The impact asbestos exposure can have on your life is undeniable. You may be dealing with significant health issues and financial troubles. You may also be emotionally traumatized by the experience. The realization that you have spent a lifetime working around a dangerous substance can be devastating.
However, if someone else is responsible for your exposure, or you became ill due to asbestos exposure at work, you may be entitled to certain types of benefits or financial compensation. Explore your options further when you contact a reputable Beaufort asbestos exposure attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm for a free consultation. Our South Carolina personal injury lawyers are ready to help you take the next step in recovery.
Asbestos Exposure Causes Serious Disease
Asbestos is a toxic and harmful substance that was widely used until scientists discovered how much it can harm people. In large amounts, asbestos exposure can cause significant health problems. One of the most common illnesses people develop after long-term asbestos exposure is a specific type of cancer known as mesothelioma.
If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another type of illness or respiratory condition caused by asbestos exposure, you might be entitled to compensation for your losses and suffering. However, while you are struggling to cope with your physical condition and debilitating financial issues, you may be left feeling confused and unsure of how you can go about recovering your damages.
Fortunately, when you have an asbestos exposure attorney in Beaufort, SC working for you, you can demand answers. Your Beaufort asbestos exposure lawyer can more closely analyze the details of your case to determine which opportunities are available to you. Our team will help you get through these difficult times and move forward with your life.
How to Recover the Compensation You Deserve
There are several ways in which you can recover compensation for the damages you experienced from asbestos exposure in your line of work. Based on the facts of your case, your asbestos exposure lawyer in Beaufort, SC will determine your options for seeking reimbursement for your bills. You could have the right to file a claim for worker’s compensation benefits, pursue an insurance claim, or file a civil lawsuit against those responsible for your condition.
Filing a Claim for Workers’ Compensation Insurance
South Carolina law requires all employers who have four or more employees to purchase worker’s compensation protection coverage. This coverage must extend to and cover every employee, whether they are temporary, seasonal, part-time, or full-time. Coverage must start from the day they are hired.
As long as you can prove that your asbestos exposure occurred on the job and is a work-related illness, you may be entitled to worker’s compensation benefits. However, the insurance company may push back against your claim unless you have strong evidence. Your asbestos exposure lawyer in Beaufort will be prepared to negotiate with your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance provider to ensure you are approved for the benefits you deserve.
Some of the different types of benefits you could be eligible for in your Beaufort worker’s comp claim for asbestos exposure include:
- Total coverage of your mesothelioma and asbestos exposure-related medical expenses
- Compensation for disability benefits which replace approximately 2/3 of your lost income
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits if you are no longer able to continue working in your pre-illness industry
- Survivor benefits to pay for the decedent’s funeral and burial expenses and provide you with disability benefits if your loved one succumbs to the impact of their mesothelioma or asbestos exposure illness
Filing an Insurance Claim
Your opportunities for financial relief through an insurance claim will depend on how your asbestos exposure occurred. In some instances, you may have the opportunity to file a claim with your employer’s general liability insurance provider or another type of insurance company.
However, insurance settlements are unlikely to cover your damages in full. You will likely be able to recover certain types of losses, such as your loss of income and medical expenses. Other types of economic damages and your non-economic damages may not be available for recovery through an insurance claim.
File an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit
One of the top ways to recover compensation is by filing a lawsuit against those responsible for causing your medical condition. If your employer, colleagues, equipment manufacturers, supervisors, construction site property owners, or other third parties failed to uphold their obligation to you in any way, they might be ordered to compensate you for your suffering.
Workers should be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) or other safety equipment to reduce or eliminate their risk of exposure. When an employer fails to do so, they can be held liable. They can also face responsibility for your illness if they did not provide the necessary job training or give adequate warnings about the risks of asbestos exposure to asbestos.
Potential Damages You Can Recover in Your Asbestos Exposure Claim
When you have suffered severe illness or injury as a result of your exposure to asbestos, you have the right to be compensated for every single loss you have endured. Examples of the types of damages that may be recovered through your workers’ comp, insurance, or civil claims include:
- Diminished earning capacity
- Current and ongoing medical expenses
- Costs of future medical care
- Loss of income and employee benefits
- Emotional trauma and stress
- Chronic physical pain and suffering
- Inconvenience and embarrassment
- Damage to your reputation
- Disfigurement and skins scarring
Get in Touch with an Asbestos Exposure Attorney in Beaufort Today
Your asbestos exposure and resulting health issues are likely to have a lasting impact on your life. In addition to the physical health problems you are experiencing, the financial distress that may follow could make it difficult or impossible for you to continue supporting yourself and your family.
It is important that you take steps to plan accordingly. Reach out to an experienced Beaufort asbestos exposure attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm to find out more about your opportunities for financial relief. You can fill out our online contact form or call us to get started on your insurance claims and third-party liability lawsuits as soon as today.
