Over the past years us sufferer's have become vigilant over which sites we visit due to our names being used and sold on to lawyer firms, more so in the USA than here in the UK. Always one for searching information when I can, I noticed how many sites are backed by Lawyers in the States or have large sponsorships paid to them.
The one's that inform you are fine, like Mesotheliomahelp.net say they are backed by a Lawyer Firm, as do many of the larger Meso help sites, but some are sneaky and can get you to give your name and address up front, promising to send you a book on meso. I came across one only last week. Even though checking out the website and clicking here and there I couldn't find any affiliation to a lawyer's company. I filled out the info, to see what would happen, sure enough I was contacted by a lawyer. (I didn't want a book by the way I was researching!)
When I was first diagnosed the only sites that had information on Mesothelioma were a couple of Lawyer sites in the states and they said what they were, although these days this has moved on, from the 4 pages on google back then to the 400 + pages on google today.
We do need the large corporates to sponsor some of the sites otherwise a lot of information would be lost out there to many of us, when do we have the time to track everything down on the internet. But there are so many.
I asked a friend in the States to write about why Lawyers are important in the states
Lawyers Can help Mesothelioma Patients Get Much Needed Financial Relief
Some
doctors estimate that mesothelioma treatment in the United States can cost
anywhere from $150,000 to $1 million, depending on the number of doctors’
visits, cost of surgeries and lengthy hospitalizations, chemotherapy and
radiation therapy. Most individuals,
even with insurance coverage, cannot afford the high cost of treatment for the
disease. However, for those eligible for
compensation from companies responsible for the disease, the payment they
receive can help cover some, if not all, of the associated costs.
The
hazards of asbestos were first identified in the 1920’s, but for years
companies ignored the dangers and subjected millions of workers worldwide to
the risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Common
occupations with a high incidence of this disease include plumbers,
pipefitters, boiler trades, auto mechanics, Navy veterans, merchant mariners,
electricians, carpenters and many other trades that used asbestos-containing
materials without being warned of its lethal effects.
Managing
the associated health care costs for mesothelioma is one of the major concerns
of mesothelioma patients. Some patients are forced to end treatments early due
to their inability to afford further care.
Others continue to build debt until they are left wondering how they
will cover the bills.
In
fact, according to a study conducted by Harvard Medical School, medical bills
are responsible for close to 60 per cent of personal bankruptcies in the United
States - with 75 percent of those individuals having health insurance.
The
tragedy of mesothelioma is that it could have been prevented, and is most often
caused due to the negligence or recklessness of companies responsible for
ensuring the safety of its workers. Having the companies pay for the workers’
illnesses is one way to hold the companies responsible for their actions.
Asbestos
litigation is the longest running mass tort in U.S. history, with the first
case filed in 1929. Countless people in the United States have filed lawsuits
after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related
diseases.
Many
people that do not understand the devastating impact mesothelioma can have on a
family believe that mesothelioma lawsuits are frivolous. What may not be clear, however, is that some
companies broke laws, tried to hide information and failed to provide adequate
protection to their employees – all while knowing mesothelioma was a real risk
to their employees.
In 2011,
the New York law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP, secured separate
verdicts in the United States of $32 million and $19 million in cases involving
individuals who contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos. The companies in the lawsuit were found to
have acted with reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Deciding
to pursue a claim against the companies that caused your mesothelioma should
not be taken lightly. A lawsuit can help a family recover from the financial
impact of the disease. However, legal action can be stressful, time-consuming
and physically exhausting for a mesothelioma patient.
If you
are considering pursuing an asbestos-related case, you will want to retain a
law firm that is experienced and successful in the courts when dealing with
mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. You will also want attorneys
to represent you that have a passion for helping mesothelioma victims and are
compassionate toward their clients. No amount of money can bring back a loved
one that has died from mesothelioma, but financial compensation can help the
families begin to rebuild their lives.
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