Mesothelioma Compensation
Bergman Oslund Udo Little has been fighting for mesothelioma compensation for victims of asbestos exposure since 1995 as the Pacific Northwest’s premier asbestos attorneys. With a focus on asbestos-related lawsuits, we treat our clients with compassion and respect while being zealous advocates in the courtroom. Our years of experience enable us to provide expert legal assistance to those seeking justice and compensation for their suffering.
Compensation for Victims of Mesothelioma and Their Families
Mesothelioma compensation offers victims and their families financial relief for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, emotional suffering, and other expenses. Compensation can come from asbestos trust funds, lawsuits, or settlements. There are currently no ongoing class action lawsuits related to mesothelioma. Lawyers handle each case individually, reflecting the unique circumstances of each person. The types of compensation available to asbestos exposure victims and their families includes:
Asbestos Trust Funds
In the United States, asbestos trust funds established by bankrupt companies have over $30 billion set aside to compensate people for asbestos-related diseases.
Companies that manufactured asbestos products faced so many claims that many declared bankruptcy. As part of the bankruptcy process, these companies were required to establish trust funds to pay victims’ claims. Former workers and others sickened by asbestos exposure can request compensation from asbestos trust funds.
The compensation from mesothelioma bankruptcy trust claims can be up to several hundred thousand dollars. The process is generally quicker and simpler than filing a lawsuit. Our firm can tell you what factors will influence the amount of your claim and help gather the evidence you need to file a claim. If more than one company was involved, patients and their families may be entitled to receive funds from multiple asbestos trusts.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Mesothelioma compensation often comes from personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits. Compensation from a personal injury lawsuit can help pay for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other expenses.
Families who have lost a loved one to mesothelioma may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Our firm, with specialized knowledge of Pacific Northwest job sites, has successfully obtained multiple jury verdicts over $5 million for mesothelioma victims in Washington and Oregon. These personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits have helped families cope with the financial burden and emotional pain caused by this disease.
Settlements
Settlements occur when a company agrees to pay without going to trial. Our firm’s expertise and proven track record has often enabled us to secure significant compensation without lengthy litigation or a trial. Mesothelioma patients and their families can get timely financial support, allowing them to focus on treatment and healing.
Our experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Oregon or Washington can help patients and their families decide the best compensation option.
What is the Process for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
- Consultation: Initially, you’ll meet with a mesothelioma lawyer to discuss the case details, including exposure history and medical records. At Bergman Oslund Udo Little, our clients work closely with a small team that takes the time to understand the impact of their diagnosis and build a personalized strategy to hold those responsible for the illness accountable.
- Investigation: The law firm investigates the case, identifying responsible parties and gathering evidence, such as medical records, transportation costs, and documentation of other expenses.
- Filing the complaint: A formal legal document, the complaint, will be filed in the appropriate court by an Oregon or Washington mesothelioma lawyer, outlining the claims against the defendants.
- Discovery phase: Both sides will exchange information and evidence, including depositions and document requests.
- Negotiation or trial: The company may resolve the case through negotiation or settlement. You’ll have to decide if you want to accept a settlement offer. Your attorney can advise you on whether it’s a good offer. Otherwise, the case may go to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the outcome.
- Considerations for veterans: Veterans with military asbestos exposure might have additional options and considerations. A specialized attorney can guide veterans through the process, ensuring compliance with specific regulations. Veterans who receive compensation through the VA may also be eligible for compensation from asbestos trusts or lawsuits.
How Long Do I Have to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
Patients or their families in Oregon and Washington must adhere to specific time frames, known as the statute of limitations, when filing mesothelioma lawsuits. These deadlines can vary depending on the state and the type of claim, whether it’s for personal injury or wrongful death.
In Washington: Individuals have three years from the point they knew or should have known about their asbestos-related disease to file. Typically, this equates to three years from the diagnosis date for personal injury cases and three years from the date of death in wrongful death cases, as long as the statute of limitations hadn’t already expired by the time of the individual’s passing.
In Oregon: The window is slightly shorter, with two years from the discovery of the asbestos-related ailment to file a personal injury suit. For wrongful death cases, families have two years from the date of the loved one’s passing.
Regardless of the state, initiating the lawsuit as soon as possible after the diagnosis or death is advisable. Taking swift action ensures evidence preservation, provides ample time for in-depth investigations, and can expedite the compensation process.
We Have Recovered Millions in Asbestos Compensation for Our Clients
Bergman Oslund Udo Little works diligently to defend patients and their families facing the tragic challenges of mesothelioma. Our guiding principle is “Asbestos Law is All We Do.” We’ve obtained over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for families in Washington and Oregon. Attorney Matt Bergman has represented over 850 mesothelioma victims.
Our firm’s compassionate, highly professional, client-first, and team-oriented approach has led to numerous notable victories, including:
- $30 million verdict for a 67-year-old mesothelioma patient and family: The client was exposed to crocidolite asbestos fibers while working for Ameron’s Bondstrand factory in Brea, California, for four months in 1974. This monumental verdict reflects the seriousness of the exposure and its lifelong consequences.
- $11.2 million to a man diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 75: This settlement was for a client who worked as a laborer for Zidell Dismantling in the Port Industrial Yard of Tacoma, Washington, where he was exposed to asbestos-containing insulation removed during the dismantling of former Navy ships.
- $10 million verdict for a 79-year-old mesothelioma patient and his wife: This significant verdict was based on World War II-era take-home exposures and was a complex, historic case.
- $8.3 Million for a 79-year-old man diagnosed with mesothelioma: Exposure occurred during his time as an electrician in the U.S. Navy and at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
- $6.8 Million for a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with mesothelioma: She came into contact with asbestos through products associated with her father, who worked in telephone line maintenance at Pacific Northwest Bell (now CenturyLink).
- $6.3 Million for a 61-year-old man diagnosed with mesothelioma: He was exposed to asbestos while working at the Atlas Foundry in Tacoma, Washington, particularly from insulation materials used in metal molds and talc products.
We're Committed to Getting the Compensation You Deserve
If you or a loved one has been impacted by mesothelioma, it’s time to seek the compensation you deserve. Our team of experienced mesothelioma and asbestos exposure attorneys stand up to corporations that choose profits over people’s well-being. Let us help share your story and fight for your rights. Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Representing asbestos and mesothelioma clients throughout the Northwest.
