If you got exposed to asbestos and as a result you have mesothelioma, you can file a mesothelioma suit to get compensation in the form of money.  If you have mesothelioma because of working with asbestos, you can get substantial money damages when you file a mesothelioma suit. If the husband or wife is dead because of mesothelioma resulting from working environment, the spouse can always file a mesothelioma suit and get the compensation.

How long do you need to fight?

Mesothelioma may develops after 10 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos. If you want to file a mesothelioma suit, you should do that within 1 to 5 years from the diagnosis. In some areas, it is mandatory to file a mesothelioma legal suit within one year from diagnosis. If the victim has already died, the spouse and other heirs need to file the suit within 1 to 3 years from the date of death.

How long can a case take?

Mesothelioma cases are generally settled before they reach to a jury. In such outside of court settlements, both the parties agree on the amount of money damages the victim gets. If you have all the necessary documents about your medical condition and employment history, if your lawyer is efficient and if there is a payment source available for payment, it is possible to get your money in less than a year from the date you filed your lawsuit. If the case goes to trial, it can take two years or more time. However, because mesothelioma victims have a short life expectancy, courts often fast track their lawsuits and as a result, the case is completed within a short duration.

How much money can you recover?

How much money can you expect to get from your mesothelioma suit? It is very difficult to estimate the exact amount of money that you can receive as a result of your lawsuit. There may be settlements in some cases, and in some others, the jury may award millions of dollars. On the other hand, some other lawsuits may receive little money. Many companies that manufactured or installed asbestos, have closed down or gone bankrupt. In such cases, the courts need to keep large funds aside to compensate future victims. If the fund is not big enough or it has depleted over the years, in that case, the settlement amount is a rationed and in that case, you can expect to get little compensation.

The compensation will also depend on mesothelioma illness and how the disease affected the lives of the patients. These factors will decide the cash settlement or a jury verdict. The amount of wages lost because of the illness, will also be taken into consideration. The cost of medical expenses, the pain and suffering victim went through are some others important factors that may decide the compensation amount in a particular case.

Another important factor in deciding the compensation that you can receive is time. If the cases are settled quickly, the amount of compensation tends to be significantly less. If the case is supposed to be present to a jury for trial, the amount of the compensation may increase. But such a jury trial may take several years. If the patient is seriously ill, the plaintiff may decide to go for a quick settlement, even though the compensation may be less in that case. They may also do so because the lawyer fees may be very high when the case goes to trial, which will also mean the lawyer's services will be required for several years.

References
1. Malignant Mesothelioma
2. Mesothelioma