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How much a mesothelioma victim will receive as compensation will be determined by several factors, such as the laws in your state, the parties responsible, lost income, the extent of your injuries, how well the case is presented, liability, the likely verdict value, the credibility of the injured party, where the case is tried, reputation of the attorneys, etc. Recovery amounts in mesothelioma settlements vary wildly, from several thousand to several million. For example, a Rand Corporation study in 2001 stated that mesothelioma victims themselves receive the highest payments, while those with exposure but no disabling lung disease received the least. Also, in 2001, the typical award in a mesothelioma lawsuit was $1 million. If the case went to trial, the average award in 2001 was $6 million. The examples listed in “Current Mesothelioma Lawsuits,” will give you an idea of the more recent settlement amounts. A mesothelioma lawyer who has substantial experience in handling mesothelioma lawsuits will know the value of your particular situation and not undervalue your case. Knowing the field levels the playing field with the insurance lawyers.
Decisions of compensation involve economic damages such as all medical costs, lost employment income, lost future income, etc., as well as non-economic damages. These are “pain and suffering” damages. These are damages paid for physical pain, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, inconvenience, and so on. Because this can be very subjective and every case is different, there is no way to tell what a jury will award in this category, but the figure can be extremely high, especially if continued medical treatment is necessary. In many states there is no limit to non-economic damages in lawsuits, although that is changing. For example, California limits non-economic damages to $250,000. You can discuss your options and possible settlement figures with your mesothelioma lawyer.
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