plaintiff cases
Spend more time on individual cases

Based on your personal needs and desires, you should choose which type of firm is right for your case. In either instance, you should look for a firm with experience and knowledge.

Some things to look for in a law firm:

Experienced in claims process
Proven track record
Strong network of counsel
Familiarity with cover-ups and incriminating asbestos company documents

Consultation

There are many firms that offer free consultation to claimants who are considering taking legal action against asbestos companies. During consultation your lawyer will ask you questions to help define your medical history and history of asbestos exposure. During consultation you will be given information about the legal process and how your case will be approached. Your lawyer will provide you with testimonials or results from cases similar to yours and explain to you realistic expectations.

Communicate

When going to trial or negotiating settlement arrangements, it is important that your lawyer knows as much specific information about your personal exposure as possible. The type of mesothelioma that you have developed is also important information for negotiations, since the more debilitating diseases traditionally receive larger settlements.

Lawyer Fees

In many cases, firms will agree to work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that the law firm does not get paid directly by you, but instead receives a percentage of the final settlement. Therefore, patients struggling with astronomical medical expenses incur no additional out of pocket expenses for seeking legal help.

Quality over Cost

Legal fees for these types of cases usually run from 33 to 40% of claimant's final settlement. The percentage taken by the law firm, however, should not be a deterrent in finding the best help available. Because the more experienced, knowledgeable firms are more familiar with the process in mesothelioma cases, settlements can be larger and come more quickly.

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Published: 05/26/2004, Last Updated: 11/10/2005