Thursday, June 21, 2012

Mesothelioma - Picking A Lawyer

A diagnosis of Mesothelioma for you or a loved one should raise the specter of product liability. How so? Mesothelioma is often caused by the deadly asbestos fiber. In moving forward, you'll need to pick a lawyer. Here's the best method for going about it.

There is really no way to sugarcoat the situation. A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is usually a death sentence. Less than 10 percent of patients will survive more than five years after the diagnosis is made. This is obviously a shocking statistic. The lives of victims and their families are simply shaken up like a dog working over a toy. Getting immediate, aggressive medical treatment is your best option, but there are also practical considerations to take into account.


Mesothelioma tends to strike the income earner in the family. This means you are facing a situation that is not only emotionally devastating, but financially as well. In these tough times, it is the rare family that can stand to lose such income. This is why investigating whether legal action is merited is so critical. Just as critical is getting the best lawyer for your case.

The first thing to look for in a lawyer is actually two things - specialization and experience. Asbestos-Mesothelioma cases are complex and unique in the legal system. You want an attorney who specializes in prosecuting them and who has years of experience doing so. Asbestos litigation has been going on since the 1980s, so finding an attorney that has been handling such cases for at least the last 20 years is certainly advisable.

The next things to look for are references. Many attorneys will have testimonials from clients. Ignore them. You want to speak with former Mesothelioma clients or their surviving family members. The lawyer may tell you they can't do this because of the attorney-client privilege. This is incorrect. The privilege can be waived by the client. Don't you think happy clients would be willing to do so?

Finally, you want to check the state bar association for information on the attorney. The state bar is the entity that handles the licensing of attorneys in the state. They usually have websites. Most will have an online record for the attorney that tells you if complaints have been made and the outcome. An attorney with a lot of complaints is one you definitely want to avoid.

Mesothelioma is a brutal diagnosis, but you must take action. Speaking with a lawyer may seem like something way down on your to do list, but you need to get moving quickly to protect your rights.

Thomas Ajava is with somekeyword - your online resource for finding Mesothelioma lawyers in Southern California.

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