[breadcrumb]
Options Available for Austin Residents and Their Families After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
After you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the first thing to do is to determine your treatment options. There are different options available for patients at different stages. It is also important to seek guidance from a legal advocate during this critical time in your life. He or she can assist you with all aspects of your claim, including recommending treatment providers, determining whether your insurance may cover your treatment and how to take care of your family while your case is pending. A qualified mesothelioma attorney may also be able to assist you with filing for benefits with the VA if they are available.
Our compassionate mesothelioma attorneys can help you with all of the overwhelming issues that may arise after a mesothelioma diagnosis. We can explain what your next steps should be. They can explain your legal options, such as filing an asbestos bankruptcy trust fund claim or filing a lawsuit. They will guide you through each step of the process.
Contact our Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer Advocates today.
Why Should You File a Mesothelioma Claim or Lawsuit?
Medical expenses brought on by a mesothelioma diagnosis are often very expensive. Insurance may not cover all of them. Filing a mesothelioma claim or lawsuit can help you secure the funds you need for treatment for years to come. This can also ease the financial burdens brought on by asbestos exposure.
In many situations, juries have found that asbestos companies knew the dangers of their products and still continued to expose workers and others to them. Filing a mesothelioma claim or lawsuit can help you seek justice and hold these companies accountable.
Mesothelioma lawsuits are time-sensitive. There is a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury plaintiffs to file a lawsuit, so it is important that you take steps to immediately protect your interests.
Does Your Mesothelioma Attorney Need to Be in Austin?
In many situations, your mesothelioma attorney does not need to be located in Austin. Cases do not always need to be filed in the location where the plaintiff lives. For example, you can file a case based on where exposure occurred or where the company did business. However, there are advantages to hiring a Texas mesothelioma attorney to ensure that he or she is familiar with procedures and Texas courts.
A qualified mesothelioma attorney can travel to you. He or she can attend an Austin court on your behalf if your case goes to trial. However, many cases are settled well before trial, so there may be no need.
What to Look for in an Austin Mesothelioma Lawyer
The following characteristics are important in an Austin mesothelioma lawyer:
Experience
It is important that you choose an attorney who has experience litigating mesothelioma cases. These cases require substantial proof, so you need to ensure that your lawyer is able to support your claim through thorough research and evidence.
It is not enough that your attorney has worked on mesothelioma cases in the past. You need someone who has taken the cases to trial and won. While most personal injury cases settle, it is important that insurance companies and defendants have an incentive to settle for a higher-dollar amount, which they may not do if you use a lawyer who does not have success in litigation.
You will also want a lawyer who is knowledgeable about and experienced with asbestos trust funds. You may be able to file a claim and secure compensation faster through an asbestos trust claim. If you are a veteran, you will also want a lawyer who is experienced at filing claims with the VA.
Knowledgeable
Mesothelioma and asbestos cases are highly complex. It is important that your attorney has a well-established knowledge of possible causes of asbestos exposure and how this exposure could have resulted in the development of asbestos. The best mesothelioma lawyers will have a network of experts who can explain this information to judges and juries.
Your mesothelioma attorney should be able to estimate the potential value of your claim based on the specific circumstances surrounding your case. Your mesothelioma lawyer can use his or her knowledge of previous verdicts and settlements to estimate yours.
Proven Track Record
A qualified mesothelioma attorney may be able to share some of the verdicts and settlements that other clients have received.
Willing to Travel
A qualified mesothelioma attorney should be willing to travel to you. He or she should also be willing to travel to where court hearings are scheduled.
Compassionate
You will be sharing some of the most intimate details of your life with your mesothelioma attorney, so it is important that you feel comfortable talking to him or her. You should work with a lawyer who is experienced in these cases and can approach you with compassion while advocating for your interests.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options in Austin
Austin residents who want a local health care provider may choose one of the following options:
Texas Oncology
Texas Oncology has many centers across Texas, including one in Austin. It has been in place for more than 30 years, initially founded by a group of physicians with a shared vision of creating community-based cancer treatment. Texas Oncology relies on the expertise of more than 420 physicians and provides leading-edge technology and innovative research. The center provides a variety of treatment and care options, including diagnostic imaging, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and pharmaceuticals. Texas Oncology also has 282 certified oncology networks to provide additional services to patients. The center also offers a number of support services to patients.
Dr. W. Roy Smithe
Dr. W. Roy Smythe of Scott & White Healthcare focuses on providing care to cancer and mesothelioma patients. He is renowned for his work in this field and is board-certified in thoracic surgery. He is the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Scott and White Healthcare and a professor at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. He has written impressive work regarding malignant mesothelioma and treatment options. He has won a number of awards that have recognized him on a national level.
Austin Military Bases and VA Hospitals
Military bases and similar facilities near Austin include:
- Camp Mabry
- Texas Military Department
- US Marine Corps Reserve Center
- Soldier and Airman Support Center
- Military Facilities Commission
- National Guard Regional Training Institute
Austin residents have access to the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, including the outpatient clinic in Austin.
Austin Asbestos Site Exposure List
Austin job sites where there was reported use of asbestos include the following jobs in the energy, chemical plant and other industries include the following:
- Abm Machinery Company
- Austin Electric Railway Company
- Austin Energy
- Austin Rapid Transit
- Austin Street Railway Company
- Austin White Lime Company
- Austin White Mine Company
- Bergstrom Air Force Base
- Capital Linen Service
- Central Power & Light Company
- City of Austin Electric Utilities
- Decker Creek Power Station
- Economy Furniture Industries Inc
- Enviroquip, Inc.
- Hawley Street Power Plant
- Holly Street Power Plant
- Holly Street Steam Plant
- IBM
- Jefferson Chemical Company
- JM Odom Company
- Kelly Smith Cleaners
- Lower Colorado River Authority
- Naul Plastics Company
- Radian Corporation
- Reichhold Chemicals Incorporated
- San Giddeon Power Plant
- Seaholm Plant
- Steck Warlick Company
- Stephen F Austin Hotel
- Texas Nuclear
- Tom Ferry Company
- University of Texas
- University of Texas Main Power Station
- West 1St Street Power Plant
Austin Courts Where Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases Are Settled and Tried
Mesothelioma and asbestos cases in Austin are usually filed at the Travis County district court. These cases may also be filed at the Travis County court, but the damages alleged must be $250,000 or under before any punitive damages or attorney’s fees are assessed. The Third Court of Appeals hears cases where one of the party appeals the trial court’s decision.
Example Austin Mesothelioma Verdicts and Awards
Austin sees its fair share of mesothelioma cases, resulting in the state developing specific procedural rules to corral these cases. Many of these cases ultimately settle before trial and may result in confidential settlement agreements in which neither party can disclose the amount. Some cases reported in public news that have made it to trial involving Austin courts or residents include the following examples which were handled by unaffiliated law firms:
- In 1996, the estate of a former pipe fitter who worked at a power plant was awarded a massive sum of money by an Austin jury after the man died from mesothelioma. However, the award was later reduced.
- In 2001, a jury returned a sizable verdict in favor of a former railroad worker who had developed asbestosis. The case was appealed to Austin’s Court of Appeals and the judgement was affirmed.
- A jury awarded a very large amount to a group of workers who were exposed to an asbestos-containing insulation product. The decision was appealed, and Austin’s Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment.
Austin Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
Texas Oncology offers clinical trials for cancer patients. A patient’s eligibility for a particular trial depends on a number of factors, including the patient’s age, sex, cancer type, stage of cancer, previous treatments and medical history. Your physician can discuss the benefits and risks of a particular clinical trial.
Contact our Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer Advocates today.
