When first getting started, victims usually have a plethora of unanswered questions regarding asbestos and their rights. A good law firm should be able to provide you with the following information:
What Are Law Firm Fees?
Law firms may have different fees as well as different payment options. However, an experienced and caring law firm understands that victims of asbestos-related diseases more than likely have enough financial burden in dealing with their illness, and are unable to afford up-front fees for legal representation. As a result, many firms work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis, meaning that they only get paid when you get paid.
If the law firm doesn’t win your case, they don’t receive compensation either in most instances. The good news, however, is that a firm has to be confident enough in your case to take it on, meaning there is a good chance that if your case is picked up, it will be successful.
Law firm fees are percentages taken out of your total settlement or verdict amount, and again, the percentage amount will vary depending on the firm. Make sure you understand how the fees and percentages work with the firm beforehand so that there will be no confusion later on.
If a law firm doesn’t provide a contingency fee basis, there is a good chance that they don’t have the financial resources to successfully prove your case. Keep in mind that you’ll want a firm that has the financial capability to take on your case on a contingency fee basis.
[size=medium]Attorneys without the resources to handle your case usually can’t provide you with the best representation. An ideal rule of thumb is to ask up-front about how the fees work so that there are no surprises later on. Attorneys with your best interest in mind will have no problems answering any questions you have regarding fees and prices.
- Evidence Related to Your Exposure: Once you provide the law firm with your work information, they should be able to investigate and determine how asbestos was used in your workplace. In some cases, they may already have the information available.
- If You Truly Have an Asbestos Claim: Asbestos law firms understand what’s needed in order to have a true asbestos claim. With this knowledge, they are able to determine how strong your case is and what the estimated chances are that you’ll win. Most attorneys make sure they’re confident in your case before taking it on. Be wary of any attorney who promises to take your case without knowing any of the details or an attorney who claims they can get you an exact amount of compensation before reviewing your case.
- Your Case Worth: If the firm decides you have an asbestos case, they will then be able to come up with an average figure of how much your case is worth. This is including past expenses, daily expenses, medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, physical suffering, future expenses, and much more. Keep in mind, however, that there is no set formula as to how much your award amount may be. The aforementioned factors, along with other details, such as if your former company has a trust fund set up or not, will also come into play.
- Who Exactly is Responsible: It can be difficult for the average person to determine who exactly is responsible for exposing victims to asbestos. For example, companies can move, go out of business, hide, suppress relevant information, and change ownership. In some cases, your former company is responsible, the manufacturer of the asbestos products may be responsible, or supervisors and/or owners may be responsible. In other instances, there may be just one sole responsible entity, yet in a different case, there may be several responsible parties. Remember that part of the law firm’s job is to research, seek out, and determine the entity or responsible parties that are liable for your exposure to asbestos.
What Are Law Firm Fees?
Law firms may have different fees as well as different payment options. However, an experienced and caring law firm understands that victims of asbestos-related diseases more than likely have enough financial burden in dealing with their illness, and are unable to afford up-front fees for legal representation. As a result, many firms work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis, meaning that they only get paid when you get paid.
If the law firm doesn’t win your case, they don’t receive compensation either in most instances. The good news, however, is that a firm has to be confident enough in your case to take it on, meaning there is a good chance that if your case is picked up, it will be successful.
Law firm fees are percentages taken out of your total settlement or verdict amount, and again, the percentage amount will vary depending on the firm. Make sure you understand how the fees and percentages work with the firm beforehand so that there will be no confusion later on.
If a law firm doesn’t provide a contingency fee basis, there is a good chance that they don’t have the financial resources to successfully prove your case. Keep in mind that you’ll want a firm that has the financial capability to take on your case on a contingency fee basis.
[size=medium]Attorneys without the resources to handle your case usually can’t provide you with the best representation. An ideal rule of thumb is to ask up-front about how the fees work so that there are no surprises later on. Attorneys with your best interest in mind will have no problems answering any questions you have regarding fees and prices.
