There are plenty of things that feel intimidating about taking legal action in an asbestos case, and the potential length of the process is near the top of that list. But how long does it really take? It would be a mistake to avoid taking action because one might expect it to be a lengthy process, only to find out later that it would have been fairly simple. 

On this page, we’ll take a closer look at what to expect in terms of a timeline for an asbesto case. Of course, it’s difficult to determine exactly how long the process will take, but estimates can be given and input offered on what variables will impact this timeline. We’ll cover the various legal avenues available and the estimated timelines for each.





!

Si es posible que haya estado expuesto al asbesto, hable con su proveedor de atención médica sobre pruebas y exámenes para ayudar a detectar la presencia de fibras de enfermedades relacionadas con el asbesto.





It Depends…

The length of an asbestos case depends on the nature of the claim, and specifics of your case. But some claims are quicker than court.

For starters, the short answer  to the title question is “it depends.” No, that isn’t going to be a satisfying answer, but it’s the truth. Every case is unique and there is a range of timelines that could wind up playing out if you decide to take legal action. Courts are notorious for being largely unpredictable, in general.

Trials can take longer than asbestos trust claims.

With that being said, we can help you understand the general process by offering some possibilities. If you file a suit that goes all the way to trial, it could very well take years from the start to the finish of the process. Investing that kind of time and effort could still be worth it if you are awarded the compensation you rightly deserve, but it’s not a fast process to get all the way to the end of a trial in a personal injury case. 

Thankfully, waiting for a case to be decided may not be the only possibility for how it could play out. It’s also possible that you will agree to a settlement that is offered by the party that you have targeted. In that case, the settlement may be agreed to in a matter of months, dramatically shortening the timeline as compared to a case that involves a trial. Thus, when you get started with a case, you don’t necessarily have to expect to be in it for years – there is a real possibility that it will be settled much sooner. 

¿Te sientes abrumado?

Llámenos para obtener respuestas rápidas sobre la compensación por asbesto.

Image Asbestos Case article body

Dealing with an Asbestos Trust

Because illness as a result of asbestos exposure is such a widespread problem, and because there are so many victims rightfully seeking compensation, trust funds have been created by companies with the purpose of handling reclamos. Instead of filing a lawsuit, you may be able to file a claim with one of these funds, potentially qualifying for compensation without prolonged, cumbersome litigation. 

Asbestos trusts claims are usually much easier to receive, and the settlement usually arrives more quickly.

The good news with regard to working with a trust fund is that you may be able to receive compensation much sooner than if you had to file a lawsuit. There is no guarantee that you will be approved by the trust, but if you are, you may start to receive money within just a few months of filing the claim. 

Asbestos compensation trusts are usually the fastest way to receive money for your asbestos claim.

One of the most appealing parts of utilizing a trust to gain compensation is the speed with which you can get results. If you are hoping to get payments as soon as possible, going the trust fund route may be your preferred course of action. 

¿Califica usted para una compensación?

Descubra rápida y fácilmente cómo estuvo expuesto buscando en WARD, la base de datos de asbesto más grande del planeta.

BÚSQUEDA GRATUITA >

Considering the Statute of Limitations in asbestos claims

Another timing-related matter to consider is the statute of limitations that may be in place in your state which, essentially, dictates the timeframe in which you’re able to take action. If you wait too long and the statute of limitations expires, you won’t be able to go after the compensation that you should be entitled to receive. 

Everyone who has been harmed by exposure due to the negligence of asbestos companies should get the money they deserve, so it’s important to seek legal advice and submit a claim as soon as possible, before the time allotment expires.

Statutes of limitations (for asbestos claims and other legal issues) mostly vary by state.

The first thing to know about asbestos statute of limitations matters is that they are completely dependent on the state where a person plans to file. Each state has its own rules, with some states requiring that action be taken within a year or two, while other states offer significantly more time. Of course, there is no reason to push this right up to the deadline – getting a case moving right away, while there is still time to do so, is key. 

The discovery rule: when the ‘clock starts ticking’ for a legal claim

In other areas of personal injury, the statute of limitations “clock” usually starts ticking when an accident or injury occurs. That approach doesn’t work with asbestos, however, because the harm to the individual is typically discovered several decades later, in most cases. So, with asbestos claims, the clock on your statute of limitations begins when you are first diagnosed. Or, in the case of a wrongful death claim related to a loved one, that clock will start on the date of their passing. 

On another note: even if you think the statute of limitations has expired in your case, it’s still worth reaching out to an expert in this field to explore your options and make sure you are interpreting the law correctly. There are various factors and exceptions that may apply, so it’s always worth getting as much information as possible before determining how to best proceed. 

An Unpredictable Process

One of the reasons that the timeframe for an asbestos lawsuit and potential settlement is so wide is that the outcome of each case can vary widely. As mentioned previously, the asbestos trust process is quicker and a little more predictable, but if you wind up filing a lawsuit instead, the process is largely uncertain. 

Trials generally offer more uncertainty than other procedures to address legal claims.

As an example, a plaintiff could be offered a settlement very quickly at the start of the case. That might seem like a good development, but it could be that the settlement amount is far short of what may be gained if taken to court. In that case, the plaintiff might not want to accept. If that’s the case, they’ll need to work with legal counsel to determine the best course of action.

Alternatively, settlement may not be offered right away, meaning the lawsuit will proceed and move into the discovery phase. During discovery, each side of the case is able to gather information about the other, and the facts at hand become much clearer. Once discovery has taken place, the asbestos company being targeted may then decide that it wants to offer a better settlement deal – or it might be motivated to take the case all the way.  

Is it Worth It To File An Asbestos Lawsuit?

That may depend on how injured a person is. 

But most asbestos injuries for people exposed prior to 1982 (on the job, or in the house by asbestos-tainted work clothes) can receive some compensation from an asbestos compensation trust.

We know that going through this process probably doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, and that’s true. But it’s worth it for those who are victims or who are the surviving family members of a victim. The potential financial compensation available here can be in the millions, which won’t undo the harm that has been done, but it will help the family to deal with the many difficulties that have been brought on by asbestos exposure. 

The key is not to wait – get in touch today, qualify and file your asbestos claim.

The only way to start the clock ticking on an asbestos case is to jump into action as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t yet sure that you want to file a claim, there is no harm in contacting the experienced team at AsbestosClaims.law to learn more about options and what the next steps might be. 

The importance of having the right asbestos attorney for your asbestos claim

Working with an attorney who has experience in the asbestos claims process is important for ensuring all documentation is filed correctly and the case is handled properly from the start. Even if it proves to take a while to complete the process, standing up for yourself or your family is the right thing to do. We hope this page has been helpful and feel free to explore the rest of our site for further resources. 

AsbestosClaims.Law

Para Justinian C. Lane, obtener una indemnización por las víctimas del asbesto es algo personal.

Los abuelos de Justiniano y su padre trabajaron con asbesto en su juventud y murieron de cánceres relacionados con el asbesto en sus últimos años.  

En el momento de cada una de sus muertes, nadie en la familia de Justiniano sabía que eran elegibles para presentar una demanda por asbesto y buscar una compensación de los fideicomisos de asbesto.

Debido a que nadie en la familia de Justiniano conocía sus opciones, nunca recibieron compensación alguna por la muerte de sus seres queridos. 

Si cree que su lesión o la de su familiar estuvo relacionada con la exposición al asbesto, podría tener derecho a una compensación significativa.

Este es dinero que podría usar para cubrir los costos de los servicios de remoción de asbesto, pagar el tratamiento médico y proteger de manera preventiva su bienestar físico. 

También hay fideicomisos de asbesto que ofrecen compensación mucho más rápida y fácilmente (sin presentar una demanda).

Si desea ayuda para presentar un reclamo, ponerse en contacto por correo electrónico a [email protected]  o llámenos o envíenos un mensaje de texto al (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) o (206) 455-9190. Escucharemos su historia y le explicaremos sus opciones. Y nunca cobramos por nada a menos que reciba dinero en su bolsillo.

Además de demandas legales, discapacidad de veteranos, seguridad social y protección del empleo como compensación de trabajadores, FELA y La ley de Jones para los trabajadores marítimos, hay fideicomisos de asbesto que se han establecido para indemnizar a los perjudicados por el asbesto sin tener que presentar una demanda.

No hay riesgo ni costo para hablar con uno de nuestro personal sobre su litigio de asbesto. No hay cargos a menos que reciba dinero.

Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes adicionales relacionadas con el asbesto, visite nuestro sitio web y página de YouTube para ver videos, infografías y respuestas a sus preguntas sobre el asbesto, incluida la salud y la seguridad, prueba de asbesto, la eliminación del asbesto de su hogar y edificio, y información legal sobre la compensación por lesiones de asbesto.

Presentamos la base de datos de información sobre asbesto más grande del planeta.

W.A.R.D., que significa Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, ayuda a los clientes a reducir cuándo y dónde pueden haber estado expuestos, así como qué productos aún pueden contener asbesto.WARD también ayudará a indicar los tipos de compensación ya cuánto puede tener derecho una persona.