Filing a personal injury or wrongful death claim can be highly complicated for people unfamiliar with the legal system. It can be especially complicated for people also reeling from a mesothelioma diagnosis.
They can be overwhelmed by the paperwork, deadlines and legalese, and they also can be dealing with some common misconceptions about mesothelioma claims.
Misconceptions can adversely affect people’s decisions, leading them to make choices that may not be in their best interests. Below, we clear up some of these common misunderstandings.
- You can wait as long as you want to start the legal process. This is not true. The clock starts ticking when a person receives a mesothelioma diagnosis or the day they pass away. This is the statute of limitations, and the exact time you have to file a claim varies by state and depends on the type of claim you are filing. Thus, acting quickly can be crucial.
- Tracing the source of exposure is impossible. It may very well seem like figuring out where you or your loved one was exposed to asbestos is simply impossible. After all, for most people, there were multiple sources, and it may have been 50 years ago. However, there are means of tracing exposure. Legal professionals experienced in these claims can provide individuals with the tools, resources and support to determine the time and place of exposure.
- Money is not going to help because it cannot undo anything. Indeed, money from a lawsuit will not undo a devastating loss or cure mesothelioma. However, that does not mean it will not help those affected by this illness. Financial remedies can help cover medical expenses and compensate victims and their families for the economic and non-economic losses resulting from mesothelioma.
- You have to go to court to get compensation. It can seem daunting to navigate the court system to pursue a mesothelioma lawsuit, particularly if a person’s life expectancy is a matter of months. However, it is possible to expedite claims, seek faster trial dates and settle a claim before going to court to get the damages you deserve more quickly.
Hopefully, clearing up these misconceptions can empower people to make decisions regarding their legal options that are in their best interests.