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.
The quest for such litigators can seem to be a daunting challenge at first, simply due to the sheer volume of lawyers who practice in Philadelphia. For this reason, it is important to remember that the attorney being sought must specialize in asbestos-related injury claims, including mesothelioma. The reason that specialization is paramount is that, due to the large volume of similar type cases that have already been filed and heard by Pennsylvania courts, the legislature has imposed certain restrictions and provisions for awards to be granted in these cases. Only a Philadelphia lawyer who knows the intricacies of these laws, can successfully maximize the compensation awarded for his/her client.
As the search for the best asbestos-related injury lawyer in Philadelphia proceeds, certain criteria should be given utmost consideration: (a) The lawyer must be very familiar with mesothelioma and the manner in which it affects not only the patient, but the patient's family; (b) The lawyer should be experienced in filing all claims, supporting documentation, and other matters conducive to the claim; (c) The lawyer should be proficient in calculating and requesting sufficient compensation in the claim to take care of the patient's future expenses; (d) The lawyer should be willing to travel to the patient's home for consultations; (e) The lawyer should never charge any up-front fees, and should only work on a contingency basis. This means that if no monetary rewards are granted, the patient pays no attorney fees. The lawyer only earns money if the client is granted an award and the lawyer's fee is based upon a percentage of the award.
One resource to consider for locating the best attorney is to contact the state bar association. This agency maintains a database of lawyers who practice legitimately within the state. The bar association can also provide information as to lawyers who specialize in mesothelioma cases; however, the bar association cannot refer or recommend a specific attorney to the inquirer.
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.
An even better resource for finding the best lawyer is to speak to other clients who have been represented by lawyers on the list. A former client will have no reason to not be 100% candid with the inquisitor, and can be a valuable source of information. The internet is another resource that can be tapped into for mesothelioma support groups that are more than happy to help guide the patient through the process of finding the best legal counsel. Some of these support groups provide online search tools that can be used by the patient in the comfort and privacy of his own home. As the search progresses, the patient should give first priority to those Philadelphia attorneys who do not charge a fee for the first consultation.
Just as there are stellar Philadelphia attorneys in the practice of mesothelioma compensation, there are also attorneys who should be avoided. They are not terribly difficult to identify, as long as the client knows what constitutes a red flag. One such indicator would be the attorney who, upon a brief first meeting with the client, states that he will be able to procure a specific amount of money for the client. This is a red flag because it indicates an attorney who plans to use a standard, "one-size-fits-all" approach to seeking compensation with preprinted petitions and claim forms, with no plans to research the client's individual situation or take special circumstances into account. This may result in the client being awarded an amount that is far short of the potential figure that could have been gained from the action.
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.
The quest for such litigators can seem to be a daunting challenge at first, simply due to the sheer volume of lawyers who practice in Philadelphia. For this reason, it is important to remember that the attorney being sought must specialize in asbestos-related injury claims, including mesothelioma. The reason that specialization is paramount is that, due to the large volume of similar type cases that have already been filed and heard by Pennsylvania courts, the legislature has imposed certain restrictions and provisions for awards to be granted in these cases. Only a Philadelphia lawyer who knows the intricacies of these laws, can successfully maximize the compensation awarded for his/her client.
As the search for the best asbestos-related injury lawyer in Philadelphia proceeds, certain criteria should be given utmost consideration: (a) The lawyer must be very familiar with mesothelioma and the manner in which it affects not only the patient, but the patient's family; (b) The lawyer should be experienced in filing all claims, supporting documentation, and other matters conducive to the claim; (c) The lawyer should be proficient in calculating and requesting sufficient compensation in the claim to take care of the patient's future expenses; (d) The lawyer should be willing to travel to the patient's home for consultations; (e) The lawyer should never charge any up-front fees, and should only work on a contingency basis. This means that if no monetary rewards are granted, the patient pays no attorney fees. The lawyer only earns money if the client is granted an award and the lawyer's fee is based upon a percentage of the award.
One resource to consider for locating the best attorney is to contact the state bar association. This agency maintains a database of lawyers who practice legitimately within the state. The bar association can also provide information as to lawyers who specialize in mesothelioma cases; however, the bar association cannot refer or recommend a specific attorney to the inquirer.
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.
An even better resource for finding the best lawyer is to speak to other clients who have been represented by lawyers on the list. A former client will have no reason to not be 100% candid with the inquisitor, and can be a valuable source of information. The internet is another resource that can be tapped into for mesothelioma support groups that are more than happy to help guide the patient through the process of finding the best legal counsel. Some of these support groups provide online search tools that can be used by the patient in the comfort and privacy of his own home. As the search progresses, the patient should give first priority to those Philadelphia attorneys who do not charge a fee for the first consultation.
Just as there are stellar Philadelphia attorneys in the practice of mesothelioma compensation, there are also attorneys who should be avoided. They are not terribly difficult to identify, as long as the client knows what constitutes a red flag. One such indicator would be the attorney who, upon a brief first meeting with the client, states that he will be able to procure a specific amount of money for the client. This is a red flag because it indicates an attorney who plans to use a standard, "one-size-fits-all" approach to seeking compensation with preprinted petitions and claim forms, with no plans to research the client's individual situation or take special circumstances into account. This may result in the client being awarded an amount that is far short of the potential figure that could have been gained from the action.
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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