How Much Compensation Can I Receive for Mesothelioma?

Overall, cancer survival rates have improved significantly since the early 2000s. However, mesothelioma is different. This rare and aggressive form of heart-lung cancer, which is exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, has an extremely high fatality rate.

That’s mostly because the mesothelioma latency period is so long. Many of these victims are ill for fifty years or more before they show symptoms. As a result, doctors cannot treat their cancers early. In most cases, early intervention is the key to a successful outcome.

Nevertheless, there is hope for mesothelioma victims, in the form of cutting-edge cancer treatments. These treatments are enormously expensive. Fortunately, an Illinois mesothelioma attorney can usually obtain substantial compensation in court. This compensation gives mesothelioma victims the resources they need to fight this disease.

Additionally, the available compensation helps families carry on with their lives. No one can turn back the clock and reverse the injury. Financial compensation, although it cannot possibly fill the void, is the next best thing.

Economic Losses

For many, many years, builders used asbestos to insulate and fireproof office towers, ships, churches, and pretty much everything else they constructed. The mineral was cheap and plentiful. This mineral is also highly toxic. Just one single microscopic asbestos fiber could cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another serious, chronic condition.

Work exposure victims are usually entitled to compensation for their economic losses through workers’ compensation. This compensation usually includes lost wage replacement and medical bill payment.

Mesothelioma is usually either disabling or fatal. Typically, the future lost wage benefit is based on the victim’s income at the time s/he developed mesothelioma.

As mentioned, cancer treatments, especially mesothelioma treatments, are quite expensive. Workers’ compensation issuance not only pays medical bills. It also pays ancillary costs, such as transportation expenses and prescription drug costs.

Non-economic Losses

Some work exposure victims are entitled to additional compensation for things like pain and suffering, loss of consortium (companionship), emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in life. This additional compensation is available if the employer knowingly endangers workers, perhaps by ordering employees to perform renovation or demolition work without providing adequate asbestos protection.

Ambient exposure victims are usually entitled to this compensation as well, in addition to compensation for their economic losses. Spouses, friends, and family members of asbestos-exposed workers are the most frequent ambient exposure victims.

All these victims must establish negligence, or a lack of care, by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not, in order to obtain this compensation.

Most companies have a duty of care to eliminate the risk of toxic exposure illnesses. For example, companies must give workers the protective gear they need. Additionally, companies must provide training and also explain why it is important to use this equipment.

A preponderance of the evidence is one of the lowest burdens of proof in Illinois law. So, a little evidence goes a long way. Proof on this point includes eyewitness testimony, medical records, and company safety records.

Count on a Savvy Winnebago County Mesothelioma Attorney

Accident victims are usually entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced mesothelioma attorney in Illinois, contact Fisk & Monteleone, Ltd. by calling 815-315-0574. Virtual, home and hospital visits are available.