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.
Istriku berkata kepada aku yang sedang baca koran, "Berapa lama lagi kamu baca koran itu? Tolong kamu ke sini dan bantu anak perempuanmu tersayang untuk makan." Aku taruh koran dan melihat anak perempuanku satu2nya, namanya Lala tampak ketakutan, air matanya banjir di depannya ada semangkuk nasi berisi nasi susu asam/yogurt (curd rice). Lala anak yang manis dan termasuk pintar dalam usianya yang baru 8 tahun. Dia sangat tidak suka makan curd rice ini. Ibuku dan istriku masih kuno, mereka percaya sekali kalau makan curd rice ada "cooling effect" (menurunkan panas dalam).
Aku mengambil mangkok dan berkata, "Lala sayang, demi Papa, maukah kamu makan beberapa sendok curd rice ini? Kalau tidak, nanti Mamamu akan teriak2 sama Papa."
Aku bisa merasakan istriku cemberut di belakang punggungku. Tangis Lala mereda dan ia menghapus air mata dengan tangannya, dan berkata "Papa, aku akan makan curd rice ini tidak hanya beberapa sendok tapi semuanya akan aku habiskan, tapi ada yang aku mau minta...." agak ragu2 sejenak "aku mau minta sesuatu sama Papa bila habis semua nasinya. Apakah Papa mau berjanji memenuhi permintaanku?"
Aku menjawab
Oh pasti, sayang.
Lala tanya sekali lagi,
Betul nih Papa ?
Iya, pasti," sambil menggenggam tangan anakku yang kemerah mudaan dan lembut sebagai tanda setuju.
Lala juga mendesak Mamanya untuk janji hal yang sama, istriku menepuk tangan Lala yang merengek sambil berkata tanpa emosi, "Janji," kata istriku.
Aku sedikit khawatir dan berkata, "Lala jangan minta komputer atau barang2 lain yang mahal ya, karena Papa saat ini tidak punya uang."
Lala menjawab, "Jangan khawatir, Lala tidak minta barang2 mahal kok."
Kemudian Lala dengan perlahan-lahan dan kelihatannya sangat menderita, dia bertekad menghabiskan semua nasi susu asam itu. Dalam hatiku aku marah sama istri dan ibuku yang memaksa Lala untuk makan sesuatu yang tidak disukainya.
Setelah Lala melewati penderitaannya, dia mendekatiku dengan mata penuh harap, dan semua perhatian (aku, istriku dan juga ibuku) tertuju kepadanya.
Ternyata Lala mau kepalanya digundulin (dibotakin) pada hari Minggu!!!
Istriku spontan berkata, "Permintaan gila, anak perempuan dibotakin, tidak mungkin!"
Juga Mamaku menggerutu, "Jangan terjadi dalam keluarga kita. Dia terlalu banyak nonton TV dan program2 TV itu sudah merusak kebudayaan kita."
Aku coba membujuk, "Lala kenapa kamu tidak minta hal yang lain kami semua akan sedih melihatmu botak."
Tapi Lala tetap dengan pilihannya, "Tidak ada Papa, tak ada keinginan lain." kata Lala.
Aku coba memohon kepada Lala, "Tolonglah kenapa kamu tidak mencoba untuk mengerti perasaan kami."
Lala dengan menangis berkata, "Papa sudah melihat bagaimana menderitanya aku menghabiskan nasi susu asam itu dan Papa sudah berjanji untuk memenuhi permintaanku. Kenapa Papa sekarang mau mengingkari sendiri? Bukankah Papa selalu mengajarkan, bahwa kita harus memenuhi janji kita terhadap seseorang apapun yang terjadi?"
Sekarang aku memutuskan untuk memenuhi permintaan anakku, "Ok. Janji kita harus ditepati."
Secara serentak istri dan ibuku berkata, "Apakah aku sudah gila?"
"Tidak," jawabku, 'Kalau kita menjilat ludah sendiri, dia tidak akan pernah belajar bagaimana menghargai dirinya sendiri."
"Lala, permintaanmu akan kami penuhi."
Dengan kepala botak, wajah Lala nampak bundar dan matanya besar dan bagus.
Hari Senin, aku mengantarnya ke sekolah, sekilas aku melihat Lala botak berjalan ke kelasnya dan melambaikan tangan kepadaku. Sambil tersenyum aku membalas lambaian tangannya.
Tiba-tiba seorang anak laki-laki keluar dari mobil sambil berteriak, "Lala, tunggu saya."
Yang mengejutkanku ternyata, kepala anak laki-laki itu botak juga.
Aku berpikir mungkin 'botak' adalah model jaman sekarang.........
Tanpa memperkenalkan dirinya seorang wanita keluar dari mobil dan berkata,
"Anak anda, Lala benar-benar hebat. Anak laki-laki yang jalan bersama-sama dia sekarang, Alex adalah anak saya. Dia menderita kanker leukemia."
Wanita itu berhenti sejenak, nangis tersedu-sedu, "Bulan lalu Alex tidak masuk sekolah, karena pengobatan kemo-terapi, kepalanya menjadi botak jadi dia tidak mau pergi ke sekolah takut diejek oleh teman-temannya."
"Nah, minggu lalu Lala datang ke rumah dan berjanji kepada anak saya untuk mengatasi ejekan yang mungkin terjadi. Hanya saya betul-betul tidak menyangka kalau Lala mau mengorbankan rambutnya yang indah untuk anakku Alex. Bapak dan istri bapak sungguh diberkati Tuhan mempunyai anak perempuan yang berhati mulia."
Aku berdiri terpaku dan aku menangis, malaikat kecilku, tolong ajarkanku tentang kasih.
SM: neetbook agatha
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