How To File a Mesothelioma Claim
If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, filing a claim can allow you to pursue compensation for your losses and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to seek justice and financial support during this difficult time—contact Bergman Oslund Udo Little to discuss your options with an experienced mesothelioma claims attorney. We’ve been protecting the interests of Washington and Oregon families facing mesothelioma since 1995, and we’re ready to help you, too.
Brendan Little, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: August 9, 2024
How To File a Mesothelioma Claim
Filing a mesothelioma claim is simple with our attorneys’ help:
- Contact our mesothelioma claims attorneys for a free mesothelioma case evaluation. We’ll inform you of your legal rights and options.
- We’ll investigate your claim, identify your sources of exposure, and collect evidence demonstrating exactly where, when, and how your asbestos exposure occurred.
- Our asbestos attorneys will file a claim on your behalf, outlining the details of your diagnosis, exposure history, and resulting damages.
- You’ll receive a fair settlement, or we’ll fight for you in court. Either way, we’ll seek the best possible outcome for your case.
Get Help with Your Mesothelioma Compensation Options
Who Can File a Mesothelioma Claim?
There are several different types of mesothelioma and asbestos claims, including:
- personal injury lawsuits
- mesothelioma wrongful death claims
- asbestos trust fund claims
- and VA disability benefits.
Each type has unique eligibility requirements, but the following individuals are usually eligible to seek compensation.
Mesothelioma Patients
If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you almost certainly were exposed to asbestos at some point in your life. You are likely eligible to file a mesothelioma claim even if you are uncertain where your asbestos exposure occurred.
Our attorneys can determine the source of your exposure and seek compensation for the damages you’ve suffered due to your illness, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Close Family Members of Mesothelioma Victims
If a loved one has passed away from mesothelioma, you may be eligible to receive compensation through a wrongful death claim. Eligible beneficiaries typically include spouses and children, but other loved ones may sometimes be beneficiaries.
If you qualify as a beneficiary, Bergman Oslund Udo Little can help you recover damages for your loved one’s medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost financial support, and your family’s emotional anguish resulting from the death.
Estate Representatives
Under Washington and Oregon state law, only the deceased’s personal representative may file a wrongful death lawsuit. This is either the person the deceased named in the will to manage the deceased’s estate or the party appointed by a court if the deceased did not have a valid will. The personal representative files the mesothelioma wrongful death claim, and the beneficiary family members receive the awarded damages. Some compensation recovered may go to the estate for the personal representative to pay medical bills or other estate expenses.
Mesothelioma claims are highly complex, and the best way to determine your eligibility is to consult a local mesothelioma lawyer. Nobody knows the Pacific Northwest’s asbestos legal systems better than Bergman Oslund Udo Little. Whether you’re a mesothelioma patient, a surviving family member, or a mesothelioma victim’s estate representative, we can help you seek maximum compensation for your losses.
Our Mesothelioma Claims Process
How Long Does an Asbestos Claim Take?
Resolving an asbestos claim can take as little as 90 days from the first consultation. However, each case is unique, and multiple factors can affect how long your mesothelioma claim takes:
- The mesothelioma patient's health: Courts sometimes expedite the timeline for mesothelioma patients. If you or your loved one is severely ill, your case may get prioritized.
- The type of claim: Asbestos trust fund claims are often resolved faster than lawsuits.
- Whether or not a settlement can be reached: Mesothelioma claims often result in a settlement. However, if the other party refuses to offer a fair settlement, your case may go to trial, adding significant time to the process.
Mesothelioma Claims FAQs
It’s normal to have questions when considering a mesothelioma claim. Bergman Oslund Udo Little has answered some of our clients’ most frequently asked questions to help you better understand the process.
Who Pays Mesothelioma Claims?
It depends on the type of claim. If you file a lawsuit, the defendant—usually an asbestos products manufacturer or the party that exposed you to asbestos—would be responsible for paying compensation if your case is successful.
If the responsible party has filed for bankruptcy protection and you must make an asbestos trust fund claim, the trust will pay your claim using the money set aside for asbestos exposure victims.
If you are a veteran whose illness resulted from asbestos exposure during your military service, you can file a disability claim with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The VA pays benefits to veterans who suffer from disabling conditions connected to their service.
Do I Need a Lawyer for the Mesothelioma Claims Process?
You are not required to have a lawyer for a mesothelioma claim. However, having experienced legal representation on your side is a good idea. They can guide you through the process and potentially go to trial on your behalf, significantly improving your chances of receiving the maximum compensation available. No firm in the pacific northwest takes more cases to trial than Bergman Oslund Udo Little.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire an Asbestos Claim Lawyer?
Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our fee will be a portion of the total amount you receive. We can discuss the details of our contingency fee during your initial consultation.
What Costs Can an Asbestos Compensation Claim Cover?
A successful asbestos claim should compensate you for the full impact mesothelioma has had on your life, including medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. If you are filing on behalf of a deceased loved one, you may also be able to claim for funeral expenses and loss of financial support, among others.
Why File Your Mesothelioma Claim With Bergman Oslund Udo Little Over A National Firm?
As a small, local Pacific Northwest firm, we are best suited to give your case our full attention, meet with you in person, walk you through the litigation process and ultimately achieve the best results for your case.
Vanessa Firnhaber Oslund – Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little, PLLC
Our asbestos exposure lawyers have filed hundreds of mesothelioma claims across Washington and Oregon. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for mesothelioma victims and their loved ones, which includes many multi-million dollar awards. Some of our notable settlements and verdicts include the following:
- $30 million for a 67-year-old mesothelioma victim and his family
- $11.2 million to a man diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 75
- $10 million verdict for a 79-year-old mesothelioma victim and his wife
- $8.3 million to a man diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 79
- $6.8 million to a woman diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 37
- $6.3 million to a man diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 61
- $5.75 million to the family of a mesothelioma victim
- $5.6 million to a man diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 58
- $5 million to a man diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 77
Our Mesothelioma Claims Attorneys Are Here To Help
Mesothelioma wreaks havoc on the lives of patients and those they love. Bergman Oslund Udo Little stands up to corporations that choose profits over people’s well-being. If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, the first step toward fair compensation is scheduling a free consultation with us.
Our mesothelioma claims attorneys can help you understand your legal options and navigate each step of the mesothelioma claims process. To speak with an attorney, contact our Seattle office at 206-957-9510 or our Portland office at 503-447-6230.
Speak to a Mesothelioma Attorney Today
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
