Because half a lifetime often passes between asbestos exposure and a mesothelioma diagnosis, these are typically very complex cases. Short survival time makes choosing an experienced law firm a critical task as soon as possible after diagnosis.
At Abels & Annes, we work with mesothelioma victims and surviving family members to hold those responsible accountable. Our asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in Chicago look to help ensure a family’s financial security.
Determining liability
Determining where and when the exposure occurred, and identifying those responsible, is often the first challenge. In many cases, large corporations responsible for exposing employees have already been forced into bankruptcy by mesothelioma lawsuits. However, in many cases, a trust fund may be available to pay damages. In other cases, a large corporation might now own the at-fault business. They could still be in business under a different name.
Government responsibility in some cases
And in still other cases, it’s the government that is responsible. U.S. military veterans, particularly those who served in Navy shipyards or aboard ships, are at particularly high risk for developing mesothelioma. For example, Hollywood Actor Steve McQueen died at the age of 50 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. His exposure to asbestos was most likely from working aboard ships as a Marine at the conclusion of World War II.