Understanding Your Parents’ Mesothelioma Legal Rights
Mesothelioma is a devastating diagnosis. It is one that affects everyone in the family, especially here in Hawai‘i. While medical science continues to seek a cure for this disease, there presently is none. When a parent is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it causes pain and grief to all of their loved ones.
Because mesothelioma typically takes 20-40 years to develop after exposure to asbestos, Hawai‘i mesothelioma victims are usually in their 60s, 70s or 80s. In many cases, their adult children reach out to help their parents as they look for treatment options and ways to deal with the emotional and financial strains that accompany this disease.
For many Hawai‘i families, helping a parent with mesothelioma also means helping to find an attorney to bring a lawsuit on your parents’ behalf, to recover damages to help with the medical and other expenses they face as well as with expenses.
Steps to Help Your Parents
- Understand Their Legal Rights and How Contingent Fee Cases Work: The articles on our website are designed to provide information about the legal claims your parents have and the legal process involving a mesothelioma lawsuit. Understand that your mother or father has potential claims against the companies that sold the asbestos products that they were exposed to because these companies failed to warn about the hazards of breathing asbestos dust. Cases Are Handled on A Contingent Fee Basis. Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman handles mesothelioma cases on a contingent fee basis which means if there is no recovery, there is no fee. Your parents do not need to worry about whether they have the resources to bring this lawsuit, because they will not have to pay any fees or expenses if there is no recovery. Call us to talk about your parents’ case. There is no fee for this consultation.
- Find Experienced Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers: There are many lawyers who may say they are mesothelioma lawyers, but who do not have the background or experience to handle mesothelioma cases. In fact, some lawyers will simply refer your parents’ case to another law firm and take a percentage of the recovery without ever working on the case. Some lawyers who have handled some asbestos cases do not necessarily take the time and invest the effort in thoroughly investigating the cases and preparing for trial which the only way to ensure a clients’ maximum recovery. Mesothelioma cases that lawyers or clients choose to settle quickly, without getting the cases ready for trial, recover substantially less for their clients. Asbestos companies who face Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman know that we are ready for trial and prepared to go to court if the settlement does not reflect the value of our clients’ cases. We have tried over 50 asbestos cases to verdict here in Hawai‘i. We are very experienced mesothelioma trial lawyers who have proven ourselves in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. We have handled mesothelioma cases for local families for over 35 years. We work tirelessly for our clients to ensure the maximum recovery in their cases.
- Find a Firm That Understands and Respects Your Parent’s Emotional Distress: This is an incredibly difficult time for your parents and your entire family. The lawyers who handle your parents’ case needs to be supportive of the emotional issues that your parents must deal with. Our clients’ words are the best indication of our firm’s family approach to our Hawai‘i mesothelioma clients:
“When we were looking for someone to help us through the asbestos nightmare…we called Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman. What we found were a group of people who were caring, compassionate, and supportive. It was obvious to us that they were passionate about their work and that they truly cared about us.” –Patty S.
(They) were always there to help support me throughout the entire ordeal that my husband and I went through. I will be forever grateful for the genuine concern and support.” –Debbie K.
:When you first enter their office, you get the feeling it is one big family and you’re a part of it. That’s what you need when you are faced with such a big problem.” –Darlene D.Recognize the Importance of Local Hawai‘i Experience: The Galiher law firm has been helping Hawai‘i’s victims of mesothelioma for over 35 years. Our founder, Gary Galiher, filed his first mesothelioma case in 1978, on behalf of a Pearl Harbor electrician named Tristan Nobriga. In the years since then, our firm has assembled an unparalleled database of knowledge about asbestos exposure at Hawai‘i job sites. We can help your parents identify the companies that are responsible for their asbestos exposure at numerous Hawai‘i locations, including Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hawai‘ian Electric Co., Ala Moana Shopping Center, and many more Hawai‘i construction sites.We are also intimately familiar with Hawai‘i law as it relates to mesothelioma cases. In fact, our firm has argued and won many asbestos cases before the Hawai‘i Supreme Court, helping to preserve and expand the rights of local asbestos victims.Given our years of experience working on Hawai‘i mesothelioma cases, Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman will be able to assess your parent’s exposure most effectively and to take steps to ensure your case is presented in the way most beneficial to you and your family.
- Do Not Delay: There are deadlines imposed by Hawai‘i law for the filing of mesothelioma and other lawsuits. Therefore, it is important to get an experienced Hawai‘i mesothelioma lawyer involved as soon as possible so that none of your parents’ legal rights are lost. It also takes time to investigate a case and prepare it for trial. The sooner the case is filed, the sooner your parent may begin to receive settlements or other recoveries.