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.
Sang bangau punya kaki dan leher yang panjang. Sayapnya kuat dan lebar sehingga ia mampu terbang tinggi dan jauh. Makanan kesukaannya adalah kodok. Selain itu ia suka belalang, ulat pohon, dan bekicot. Sang bangau bersahabat dengan sang kera. Sang bangau sering membantu mencari kutu sang kera. Jika bepergian jauh, sang bangau biasanya menerbangkan sang kera. Akan tetapi, sang kera yang licik dan khianat selalu ingin enaknya saja.
Pernah sang kera minta tolong sang bangau untuk menangkap ikan di sebuah kolam. Sementara sang bangau bekerja, sang kera makan sampai kenyang. Setelah selesai, sang bangau hanya mendapat bagian sedikit, karena sebagian telah disembunyikan terlebih dulu oleh sang kera. Atas perlakuan yang demikian, sang bangau sudah tentu sakit hati. Namun tidak sampai memutuskan hubungan. Mereka tampak rukun-rukun saja. Sampai pada suatu hari sang kera ingin menipu sang bangau lagi.Sang kera ingin pergi ke Pulau Medang yang terkenal buah sawonya. Tetapi bagaimana caranya untuk bisa ke sana karena kera yakin tidak ada satu pun dari temannya yang mau meminjamkan perahu kepadanya. Satu-satunya harapan adalah sang bangau. Ia mencari akal bagaimana agar sang bangau mau menerbangkannya ke Pulau Medang.Pada saat kelaparan melanda warga bangau, diajaklah sang bangau pergi ke Pulau Medang. Sang kera bercerita bahwa di Pulau Medang pasti terdapat kodok yang banyak, karena pulau itu tidak berpenghuni. Tanpa curiga sedikit pun, sang bangau tidak menolak tawaran sang kera. Maka, ditentukanlah hari keberangkatan mereka. Keduanya berangkat dengan penuh harapan memperoleh kehidupan yang layak di pulau seberang. “Bangau sahabatku,” kata sang kera. “Sesampai di Medang nanti saya akan membuat perahu dari tanah liat”. “Apakah kera sekarang sudah begitu pandai sehingga bisa membikin perahu?” tanya sang bangau dengan nada tak percaya.
“Sudah lama saya pergi ke negeri orang-orang pandai belajar membuat perahu. Sekarang saya baru bisa membuat perahu dari tanah liat”, jawab sang kera. “Yang Penting, sang bangau harus membantu saya mengumpulkan tanah liatnya,” lanjut sang kera.Sesuai dengan kesepakatan, pada suatu hari sang bangau berangkat menerbangkan sang kera menuju Medang pulau harapan. Setelah beberapa saat terbang, tampaklah dari kejauhan Pulau Medang yang menghijau. Di atas punggung sang bangau, sang kera telah membayangkan buah-buah sawo yang harum baunya dan manis rasanya. Sang kera menyuruh sang bangau terbang lebih cepat. Namun, apa daya. Sang bangau kecapaian, tidak mampu terbang lebih cepat lagi. Apalagi sang kera terus-menerus mengajak bercakap-cakap sambil duduk enak di atas punggung sang bangau. Dengan sisa tenaga yang ada, akhirnya mereka sampai ke Pulau Medang. Dengan napas terengah-engah sang bangau mendarat dengan selamat. Mereka beristirahat sebentar menikmati pemandangan indah di pulau yang sunyi itu.
Sementara sang bangau masih kelelahan setelah terbang dengan beban tubuh sang kera yang berat. Sang kera sudah berada di atas pohon sawo dengan wajah berseri. Ia melompat dari pohon sawo yang satu ke pohon sawo yang lain. Mulutnya mengunyah buah-buah sawo yang masak tanpa berhenti. Kodok yang diperkirakan melimpah ruah tidak ada seekor pun. Terpaksa sang bangau hanya berbaring melepaskan lelah. Sesekal, ia menangkap kepiting kecil yang lewat di dekatnya. Namun, karena sang bangau tidak biasa makan kepiting, perutnya terasa agak mual. Sementara itu, sang kera telah tertidur di atas pohon. Perutnya tampak membiru tanda kekenyangan.Setelah sang kera bangun, berkatalah sang bangau,
“Sang kera, Anda telah kenyang di sini. Makanan berlimpah. Kodok dan belalang yang Anda janjikan tidak ada di sini. Oleh karena itu, saya tidak mungkin tingggal di sini. Saya akan kembali ke kampung halamanku. Dengan buah sawo yang berlimpah di sini, anda bisa hidup tujuh turunan. Oleh karena itu, besok saya akan pulang. Saya akan menceriterakan kepada warga kera tentang hutan sawo mu.
“Jangan begitu,” kata sang kera. “Mana mungkin saya hidup sendirian di sini.”
“Tetapi saya tidak mungkin hidup di daerah tanpa kodok seperti ini,” jawab sang bangau agak jengkel. “Kalau begitu baiklah. Mari terbangkan saya pulang ke kampung bersamamu,” ujar sang kera. “Maaf sang kera, sayapku belum begitu pulih untuk bisa terbang dengan beban tubuhmu. Jangankan terbang dengan sang kera. Terbang sendiri pun belum tentu kuat.”
“Kalau begitu kita tunggu saja sampai Anda pulih kembali kekuatannya.” Sang bangau menjawab, “Mana mungkin aku harus menunggu. Apa yang harus saya makan? Apa saya harus mati kelaparan di sini sementara kamu punya buah sawo yang berlimpah? Saya kira kamu dapat pulang sendiri dengan perahu. Kamu dapat membuat perahu kan.”Sang kera tertunduk malu. la ingat akan kebohongannya. Sebenarnya ia hanya punya sedikit keahlian membuat perahu. Namun, karena malunya kepada sang bangau, ia berkata, “Kalau begitu bantulah saya mencari tanah liat. Nanti saya yang menempanya.”Singkat cerita, perahu itu sudah jadi. Mereka mendorong ke tengah lautan, dan berangkatlah mereka berdua. Sang kera naik perahu dengan perasaan takut sekali.Sesekali, perahu itu diterjang ombak. Wajah sang kera menjadi pucat. Sebaliknya, sang bangau selalu bernyanyi: “Curcur humat, curcur hurnat, bila hancur saya selamat, bila hancur saya selamat.”
Tentu saja sang bangau dapat terbang jika perahu itu hancur diterpa ombak. Kemungkinan untuk hancur memang ada, karena perahu itu hanya dibuat dari tanah liat oleh kera yang tidak ahli.Sementara itu, mereka telah berlayar jauh ke tengah lautan. Pulau Sumbawa sebagai kampung halamannya telah tampak dari kejauhan. Tiba-tiba badai bertiup dengan kencang. Hujan pun turun dengan lebat. Ombak lautan bergulung-gulung menerpa perahu mereka. Dalam waktu yang singkat, perahu itu pecah berantakan. Sang bangau segera terbang, sedangkan sang kera dengan susah payah mencoba berenang. Namun, tubuhnya yang kecil tidak mampu melawan derasnya arus dan besarnya gelombang lautan yang kian mengganas. Akhirnya, sang kera mati ditelan ombak lautan.Lautan tenang kembali.
Nun di atas langit tampak sang bangau terbang dengan tenang menuju kampung halamannya.
Nun di atas langit tampak sang bangau terbang dengan tenang menuju kampung halamannya.
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