A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be devastating to the patient, as well as the family. This insidious form of lung cancer differs from other lung cancers in that it is caused by unprotected exposure to asbestos. Even worse, mesothelioma takes years, even decades, to manifest. This means that workers, who were exposed to asbestos as long as 50 years ago, may be experiencing newly developed symptoms that bring about the dreaded diagnosis.
Philadelphia, and other cities in Pennsylvania, has had a higher incidence of mesothelioma cases than surrounding states, due to the large number of power plants, ship yards, refineries, and other industries that used asbestos prolifically before the dangers became known. It is for this reason that mesothelioma lawsuits in Philadelphia have increased exponentially in the past couple of decades, and why it is crucial that victims of this horrible disease seek top Philadelphia legal counsel who only practices in mesothelioma cases.
Finding the best mesothelioma attorney in Philadelphia can seem difficult at the onset, as the city abounds with lawyers with various levels of specialty. The importance of hiring a Philadelphia lawyer who specializes in cases of mesothelioma cannot be overstated. The volume of cases that have been filed against these former employers has resulted in legislation being passed in an effort to ease the congestion that has ensued in the city's legal system. Only an experienced attorney, whose focus is strictly on mesothelioma cases in Philadelphia, can help the patient and his family navigate the complexities of the law and procure the maximum award payable for these victims.
In the quest for the best mesothelioma attorney in Philadelphia, the following aspects should be of primary concern: (i) The attorney must know the intricacies of the disease, its causes, and the horrid effects that it wreaks upon the victim and his family; (ii) The attorney must have sufficient experience in the process of appropriate documentation to secure, and the course of action that will yield the best results for his client; (iii) The attorney must be willing to calculate the future anticipated financial impact of this disease upon the patient and his family, and include that amount in the claim for damages; (iv) The attorney must be willing to accommodate the patient by traveling to the patient's home for consultations; (v) The attorney must work on a contingency basis, and never charge fees to his client before the claim is settled. By using a contingency basis, the attorney receives no payment until a monetary award is granted, and his fee is based upon a percentage of the award. This is a stellar incentive for the lawyer to seek the maximum possible compensation award for his client. It is also highly recommended that the patient seek an attorney who provides the initial consultation free of charge.
When beginning the search, the state bar association can provide names of attorneys who are registered as specializing in mesothelioma cases in Philadelphia, but they cannot recommend any particular attorney.
When a list has been compiled from the bar association, the next phase of the process will be the narrowing of the names to those of the best Philadelphia lawyers who specialize in mesothelioma cases. Sometimes an online search will yield honest reviews from clients as to their experiences with any given attorney. Another avenue is that of the court clerk, who can usually provide information as to cases that have been litigated and/or settled through the courts. One caveat that merits mention is that the clerk may charge a fee to research this information. The fee may be a good investment, though, if the clerk's search yields good information, such as the success rate for each attorney as well as the levels of compensation each attorney was able to win for his/her client.
The best source is irrefutably word of mouth from others who have sought compensation through legal recourse. In order to find these individuals, one may try searching online, or the Yellow Pages for a nearby mesothelioma support group in Philadelphia. These groups are excellent resources for information to help mesothelioma sufferers find the best mesothelioma attorneys in Philadelphia. In fact, some such support groups offer online tools to help the patient research his options from the comfort of his own home.
Unfortunately, as with any other profession, there are less-than-desirable attorneys around who do not have the professional ethics to do the best job for their clients. There are a few red flags to be aware of, and which can signal an attorney that perhaps would be best avoided. One such red flag appears if the attorney has a standard form and promises a specific amount of monetary compensation. This usually indicates an attorney who takes a "cookie-cutter" approach to all such claims, rather than do the work, research, and documentation necessary to maximize the compensation for his/her client. Additionally, the attorney should complete all necessary research and file all legal documents that are conducive to the discovery process before projecting any amounts for compensation.
Another possible red flag may appear if the patient notices that the attorney does not specialize in mesothelioma cases, but has a general law practice that represents cases dealing with such matters as divorces, wills, adoptions, and other non-asbestos damage issues. This is not to suggest that a general practice attorney is substandard. It is just highly unlikely that a lawyer, whose practice is not specialized in this way, would be apprised of all pertinent legal and legislative updates concerning the issue of asbestos-related injuries and the protocol for litigating them.
Philadelphia, and other cities in Pennsylvania, has had a higher incidence of mesothelioma cases than surrounding states, due to the large number of power plants, ship yards, refineries, and other industries that used asbestos prolifically before the dangers became known. It is for this reason that mesothelioma lawsuits in Philadelphia have increased exponentially in the past couple of decades, and why it is crucial that victims of this horrible disease seek top Philadelphia legal counsel who only practices in mesothelioma cases.
Finding the best mesothelioma attorney in Philadelphia can seem difficult at the onset, as the city abounds with lawyers with various levels of specialty. The importance of hiring a Philadelphia lawyer who specializes in cases of mesothelioma cannot be overstated. The volume of cases that have been filed against these former employers has resulted in legislation being passed in an effort to ease the congestion that has ensued in the city's legal system. Only an experienced attorney, whose focus is strictly on mesothelioma cases in Philadelphia, can help the patient and his family navigate the complexities of the law and procure the maximum award payable for these victims.
In the quest for the best mesothelioma attorney in Philadelphia, the following aspects should be of primary concern: (i) The attorney must know the intricacies of the disease, its causes, and the horrid effects that it wreaks upon the victim and his family; (ii) The attorney must have sufficient experience in the process of appropriate documentation to secure, and the course of action that will yield the best results for his client; (iii) The attorney must be willing to calculate the future anticipated financial impact of this disease upon the patient and his family, and include that amount in the claim for damages; (iv) The attorney must be willing to accommodate the patient by traveling to the patient's home for consultations; (v) The attorney must work on a contingency basis, and never charge fees to his client before the claim is settled. By using a contingency basis, the attorney receives no payment until a monetary award is granted, and his fee is based upon a percentage of the award. This is a stellar incentive for the lawyer to seek the maximum possible compensation award for his client. It is also highly recommended that the patient seek an attorney who provides the initial consultation free of charge.
When beginning the search, the state bar association can provide names of attorneys who are registered as specializing in mesothelioma cases in Philadelphia, but they cannot recommend any particular attorney.
When a list has been compiled from the bar association, the next phase of the process will be the narrowing of the names to those of the best Philadelphia lawyers who specialize in mesothelioma cases. Sometimes an online search will yield honest reviews from clients as to their experiences with any given attorney. Another avenue is that of the court clerk, who can usually provide information as to cases that have been litigated and/or settled through the courts. One caveat that merits mention is that the clerk may charge a fee to research this information. The fee may be a good investment, though, if the clerk's search yields good information, such as the success rate for each attorney as well as the levels of compensation each attorney was able to win for his/her client.
The best source is irrefutably word of mouth from others who have sought compensation through legal recourse. In order to find these individuals, one may try searching online, or the Yellow Pages for a nearby mesothelioma support group in Philadelphia. These groups are excellent resources for information to help mesothelioma sufferers find the best mesothelioma attorneys in Philadelphia. In fact, some such support groups offer online tools to help the patient research his options from the comfort of his own home.
Unfortunately, as with any other profession, there are less-than-desirable attorneys around who do not have the professional ethics to do the best job for their clients. There are a few red flags to be aware of, and which can signal an attorney that perhaps would be best avoided. One such red flag appears if the attorney has a standard form and promises a specific amount of monetary compensation. This usually indicates an attorney who takes a "cookie-cutter" approach to all such claims, rather than do the work, research, and documentation necessary to maximize the compensation for his/her client. Additionally, the attorney should complete all necessary research and file all legal documents that are conducive to the discovery process before projecting any amounts for compensation.
Another possible red flag may appear if the patient notices that the attorney does not specialize in mesothelioma cases, but has a general law practice that represents cases dealing with such matters as divorces, wills, adoptions, and other non-asbestos damage issues. This is not to suggest that a general practice attorney is substandard. It is just highly unlikely that a lawyer, whose practice is not specialized in this way, would be apprised of all pertinent legal and legislative updates concerning the issue of asbestos-related injuries and the protocol for litigating them.
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