Why You Should Take Action if You Suffer From Mesothelioma

Thousands of people every year receive that devastating diagnosis of mesothelioma. The number of people who are newly diagnosed with this disease each year has begun to drop since the 1990’s, but new cases continue to emerge. We now know that mesothelioma, in nearly every case, is caused by exposure to asbestos. The spread in knowledge about the cause of this disease has led to more regulation of asbestos and in turn the decrease in diagnoses of mesothelioma in the United States. However, it is also now clear that the industries that profited from the use of asbestos had knowledge of the risks that using asbestos caused for workers long before the dangers became common knowledge. The decision many companies made to keep the dangers from being widely understood has led to tragic circumstances for the individuals who are suffering or who have suffered as result of mesothelioma, as well as the families of those individuals. Because of the wrongful acts of the corporations that profited from the use of asbestos, it is possible for individuals suffering from mesothelioma to recover compensation from those companies by filing lawsuits against these companies. There are many reasons why taking action might be in your best interest.

While no cure exists for mesothelioma, patients have options for various forms of treatment. Common treatments include radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. One issue presented by these treatment options is that they come with hefty price tags. Radiation may cost between 10 and 50 thousand dollars, chemotherapy can cost as much as 30 thousand dollars and surgeries cost nearly 40 thousand dollars on average. Some of these treatments need to be repeated, further increasing the cost of medical care, and naturally other doctor’s visits and treatments will likely be part of a patient’s ongoing care as well, leading to additional costs. While insurance may cover some of the costs, as might Medicare, the costs can still be high for the various forms of treatment required. There are also alternative options for therapy that can give patients some relief from their pain and discomfort, but that might not be covered by insurance providers or Medicare. Filing an asbestos lawsuit can help an individual recover the costs of medical care from the companies whose silence led to so many cases of this disease. The assistance with medical care can help ease the burden of these costs for the patients as well as his or her family.

Other financial strains that an individual suffering from mesothelioma might incur include lost wages. A mesothelioma lawsuit can help recover the money that a person should have been able to earn, but did not because they were too sick to work. This form of compensation can help to cover living expenses, and to help to support the family of the person who is suffering from this disease.

The funds recovered by filing a suit can also include compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress and punitive damages. Thus it is possible to receive more than just medical bills and lost wages. This money can help reduce the financial stresses on people who suffer from mesothelioma as well as on their families.

Some individuals also feel that filing suits against the companies who profited from asbestos, despite the well- recognized risks to their workers, functions as a way to hold those companies accountable for the harm that they knowingly caused. Forcing companies to pay for the damage they caused to their workers is one way to hold these companies accountable for their actions, and to decrease the chance of other companies deciding to profit by putting their employees in harm’s way.

Mesothelioma cases are handled by attorneys on a contingency basis. This means that an attorney will not get paid unless the client recovers compensation from the lawsuit.

If you or someone close to you is suffering from mesothelioma, you should speak to an attorney to discuss your options for recovering compensation. Filing an asbestos lawsuit might be your best chance to get the help you need to cover the costs of medical care, living expenses, and support for your family, and to recover that support from the corporations who are responsible for causing the harm.

Contact Stern Law, PLLC for A Free Consultation

At Stern Law, PLLC, our compassionate and caring attorneys are ready to work with you in order to find the best strategy for seeking the compensation and support that you and your family need. Contact Stern Law, PLLC today at (844) 808-7529 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.