Mesothelioma takes a long time to surface, but when it does, it usually takes everyone by surprise. And typically, there are one or two family members or friends who, in a sense, “come to the rescue.” They take on responsibilities, search for answers, keep the ball rolling. They are caregivers, in the broadest sense of the word. They are not necessarily helping with health care tasks, but they care and help in other ways.
This may mean anything, from running errands to helping research for the latest mesothelioma treatments. One of the untold stories about caregivers, though, is the role they can play in helping mesothelioma victims get financial compensation.
Why help with a mesothelioma lawsuit or claim?
Keep in mind that only the person who suffers mesothelioma can file the claim. Sometimes, affected family members can file claims as well. If the mesothelioma victim passes away, the claim can be continued through family members, by becoming a “wrongful death claim”.
How can a caregiver help?
Research. Learn about the causes of mesothelioma, the history of asbestos, and the reason why asbestos trust funds were created
Make an appointment. Before anything else, the patient must find out if they are candidates to receive compensation. The easiest way to do it is to schedule a free consultation with a mesothelioma lawyer and go from there.
Help find a mesothelioma attorney. The Internet is flooded with mesothelioma lawyer’s website. And you may recall a couple of mesothelioma attorney TV ads, or two… or three. You can help sort out the candidates and find the best mesothelioma attorney. You want to get an experienced professional who can obtain the most compensation. Here are some guidelines for choosing a mesothelioma attorney.
Relieve stress. It is normal for most people to experience anxiety when faced with any kind of legal proceedings. Something as simple as going to court to fight a traffic ticket can cause stress. Some mesothelioma victims fear that they will spend the rest of their lives embroiled in a legal battle. However, the reality of asbestos lawsuits is very different. By researching how an asbestos claim works, and what mesothelioma lawyers do, you could help calm your loved one’s fears. Even setting up an appointment with a lawyer could relieve some anxiety, as the lawyer can explain how the process really works.
Offer a realistic perspective. Contemplating any issue that involves the words “lawsuit” or “claim” can trigger instant fear in some people. Most of those fears can be unwarranted. Here are some of the thoughts that could pop up in the patient´s mind:
The caregiver’s role here could be to remind the person that most mesothelioma claims never see a courtroom. Client and mesothelioma attorney may choose the course of action from the beginning of the process. The lawyers take care of most of the tasks; they strive to keep the interruptions to the patient’s routine to a minimum. Moreover, mesothelioma attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means the lawyer will only charge a fee if the result of the claim is positive for the client.
Lend your Organizational Skills. It can be a huge relief for the mesothelioma victim to have someone in charge of record keeping. However, make sure that the meso patient feels comfortable sharing personal documents with you.
These are some of the documents that an asbestos lawyer may need:
Contact and Follow Up. The mesothelioma patient could ask you to become the lawyer’s contact person. Be aware, though, that the law firm will probably need a written consent to share information with you.
Caregivers can be a lot of things, and not one role is more valuable than the other. Every person is different, every mesothelioma case is different, everyone reacts differently. Sometimes, the only thing we can do is try to help.
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