Saturday, August 20, 2011

Mesothelioma Lawyer California: How to Find the Best Mesothelioma Attorney

By John Roney


People that are the most likely to develop malignant mesothelioma in their lifetimes are the people who have been exposed to asbestos. These people usually get exposed to this carcinogen in their places of employment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), particular groups of people are more heavily exposed to asbestos and thus have a considerably higher risk of developing malignant mesothelioma than the general population. These groups include shipyard workers, plumbers, janitors, firefighters, electricians, maintenance personnel, telephone repair workers, mechanics, installers of insulation, asbestos mines and mills workers, producers of asbestos products, heating industries personnel, construction personnel, trades personnel, and even people who just happen to work close to a building that deals with asbestos.

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 mesothelioma lawyer California 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.




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