Asbestos At Work: Asbestos Victim Compensation Fund

There have been billions of dollars in compensation awards to victims of exposure to dangerous levels of asbestos at work. Many people have contracted deadly diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma as a result of such exposure. In addition, more people are being diagnosed with these diseases every day, since symptoms often do not appear until decades after exposure. All of this has created a crisis in the industrial world, as many companies are facing millions of dollars in lawsuits and insurance claims, often leading to bankruptcy. Is there hope for new victims of asbestos exposure?

Results of Asbestos Exposure

The sad truth is, more people are being diagnosed with dangerous and deadly diseases because of dangerous exposure to asbestos every day. Many of those people are workers from industries that either produced or used asbestos in the workplace. But that’s not all. There are many victims from a wide variety of industries and activities:

U.S. Military, especially in shipyards, ship fittings, and constructed buildings on domestic and foreign bases

Construction sites and materials, including heating and cooling installation and repair, roofing, and insulation

Shipbuilding

Mining

Textiles and paper mills

Auto repair

Building maintenance at locations where asbestos was used

Manufacturers for products using asbestos

People either in these industries, or often living near them and experiencing second-hand exposure because of their proximity, are facing illness, pain and suffering, medical costs, and even death as a result. The primary illnesses they face include:

Mesothelioma

Lung cancer

Asbestosis (inflammation of the lung that may cause permanent damage)

Colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers

Filing a Claim

Anyone who has been diagnosed with any of these diseases knows that they are severe, painful, and often fatal. They have a right to receive compensation for their medical costs, pain and suffering, and often much more. In fact, many victims have already filed successful cases worth millions of dollars. Courts and juries are sympathetic. However, many of these claims have resulted in the original companies causing these damages to be sold, closed, or bankrupt. However, many have formed asbestos victim compensation funds so that victims can continue to collect the compensation they deserve.

It is vital for victims to know that these cases often take time, however; In fact, even cases that are settled out of court may take up to a year or more, while trials may take many years to be completed. It is even more important, then, to be aware of the statute of limitations on such cases in a victim’s state so that their claim will be accepted and they can proceed to a solution.

Getting Legal Help with Asbestos Victim Compensation Funds

Courts are filled with asbestos-related cases and it can be difficult to receive prompt court dates in that atmosphere. However, some attorneys are knowledgeable about how this system works and can cut through much of that red tape. In addition, they know how to find the liable party, whether it is a former employer, an insurance company that represents them, or an asbestos victim’s compensation fund, and realize a speedy and appropriate settlement.

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