What are Mesothelioma Settlements?
Mesothelioma legal settlements are financial amounts paid to victims of asbestos exposure by the companies that made or sold asbestos products.
Most mesothelioma lawsuits are resolved through a settlement.
Many victims of asbestos exposure agree to a settlement because they don’t want to risk going to trial. Trials can be very lengthy, and a jury may not side with the victim in the end.
Settling out of court also allows victims to keep the compensation they received private.
Factors considered when negotiating mesothelioma settlements include:
- Medical expenses
- Whether or not you have any dependents
- How long you were exposed to asbestos
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
With medical costs continuing to rise — life expectancy rising thanks to better treatment options — mesothelioma settlements have increased over the years.
When a victim can easily prove where and when they worked, it’s only a matter of calculating the damages and negotiating a settlement. With a proven attorney, the settlement process moves a lot faster.
Settlements vs. Verdicts
There can be confusion about the difference between a settlement and a verdict.
If someone is injured because of someone else’s actions, intentional or unintentional, the victim can file a lawsuit against the company responsible.
The parties in a lawsuit are the:
- Defendant (person or company that caused injury)
- Plaintiff (person injured)
Today, there is overwhelming evidence that shows the dangers of asbestos exposure. So, what is the difference between a settlement and a verdict?
When a lawsuit is filed there will be a certain amount of work to determine the facts of the case.
These facts include:
- Who was injured
- How they were injured
- When the injury took place
- How much the injured is asking
If the plaintiff and defendant agree on an amount before the case goes to trial, it’s considered a settlement.
If a lawsuit goes to trial, the judge or jury hears both sides of the case. They then issue a verdict that determines if the defendant is responsible and, if so, how much the defendant must pay the plaintiff.
Verdicts reached in court can be lower or higher than what the plaintiff was seeking. Because of the unpredictability of a judge or jury, most mesothelioma cases are settled outside of court.