South Carolina Army Veteran Mesothelioma Attorney

South Carolina Army Veteran Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure Lawyer

If you have been a victim of asbestos exposure in Army barracks and bases, and diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s vital to know your legal options and the value of working with an experienced South Carolina Army veteran mesothelioma lawyer.

Veterans of the Army and every other branch of the military face countless risks as they perform their duties, many working in hazardous environments. It’s possible for an Army veteran to have contracted mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure during their service. No one who has served their country should have to deal with the aftermath of such a diagnosis alone. Army veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma should contact our firm.

Legal Representation for Army Veterans in Mesothelioma Claims

The attorneys at Wallace & Graham focus specifically on mesothelioma claims, helping clients in the Carolinas and throughout the southern United States pursue compensation for their damages after being diagnosed with this terminal condition. When you are an Army veteran, and you believe your diagnosis resulted from asbestos exposure during your term of service in the military, we can help determine your most viable recovery options.

Facing a diagnosis of any terminal illness can be psychologically traumatic and impose various economic challenges on the patient and their family. Mesothelioma is a complex condition that causes very painful symptoms, and life expectancy after diagnosis is typically around 18 months. If you believe any other party bears fault for your diagnosis, an experienced Army veteran mesothelioma attorney is the most important asset you can have.

Our team will work carefully to uncover proof of how you developed your condition. We can help determine exactly when and where you were exposed to ascertain whether one or more other parties bear liability for your condition. While it’s possible for the Army to have knowingly placed you in harm’s way through their knowledge of asbestos within a facility where you were assigned to work, it is also possible for other defendants to bear fault for your damages.

Ultimately, mesothelioma claims are complex, emotionally challenging, and can involve substantial damages. As an Army veteran pursuing compensation for a mesothelioma diagnosis, you not only need an attorney who has experience handling mesothelioma claims in general but also the unique legal issues that arise for members of the US military pursuing compensation with these claims. Wallace & Graham is ready to represent your claim.

Understanding a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

cause: asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a hazardous substance made of very fine, sharp, and light particles. For years, asbestos was used in factories, refineries, warehouses, Army bases, and countless other structures because of its fireproofing capabilities. However, asbestos particles in the air can become embedded in the lungs and eventually form fatal cancer.

One of the most difficult aspects of a mesothelioma claim is the time that the disease usually takes to manifest in a noticeable way. The condition typically does not show any noticeable symptoms for years or even decades after exposure, after the cancer has spread and reached critical levels. Some people are diagnosed as soon as 10 years after exposure, while diagnosis may take as long as 50 years. The average incubation period is 25 to 40 years.

The early signs and symptoms of mesothelioma can mimic the appearance of other less serious conditions. Mesothelioma can initially present with symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and sudden weight loss. These symptoms will worsen, and the victim could start experiencing chest pains, irregular heartbeat, and pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung.

There is no cure for mesothelioma, and the average life expectancy for a patient who has just been diagnosed with the disease is 18 months. However, if the disease is discovered early enough, it is sometimes possible for the victim to survive for years with appropriate medical care. This medical treatment can be expensive, and the diagnosis will present additional financial complications for the victim and their family.

Recovering Benefits From the Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans of the Army and other branches of US military service generally have access to various medical benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This federal agency is responsible for managing veterans’ medical care for the injuries and illnesses acquired during their service, and many veterans will have some level of lifelong benefits through the VA.

Unfortunately, thousands of veterans encounter difficulties in their interactions with the VA every year, sometimes facing long wait times for medical appointments and specific treatments, and there are limits to what the VA will cover in terms of medical care. After you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is likely that you will only be able to expect the base level of medical care from the VA.

An experienced Army veteran mesothelioma attorney can help their client navigate their interactions with the VA, ensuring the veteran receives appropriate care and can take full advantage of all the benefits they are eligible to receive. The right attorney can also help their client explore additional avenues of legal recourse in response to this diagnosis.

If the Army is directly responsible for the veteran’s diagnosis, filing a civil suit against the military is incredibly challenging, and recovery is limited, but it is possible for the veteran to have grounds for legal recourse against another party depending on how they were exposed to asbestos during their service.

Proving Liability for Asbestos Exposure in the Army

During your time in the military, you may have been required to work in various locations across the planet, some of which may have had structures built using asbestos. During the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s, the substance was widely used without any knowledge of the extreme health risks it would later present to many people throughout the world.

Members of the US Army are often required to work in facilities that may still contain asbestos. It is also possible for them to handle various materials made with asbestos, and some military installations built many years ago may pose asbestos risks that have gone undetected for a long time. It will be necessary to carefully chart your term of service, identifying all the locations where you have lived and worked while serving in the Army.

Your Army veteran mesothelioma attorney can review the records of your service and develop a comprehensive map of where you were stationed while you were in the Army. If your attorney discovers that a private business, military contractor, or any other organization was responsible for a building that contained asbestos, you can file a claim against them to recover compensation for all damages related to your diagnosis.

The timeline of asbestos exposure to mesothelioma diagnosis can seem very daunting as the disease usually does not appear until decades after initial exposure. However, a seasoned attorney will know how to gather the proof you need to firmly establish fault for your diagnosis, identifying the party who will become the defendant in a personal injury claim. Success with this case will require proof that they knew or should have known about the asbestos risk.

Recovering Compensation for a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you are able to prove that another party is directly responsible for your asbestos exposure, you have the right to pursue a personal injury claim against them to recover your damages related to the diagnosis. Over the past several decades, as asbestos product manufacturers have gone out of business, they have contributed to many asbestos injury trusts that can provide compensation for individuals harmed by their products.

Your Army veteran mesothelioma attorney can help determine whether any such trusts are available recovery options for you, but remember that recovery through these trusts is limited. On average, claimants can receive about $300,000 to $400,000, while the average settlement for an individually filed personal injury claim for mesothelioma is several million dollars.

An experienced attorney can help their client determine their optimal path to recovery, assisting them in building a comprehensive personal injury case to enhance their recovery if possible. Under the state’s personal injury laws, the plaintiff in a mesothelioma case has the right to claim full compensation for all economic damages related to their condition, and they may claim compensation for related non-economic damages.

Medical Treatment Costs for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a terminal illness, but with the appropriate medical care, the victim can extend their remaining lifespan and keep their symptoms manageable. However, medical care is expensive, and an Army veteran may only be able to expect limited care from the VA.

If you are able to prove that another party is responsible for your asbestos exposure, it is possible to hold them accountable for all related medical expenses. This can apply retroactively to compensate you for medical treatments in the past for which you have already paid. The defendant will be liable for any medical care you need to manage your condition for the rest of your life. Your claimable medical expenses may include:

• Bills for hospital stays and specialist appointments.
• Costs of any required surgeries.
• Prescription medication costs.
• Expenses for required medical devices necessary for in-home care.
• Medical expenses for hospice care or palliative care.

When you choose Wallace & Graham to represent your case, we will very carefully review your medical records and the reports you have received from your medical care team to ensure that your claim includes all applicable medical expenses you can claim from the defendant.

Claiming Compensation for Lost Income After Asbestos Exposure

An individual diagnosed with mesothelioma has likely experienced a host of painful and disruptive symptoms that interfere with their ability to work and earn income. Due to the time it takes for mesothelioma to manifest in noticeable ways, many people diagnosed with this condition receive their diagnoses later in life, sometimes after retirement. However, it is possible for younger people to be diagnosed with mesothelioma well before retirement.

If your diagnosis interferes with your ability to work and earn income, the defendant is liable for your lost wages. Additionally, because mesothelioma will invariably worsen for the victim, they will be unlikely to work in the future, and the defendant will also be responsible for the future income they are no longer able to earn. Your Army veteran mesothelioma lawyer can help accurately calculate all the lost income you can include in your claim.

While the average claimant can typically account for immediately recognizable economic damages like their hospital bills, an experienced attorney is a valuable asset for ensuring that the extent of your financial losses has been uncovered in your claim. When you choose Wallace & Graham to represent your case, you can trust our team to review all pertinent records and to ensure that all your economic damages are appropriately addressed in your claim.

Calculating Pain and Suffering Compensation in a Mesothelioma Claim

South Carolina’s personal injury laws enable a plaintiff to claim not only full compensation for all economic losses they suffered because of the defendant’s actions but also compensation for the pain and suffering they experienced. There is no limit to how much a plaintiff is allowed to claim, but the amount sought should be reasonable based on the overall severity of their condition.

A mesothelioma diagnosis not only entails very painful physical symptoms but also the severe psychological impact of facing a terminal diagnosis. At best, many people diagnosed with mesothelioma can hope to survive for a few more years with the appropriate level of medical treatment, but the disease is ultimately fatal. This is distressing not only for the plaintiff but also for their family.

Your Army veteran mesothelioma attorney can help determine appropriate pain and suffering compensation to seek from the defendant. Attorneys generally use two methods to calculate pain and suffering for their clients. The per diem method applies most to plaintiffs expected to recover and seek compensation based on their recovery time. Because mesothelioma is incurable, your attorney is more likely to use the multiplier method.

With the multiplier method, the attorney calculates the total of their client’s claimable economic damages and then multiplies this amount by a factor that represents the severity of their condition. For example, if a plaintiff is claiming $500,000 in economic damages, their attorney may seek several million dollars in pain and suffering compensation to reflect the severity of the harm the plaintiff suffered.

Ultimately, pain and suffering compensation often accounts for most of a plaintiff’s total recovery from a personal injury suit. If you are facing a terminal diagnosis of mesothelioma, money cannot cure your condition, but the case award you receive can help your family adjust to your new circumstances and prepare for the future with greater peace of mind. Success with your case can also provide a sense of closure in holding a defendant accountable.

What to Expect From a South Carolina Army Veteran Mesothelioma Attorney

It is unwise to approach any civil claim without the assistance of legal counsel. When you have an experienced Army veteran mesothelioma lawyer representing you, you can trust them to provide comprehensive support through every stage of your case, helping you to maximize your recovery as much as the law allows.

The attorneys at Wallace & Graham have years of professional experience helping military veterans from the Army and all other branches of service with their mesothelioma claims. Whether your case involves difficult interactions with the Army and the VA and/or you must pursue a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your asbestos exposure, you can rely on our team to assist you with all of your recovery efforts.

After completing any preliminary recovery efforts, we can help build a comprehensive personal injury claim that seeks maximum compensation under South Carolina law. You could be entitled to far more compensation than you may initially expect, and having an attorney’s assistance with your case significantly improves your chances of maximizing your recovery.

Most personal injury claims filed are not resolved in court, and instead, the parties involved attempt to reach a settlement privately. As long as the defendant is willing to accept liability for the harm they have done to the plaintiff and both parties are willing to compromise, they could potentially resolve their case in a matter of weeks. By comparison, litigation for a civil suit can take several months or even years to resolve.

Experienced South Carolina Army Veteran Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure Lawyers

Whatever your mesothelioma claim entails, you can trust our firm to provide ongoing support and compassionate guidance through all stages of the case. Our goal for our client is maximum recovery in the shortest possible timeframe, and we will do everything in our power to secure as much compensation as the law allows for your mesothelioma diagnosis. We understand the impact of such a diagnosis and will to get you fair compensation.

Time is a crucial consideration for anyone who intends to file a mesothelioma claim, and these claims are often especially challenging for Army veterans. If you are ready to learn what an experienced Army veteran mesothelioma attorney can do for your case, contact Wallace & Graham today to schedule a free consultation with our team.

South Carolina Mesothelioma Resources