Mesothelioma cases depend on various factors unique to the circumstances the illness brings. Factors such as the degree of asbestos exposure, diagnosis, and total cost of cancer treatment bills determine the weight of your case. Suppose you can prove the toll the illness has taken on your life, making it complicated. In that case, it makes room for reasonable compensation.
But, if you submit a claim that doesn’t cover the details of your illness, you decrease the cash value. So, it would help if you navigated through the various factors that make your case worthy of reasonable compensation. Here’s what you need to know:
Factors Which Increase the Mesothelioma Case Value
Different factors make up your case. It is enough to get reasonably compensated as long as you include their details. The court needs to know how you got the illness and how you have lived with it so far. These help them decide how much financial help you require as you struggle with mesothelioma. So, it would help you to know the factors below:
Significant Asbestos Exposure
The duration of asbestos exposure makes the base of your case. More prolonged exposure helps narrow down the root cause of the illness since mesothelioma mainly occurs from prolonged exposure. For example, suppose you worked in an asbestos company for 20 years. In that case, it is easy to conclude that you got immense exposure to airborne fibers.
At the same time, someone with a shorter timeline cannot pin their company responsible since the time is too short of proving exposure. While asbestos is one factor, it helps the legal system determine potential case values for different mesothelioma claims. You would want your case’s weight to be high, so the more details you can recall about your health, the more it works in your favor.
The Diagnosis and Initial Medical Costs
A doctor’s diagnosis which confirms your cancer and discusses the severity of your illness helps increase your cash value. The diagnostic process has many layers. A doctor will try a combination of procedures such as X-rays, CT scans, and biopsies, each costly. X-rays alone can easily cost you thousands of dollars.
You should mention the money you paid to keep up with the diagnosis when submitting your claim. Since the doctor is looking for a tumor, you may need to undergo these procedures more than once. While paying for these tests can get complex, it helps make your case urgent and more valid.
The Economic Losses You Incurred
When you start treatment, you may need to quit work. The recovery process may land you in hospital, which prevents you from keeping up with work commitments. But, despite your lack of employment, you still need to pay for treatment. The bills may push you to dip into your savings or depend on your partner to help with payments.
Your family will feel the effects of losing money since they would need to cut back on their lifestyle. In extreme cases, your partner may quit their job to care for you. You may need to turn to government agencies to provide you with financial assistance. You don’t need to go broke to prove you need compensation. All you need to do is show how much you had to lose because of your illness.
Other Factors
While the severity of the illness makes the basis of your claim, other factors also help the legal system work out compensation for you. They add detail and structure to your case, making it easier to assign a value. So while filing your claim, don’t miss on them, especially if there’s a chance your claim can go higher. These are as follows:
- Age. If you’re an older person, the system needs to factor in your advanced age. If you’re younger than 65 and have family members still depending on you, the compensation may be high. But the older and alone you are, it doesn’t give the law any reason to help. They would instead focus on someone younger with multiple responsibilities that require money.
- Family Members. A high number of dependable members make you eligible for significant compensation. These can include a disabled family, a non-working partner, and young children who don’t have an income source. Since they were looking at you as a breadwinner, the legal system will help you provide.
- The Cost of Suffering. Mesothelioma cases also factor in emotional suffering and mental health status in shambles. Even if your cancer gets cured, unless you’re in good shape mentally and emotionally, living is difficult. You may need to see a therapist and help recover pieces of your lost health. These are additional expenses that can further drain your finances.
What Decreases The Case Value?
If you file without considering the factors which make your case valuable, you risk a low compensation. The law works by studying the evidence. If you don’t provide them with sufficient details, they can’t help you. Here’s what may decrease your case value:
You Cannot Recall All The Asbestos Company.
It’s important to have employment records that contain information about the institutions you’ve worked at. There are numerous asbestos companies. If you worked in various asbestos organizations but could only identify one, the compensation may be less than you expect.
You Have Gaps In Your Treatments.
You need to go to all your mandatory sessions. The legal system will see your negligence as reckless endangerment of your own life. The law will also hold you partially accountable for making your mesothelioma worse. So the overall value of your case may be way less than you expected. So if you have treatment rounds that you need to go through, make sure you attend them.
You are not Disclosing Prior Mesothelioma Claims.
You’re allowed to submit multiple claims but mention them. Withholding information makes it seem like you’re taking advantage of the system. The court may factor in the hidden claims you’ve made without saying them and reduce your case value.
The Cancer Wasn’t Severe.
You might get a low compensation if you had a treatable and manageable mesothelioma case. While it’s not wrong for you to file a claim, don’t expect a high payout, especially if you’re in good shape now. Instead, the legal system would help those with poor health sue companies and get their fair share.
Wrap Up
Mesothelioma lawsuits help manage the costs of treatment. That is why those who get a confirmed illness diagnosis look into filing a claim. There are numerous factors you should consider while submitting a mesothelioma lawsuit. These include the level of asbestos exposure, the cost of the treatments, and the financial losses you suffered. Other factors such as your age and your family’s position strengthen your case and get you a higher value.
But, while there are ways to have a good case, you can also mess up your claim. If you don’t have the evidence to remember relevant companies responsible, you can get a small compensation. Missing out on treatment is seen as unfavorable, withholding information about past claims.
While it’s unfortunate if your case was manageable, it can be hard to get reasonable compensation. So ensure you mind all these factors before submitting a claim.
