Mesothelioma Compensation
Some people who develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure may be able to claim compensation. Your legal entitlements will depend on the state or territory in which you were exposed to asbestos. In some cases, the exposure may have occurred overseas.
Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, so your exposure to asbestos may have occurred some 40 years ago. You might think it was a trivial exposure, or you may not remember any exposure. Talking to your friends and family can help to bring back memories of places where you may have been exposed to asbestos.
An expert lawyer will also talk you through your life history and help you find out where the exposure took place. They will explain what compensation you may be able to claim and help make the process easy for you to understand.
Generally, a person diagnosed with mesothelioma has two different types of legal entitlements:
a claim through the court, known as a "common law claim"
a claim under a government compensation scheme, known as a "statutory claim".
"When my husband was diagnosed with terminal mesothelioma, we were advised to apply for compensation. He reluctantly contacted lawyers, and they assured us we had a very strong case. My husband didn't survive to `win' his case but I did, with a lot of help, caring, understanding and good advice from our lawyers." – Sharon
Common law claim
A common law claim is a claim process through a court. The claim is brought against the party or parties who caused a person to be exposed to asbestos. These parties are known as the "defendants". A common law claim begins by filing a formal court document known as an "originating process". The originating process must be lodged within your lifetime to protect your entitlement to compensation. As long as you start a common law claim during your lifetime, your estate will still be able to continue with your claim if you die before the claim is finalised.
You need to speak with a lawyer experienced in asbestos-related compensation claims as soon as possible after your diagnosis. If you're too unwell to visit the lawyer in their office, they can visit you at home or in hospital to discuss the process and how it can be simplified for you and your family.
t may still be possible to bring a common law claim even if:
you were exposed to asbestos many years ago
you no longer work for the employer where you were exposed
you have worked for many employers
you were self-employed or a contractor
your employer is no longer in business
you are, or were, a smoker
you were exposed to asbestos in another state or overseas
you were not exposed in the workplace
you were only briefly exposed to asbestos
you were exposed to asbestos on more than one occasion
you don't know how you may have been exposed to asbestos.
Finding a lawyer
Making a mesothelioma claim is a specialised area. It is important to talk to a lawyer or law firm experienced in this area of work, as they often have a wealth of knowledge about how and where asbestos was used.
You can find a leading lawyer in asbestos by checking the Doyles Guide Directory – visit doylesguide.com/australia and type "asbestos" in the search bar. Mesothelioma support organisations can also assist you in contacting an expert asbestos lawyer.
Talking to an expert in this field can help reduce the time taken to investigate a claim. Experienced lawyers also understand mesothelioma and what you are coping with. Your lawyer will work around medical appointments or treatments to try to make things less stressful for you.
How long will a common law case take?
The majority of common law claims for mesothelioma are settled out of court within 3–6 months of the claim being lodged. If your prognosis is poor, or you suddenly become very unwell, the process can be sped up to try to ensure that your common law claim is resolved in your lifetime. Only a few cases actually proceed to a court trial.
What if I die before my claim is settled?
Many people diagnosed with mesothelioma worry that their claim won't be finalised before they die. The largest component of compensation is usually the general damages. So long as you start a common law claim in your lifetime, then your entitlement to general damages is protected, and your estate would be able to continue with your claim if you die before your claim is finalised.
In some circumstances, your family may also be entitled to dependency entitlements if you die because of the mesothelioma. Your lawyer will let you know if this applies to you and your family.
How much does legal action cost?
Legal costs are generally dependent on the amount of legal work required to resolve your case. Most lawyers who specialise in asbestos-related compensation claims offer a "no win, no fee" agreement. This means that the lawyers will only charge for legal services if they are successful in resolving your case. You are also entitled to claim a large portion of your legal costs from the defendants as part of your common law claim. The amount of costs awarded will depend on whether your case was resolved at mediation or at trial.
Ask your lawyer for a costs agreement and get them to talk it through with you so you know what is involved. Be aware that even under a "no win, no fee" agreement, if you:
start a claim but decide to cease the action, you will usually need to pay any legal costs up to that point
proceed but lose the court case, you will not need to pay your
lawyer, but you may still need to pay court costs for yourself and possibly for the defendant
are successful, a significant portion of your compensation might be absorbed by any costs that the defendant doesn't have to pay.
Statutory claims
Some states and territories have special government compensation schemes for people who develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. These schemes usually apply only if you have been exposed to asbestos during your employment.
he authorities for Australia's asbestos compensation schemes are:
ACT – WorkSafe ACT, call 02 6207 3000 or visit worksafe.act.gov.au
NSW – Dust Diseases Authority, also known as icare dust diseases are, call 02 8223 6600 or visit icare.nsw.gov.au
NT – NT WorkSafe, call 1800 019 115 or visit worksafe.nt.gov.au
QLD – WorkCover Queensland, call 1300 362 128 or visit worksafe.qld.gov.au
SA – ReturnToWorkSA, call 13 18 55 or visit rtwsa.com
TAS – WorkSafe Tasmania, call 1300 366 322 or visit worksafe.tas.gov.au
VIC – WorkSafe Victoria, call 1800 136 089 or visit worksafe.vic.gov.au
WA – Your employer's insurer or if unknown, Insurance Commission of estern Australia, call 08 9264 3333 or visit icwa.wa.gov.au
Commonwealth – Comcare, call 1300 366 979 or visit comcare.gov.au.
Do I need a lawyer?
It is possible for you and sometimes your dependants to lodge a statutory claim directly with the authority in your state or territory. However, most people with mesothelioma prefer to use a lawyer to arrange all their claims.
The laws around Australia vary and can be complex. Some people may be entitled to bring a common law claim instead of, or in addition to, a statutory claim. It is vital to consult an expert asbestos lawyer before applying for statutory benefits to ensure you aren't excluded from also claiming common law compensation.
Using an expert asbestos lawyer will allow you to access all your entitlements while concentrating on your health and spending time on the things that are important to you.
Advance care planning
It is also worth seeking the advice of a lawyer to ensure your will is up to date and that your intentions for your estate are clear.
You may wish to arrange legal documents appointing a substitute decision-maker. Depending on where you live, the documents for appointing this person may be known as an enduring power of attorney, enduring power of guardianship, or appointment of an enduring guardian. You can also outline your wishes for your future medical care in an advance care directive. These documents are part of advance care planning.
Cancer Council offers a Legal Referral Service that can help with wills and advance care planning, and assistance is free for eligible clients. Call 13 11 20 to find out more.
Selain mengerjakan ladangnya, kadang-kadang lelaki itu pergi memancing ke sungai yang berada tak jauh dari rumahnya. Setiap kali dia memancing, mudah saja ikan didapatnya karena di sungai yang jernih itu memang banyak sekali ikan. Ikan hasil pancingannya dia masak untuk dimakan.
Pada suatu sore, setelah pulang dari ladang lelaki itu langsung pergi ke sungai untuk memancing. Tetapi sudah cukup lama ia memancing tak seekor iakan pun didapatnya. Kejadian yang seperti itu,tidak pernah dialami sebelumnya. Sebab biasanya ikan di sungai itu mudah saja dia pancing. Karena sudah terlalu lama tak ada yang memakan umpan pancingnya, dia jadi kesal dan memutuskan untuk berhenti saja memancing. Tetapi ketika dia hendak menarik pancingnya, tiba-tiba pancing itu disambar ikan yang langsung menarik pancing itu jauh ketengah sungai. Hatinya yang tadi sudah kesal berubah menjadi gembira, Karena dia tahu bahwa ikan yang menyambar pancingnya itu adalah ikan yang besar.
Setelah beberapa lama dia biarkan pancingnya ditarik ke sana kemari, barulah pancing itu disentakkannya, dan tampaklah seekor ikan besar tergantung dan menggelepar-gelepar di ujung tali pancingnya. Dengan cepat ikan itu ditariknya ke darat supaya tidak lepas. Sambil tersenyum gembira mata pancingnya dia lepas dari mulut ikan itu. Pada saat dia sedang melepaskan mata pancing itu, ikan tersebut memandangnya dengan penuh arti. Kemudian, setelah ikan itu diletakkannya ke satu tempat dia pun masuk ke dalam sungai untuk mandi. Perasaannya gembira sekali karena belum pernah dia mendapat ikan sebesar itu. Dia tersenyum sambil membayangkan betapa enaknya nanti daging ikan itu kalau sudah dipanggang. Ketika meninggalkan sungai untuk pulang kerumahnya hari sudah mulai senja.
Setibanya di rumah, lelaki itu langsung membawa ikan besar hasil pancingannya itu ke dapur. Ketika dia hendak menyalakan api untuk memanggang ikan itu, ternyata kayu bakar di dapur rumahnya sudah habis. Dia segera keluar untuk mengambil kayu bakar dari bawah kolong rumahnya. Kemudian, sambil membawa beberapa potong kayu bakar dia naik kembali ke atas rumah dan langsung menuju dapur.
Pada saat lelaki itu tiba di dapur, dia terkejut sekali karena ikan besar itu sudah tidak ada lagi. Tetapi di tempat ikan itu tadi diletakkan tampak terhampar beberapa keping uang emas. Karena terkejut dan heran mengalami keadaan yang aneh itu, dia meninggalkan dapur dan masuk kekamar.
Ketika lelaki itu membuka pintu kamar, tiba-tiba darahnya tersirap karena didalam kamar itu berdiri seorang perempuan dengan rambut yang panjang terurai. Perempuan itu sedang menyisir rambutnya sambil berdiri menghadap cermin yang tergantung pada dinding kamar. Sesaat kemudian perempuan itu tiba-tiba membalikkan badannya dan memandang lelaki itu yang tegak kebingungan di mulut pintu kamar. Lelaki itu menjadi sangat terpesona karena wajah perempuan yang berdiri dihadapannya luar biasa cantiknya. Dia belum pernah melihat wanita secantik itu meskipun dahulu dia sudah jauh mengembara ke berbagai negeri.
Karena hari sudah malam, perempuan itu minta agar lampu dinyalakan. Setelah lelaki itu menyalakan lampu, dia diajak perempuan itu menemaninya kedapur karena dia hendak memasak nasi untuk mereka. Sambil menunggu nasi masak, diceritakan oleh perempuan itu bahwa dia adalah penjelmaan dari ikan besar yang tadi didapat lelaki itu ketika memancing di sungai. Kemudian dijelaskannya pula bahwa beberapa keping uang emas yang terletak di dapur itu adalah penjelmaan sisiknya. Setelah beberapa minggu perempuan itu menyatakan bersedia menerima lamarannya dengan syarat lelaki itu harus bersumpah bahwa seumur hidupnya dia tidak akan pernah mengungkit asal usul istrinya myang menjelma dari ikan. Setelah lelaki itu bersumpah demikian, kawinlah mereka.
Setahun kemudian, mereka dikaruniai seorang anak laki-laki yang mereka beri nama Samosir. Anak itu sngat dimanjakan ibunya yang mengakibatkan anak itu bertabiat kurang baik dan pemalas.
Setelah cukup besar, anak itu disuruh ibunya mengantar nasi setiap hari untuk ayahnya yang bekerja di ladang. Namun, sering dia menolak mengerjakan tugas itu sehingga terpaksa ibunya yang mengantarkan nasi ke ladang.
Suatu hari, anak itu disuruh ibunya lagi mengantarkan nasi ke ladang untuk ayahnya. Mulanya dia menolak. Akan tetapi, karena terus dipaksa ibunya, dengan kesl pergilah ia mengantarkan nasi itu. Di tengah jalan, sebagian besar nasi dan lauk pauknya dia makan. Setibanya diladang, sisa nasi itu yang hanya tinggal sedikit dia berikan kepada ayahnya. Saat menerimanya, si ayah sudah merasa sangat lapar karena nasinya terlambat sekali diantarkan. Oleh karena itu, maka si ayah jadi sangat marah ketika melihat nasi yang diberikan kepadanya adalah sisa-sisa. Amarahnya makin bertambah ketika anaknya mengaku bahwa dia yang memakan sebagian besar dari nasinya itu. Kesabaran si ayah jadi hilang dan dia pukul anaknya sambil mengatakan: “Anak kurang ajar. Tidak tahu diuntung. Betul-betul kau anak keturunan perempuan yang berasal dari ikan!”
Sambil menangis, anak itu berlari pulang menemui ibunya di rumah. Kepada ibunya dia mengadukan bahwa dia dipukuli ayahnya. Semua kata-kata cercaan yang diucapkan ayahnya kepadanya di ceritakan pula. Mendengar cerita anaknya itu, si ibu sedih sekali, terutama karena suaminya sudah melanggar sumpahnya dengan kata-kata cercaan yang dia ucapkan kepada anaknya itu. Si ibu menyuruh anaknya agar segera pergi mendaki bukit yang terletak tidak begitu jauh dari rumah mereka dan memanjat pohon kayu tertinggi yang terdapat di puncak bukit itu. Tanpa bertanya lagi, si anak segera melakukan perintah ibunya itu. Dia berlari-lari menuju ke bukit tersebut dan mendakinya.
Ketika tampak oleh sang ibu anaknya sudah hampir sampai ke puncak pohon kayu yang dipanjatnya di atas bukit , dia pun berlari menuju sungai yang tidak begitu jauh letaknya dari rumah mereka itu. Ketika dia tiba di tepi sungai itu kilat menyambar disertai bunyi guruh yang megelegar. Sesaat kemudian dia melompat ke dalam sungai dan tiba-tiba berubah menjadi seekor ikan besar. Pada saat yang sama, sungai itu pun banjir besar dan turun pula hujan yang sangat lebat. Beberapa waktu kemudian, air sungai itu sudah meluap kemana-mana dan tergenanglah lembah tempat sungai itu mengalir. Pak Toba tak bisa menyelamatkan dirinya, ia mati tenggelam oleh genangan air. Lama-kelamaan, genangan air itu semakin luas dan berubah menjadi danau yang sangat besar yang di kemudian hari dinamakan orang Danau Toba. Sedang Pulau kecil di tengah-tengahnya diberi nama Pulau Samosir.
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