Choosing an Asbestos Lawyer

Choosing an attorney for any legal problem can be difficult but choosing an asbestos attorney can be even more challenging because of the nature of the case. Every asbestos case is different from the rest because each person’s illness incurred by asbestos is different. Asbestos can cause people to develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis and many more health problems. When you choose the right asbestos attorney, your case will be handled in the best of ways and hopefully a verdict will be delivered in the plaintiff’s favor. Many people suffering from illnesses caused by asbestos will face endless medical bills, medical treatments, disability and other losses. Many people that work or live in asbestos affected areas will have to apply for Social Security disability or workers compensation because of the illnesses incurred by the asbestos. Many people that have been injured by asbestos will have to stop working because of breathing problems that are a direct result of asbestos. Anyone suffering from asbestos related illnesses need to realize that a face to face consultation with an asbestos attorney is the best way for an attorney to determine whether or not a case will be able to make headway in court or in settlement meetings. Initial consultations can be performed over the phone but lawyers would prefer to meet in person to determine how sick the plaintiff really is. As with all medical related lawsuits, there is always the possibility of insurance fraud or fraud in general. This is another reason why a lawyer will want to meet in person before deciding to represent the plaintiff in the case.

Not everyone knows how to choose the perfect asbestos attorney and doing so can be a very daunting task. Asking the right questions when meeting with an asbestos attorney for the first time can make it easier when it comes to choosing which lawyer the plaintiff should use. The following questions should be asked by a plaintiff when meeting with a prospective asbestos attorney:

• How many asbestos and mesothelioma verdicts has the firm won?
• How often does the firm take cases to trial?
• How willing is the firm to fight for me and my case?
• How many of the firm’s asbestos lawyers are experienced trial attorneys?
• How many resources does the firm have onsite (physically and in computerized databases) to help me prove my case with its’ unique particulars (worksite exposures, asbestos product identification, scientific and medical depositions, etc.)?
• How many support staff, including trial paralegals, are employed by the firm?
• How long will it take to prepare and file the case?
• Will settlement be expected of some claims and how soon will these occur?
• How long will it take for the case to be brought to trial?
• What other support services can the firm provide, such as estate planning, will or living trust preparation and probate?

If the attorney can answer the majority of the above questions truthfully then it might be in your best interest to choose that attorney to represent you in your asbestos case. Any attorney that cannot answer these questions promptly and truthfully, or provide a decent answer after some research, should not be chosen to represent you during your asbestos case.