Wrongful death settlements in asbestos cases
If a person was diagnosed and died because of an asbestos induced disease, his family might have the legal grounds filing for a wrongful death settlement. But getting the process started and dealing with the legal hassle is often simply too much for a grieving family to take care of. Therefore, it is definitely a good idea to put matters in the hands of a trustworthy and experienced asbestos lawyer.
Compensation settlement claims, where a person died because of mesothelioma, asbestosis or asbestos induced lung cancer, might not necessarily need the involvement of a judge and jury. Via a negotiation between your lawyer and the defendant’s insurance company, a wrongful death settlement might be agreed upon between the two parties before trial. History has shown that especially if the alleged party has lost similar cases in the past, they are more likely to agree to a quick settlement to avoid a litigation process with court involvement. However, frequently the defendant will attempt to settle for a significantly lower amount compared to the actual amounts they are willing to pay.
That’s why a good asbestos lawyer can make all the difference in such situations, and ensure that the plaintiffs get what they are entitled to.
There are a number of factors which come into play when defendants seem to be more willing to agree to your claim, which include
- how well the evidence was established by your lawyer and if the defendant has reason to believe that a potential court verdict is likely to occur in favor of the plaintiff.
- insufficient amount of time to do research before the claim goes into trial
- problems in retaining experts and witnesses that would testify in favor of the defendant
Compensation amounts in wrongful death settlements related to asbestos exposure can vary strongly from case to case. But there are a number of settlements that caught the attention of the media and public, because of the large amounts of money that was paid out.
Reportedly, one mesothelioma victim was awarded a total of $250 million from U.S. Steel. Shell Oil Company had to pay over $34 million to one of their previous employees after he got diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. In a wrongful death settlement litigated in California, the victim’s family received $33 million.
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