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.
“Ah, andai aku juga bisa memancing ikan sendiri,”pikir Reno. Tanpa sepengetahuan orangtuanya, Reno segera mengambil peralatan pancing ayahnya. “Kalau ayah bisa mendapat ikan besar, mengapa aku tidak?” kata Reno pada dirinya sendiri. Lalu ia pergi menuju telaga di hutan, walaupun belum tahu tempatnya. Di tengah perjalanan, Reno bertemu dengan Paman Kambing yang sedang asyik memetik mangga di pinggir jalan. “Hallo Reno, sore-sore mau pergi ke mana?” sapa Paman Kambing ramah. Tapi Reno hanya menundukkan kepala dan tidak menjawab sapaan Paman Kambing. “Huh, tidak sopan!” gerutu Paman Kambing kesal. “Disapa baik-baik, kok diam saja. Tersenyum pun tidak! Benar-benar keterlaluan!”
Hari semakin gelap. Tapi Reno terus berjalan. Yang dipikirkannya hanya ikan dan ikan. “Wow, pasti asyik kalau dapat mancing ikan yang lebih besar dari milik ayah,” pikir Reno. Sementara itu, kedua orangtua Reno belum mengetahui bahwa anaknya telah pergi meninggalkan rumah. “Reno di mana, Bu?” tanya pak Reo. Istrinya yang sedang memasak ikan terkejut. “Lho, bukankah tadi bersama Ayah?” Bu Reo balik bertanya. “Tidak,” jawab Pak Reno sambil menggelengkan kepala. “Aduh, di mana si Reno? Hari sudah malam, tidak seharusnya ia bermain di luar rumah.” Singa betina itu bingung memikirkan anak kesayangannya. “Sudahlah, Bu,” kata Pak Reo menenangkan. “Lebih baik kita segera mencarinya. Lagipula, Reno sudah besar. Nanti pasti pulang sendiri.”
Bagaimana nasib Reno? Kasihan anak singa itu tersesat di tengah hutan. Dia tidak tahu jalan ke arah telaga. “Letak telaga di mana sih?” pikir Reno bingung. “Aduh, sudah malam dan gelap lagi. Aku di mana sekarang?” Ternyata binatang malang itu kini berada di bagian hutan yang belum pernah dijelajahinya. Reno takut sekali. Dia mulai menyesali perbuatannya. “Ah, kalau saja aku tadi bertanya ke Paman Kambing, mungkin aku tak akan tersesat.”
Malam semakin larut. Yang terdengar hanya bunyi jangkrik yang bernyanyi di kesunyian malam. Reno semakin takut dan bingung. Kakinya terasa pegal. Dan perutnya keroncongan karena lapar. “Klepak! Klepak! Klepak!” tiba-tiba terdengar suara kepakan sayap. Reno terkejut sekali. Dia mendongakkan kepalanya. Oh, ternyata ada seekor burung yang hinggap di atas pohon, tak jauh dari tempatnya berdiri. “Apakah kau bernama Reno, anak Pak Reo?” Tanya burung itu. “Sepertinya kita pernah bertemu kan?” Reno merasa lega, karena tak lagi sendirian di hutan. Singa kecil itu lalu menerangkan apa yang dialaminya. “Hmm, sebaiknya kau bermalam saja di hutan,” saran si burung. “Tapi jangan khawatir. Aku akan menemanimu tidur malam ini. Dan besok, kau pasti kuantar pulang.” Akhirnya anak singa itu tertidur di bawah pohon dengan beralas dedaunan.
Di rumah, Pak Reo dan istrinya masih bingung dimana harus mencari anak kesayangannya. Mereka telah mencari ke mana-mana tapi belum juga ketemu. “Bagaimana ini, Yah? Reno belum kembali,” kata Bu Reo dengan sedih. “Reno, pulanglah Nak. Ibu sayang padamu.” Pak Reo berusaha menenangkan istrinya.”Sudahlah, Bu. Kita tak mungkin mencari Reno saat gelap begini. Semoga besok Reno bisa pulang dengan selamat.”
Pak Reo menutup pintu dan jendela rumah, lalu keduanya berdoa bersama dan menunggu datangnya pagi dengan berbaring di depan perapian. Dalam tidurnya di tengah hutan, Reno bermimpi bertemu dengan seorang kakek. Orang tua itu terlihat pintar dan bijaksana. “Reno cucuku,” suara kakek itu terdengar lembut. “Tahukah apa yang kau lakukan? Kau begitu egois, hanya memikirkan dirimu sendiri. Pertama, kau pergi meninggalkan rumah tanpa pamit. Kedua, kau tidak sopan karena tidak peduli pada binatang lain yang menyapamu. Dan ketiga, kau malu bertanya hingga tersesat di tengah hutan. Itu tidak baik, cucuku, kau harus mengubah sifat-sifatmu yang buruk itu.”
“Kukuruyuk! Kukuruyuk!” sayup-sayup terdengar suara ayam jantan berkokok. “Cicit cuwit…! Cicit cuwit…!” suara kicau burung saling bersahutan, menyambut datangnya pagi hari. Reno terbangun mendengar kicauan merdu itu. “Ah, nyenyak sekali tidurku,” kata Reno sambil meregangkan kaki dan badannya. “Tapi semalam aku mimpi bertemu dengan seorang kakek.” Singa kecil itu kembali berbaring sambil memikirkan mimpinya. “Hmm, apa yang dikatakan kakek itu memang benar,” kata Reno pada dirinya sendiri.
“Betapa buruknya kelakuanku. Aku egois, hanya memikirkan diri sendiri. Aku begitu ingin mendapatkan ikan besar, sampai melupakan segalanya. Aku harus mengubah sikapku yang jelek ini.”
“Selamat pagi, Reno,” sapa burung yang tidur di atas pohon. “Oh, selamat pagi, Burung,” sahut Reno terkejut. Reno segera bangkit berdiri. “Sudah siap untuk pulang? Ayo, kuantar kau pulang.” Burung yang baik hati itu terbang mengepakkan sayapnya. Reno berlari-lari mengikuti di bawahnya. Betapa senang hatinya! Beberapa ekor burung turut terbang mengikuti mereka. Binatang-binatang hutan yang melihat rombongan itu tertarik. Mereka lalu berlari mengikuti Reno dan teman-temannya.
“Itu rumahmu, Reno!” teriak si burung sambil menunjuk dengan sayapnya. Singa kecil itu berlari mendahului teman-temannya. Ternyata orangtua Reno sudah menunggu di depan rumah. “Oh, Reno anakku saying,” kata Bu Reo gembira sambil memeluk anaknya. “Maafkan Reno, Bu,” jawab Reno dengan nada menyesal. “Reno telah menyusahkan Ayah dan Ibu.” “Benar kan Bu omonganku. Anak kita pasti kembali!” kata Pak Reo gembira. “Hei kalian teman main Reno, ya? Ayo masuk dulu, kalian pasti lapar.” kata bu Reo. Sebagai tanda terimakasih, Bu Reo menjamu binatang-binatang itu dengan memasak makanan yang lezat.
Pesan moral : Janganlah bersikap egois dan tidak mempedulikan lingkungkan sekitar, karena akan merugikan diri kita sendiri.
Sumber : Serial Fabel Indonesia,Elexmedia
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