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.
Dahulu kala, dikota Persia, hidup 2 orang bersaudara yang bernama Kasim dan Alibaba. Alibaba adalah adik Kasim yang hidupnya miskin dan tinggal didaerah pegunungan. Ia mengandalkan hidupnya dari penjualan kayu bakar yang dikumpulkannya. Berbeda dengan abangnya, Kasim, seorang yang kaya raya tetapi serakah dan tidak pernah mau memikirkan kehidupan adiknya.
Suatu hari, ketika Alibaba pulang dari mengumpulkan kayu bakar, ia melihat segerombol penyamun yang berkuda. Alibaba segera bersembunyi karena takut jika ia terlihat, ia akan dibunuh. Dari tempat persembunyiannya, Alibaba memperhatikan para penyamun yang sedang sibuk menurunkan harta rampokannya dari kuda mereka. Kepala penyamun tiba-tiba berteriak, "Alakazam ! Buka…..". Pintu gua yang ada di depan mereka terbuka perlahan-lahan. Setelah itu mereka segera memasukkan seluruh harta rampokan mereka. "Alakazam ! tutup… " teriak kepala penyamun, pintu gua pun tertutup.
Suatu hari, ketika Alibaba pulang dari mengumpulkan kayu bakar, ia melihat segerombol penyamun yang berkuda. Alibaba segera bersembunyi karena takut jika ia terlihat, ia akan dibunuh. Dari tempat persembunyiannya, Alibaba memperhatikan para penyamun yang sedang sibuk menurunkan harta rampokannya dari kuda mereka. Kepala penyamun tiba-tiba berteriak, "Alakazam ! Buka…..". Pintu gua yang ada di depan mereka terbuka perlahan-lahan. Setelah itu mereka segera memasukkan seluruh harta rampokan mereka. "Alakazam ! tutup… " teriak kepala penyamun, pintu gua pun tertutup.
Setelah para penyamun pergi, Alibaba memberanikan diri keluar dari tempat sembunyinya. Ia mendekati pintu gua tersebut dan meniru teriakan kepala penyamun tadi. "Alakazam! Buka….." pintu gua yang terbuat dari batu itu terbuka. "Wah… Hebat!" teriak Alibaba sambil terpana sebentar karena melihat harta yang bertumpuk-tumpuk seperti gunung. "Gunungan harta ini akan Aku ambil sedikit, semoga aku tak miskin lagi, dan aku akan membantu tetanggaku yang kesusahan". Setelah mengarungkan harta dan emas tersebut, Alibaba segera pulang setelah sebelumnya menutup pintu gua. Istri Alibaba sangat terkejut melihat barang yang dibawa Alibaba. Alibaba kemudian bercerita pada istrinya apa yang baru saja dialaminya. "Uang ini sangat banyak… bagaimana jika kita bagikan kepada orang-orang yang kesusahan.." ujar istri Alibaba. Karena terlalu banyak, uang emas tersebut tidak dapat dihitung Alibaba dan istrinya. Akhirnya mereka sepakat untuk meminjam kendi sebagai timbangan uang emas kepada saudaranya, Kasim. Istri Alibaba segera pergi meminjam kendi kepada istri Kasim. Istri Kasim, seorang yang pencuriga, sehingga ketika ia memberikan kendinya, ia mengoleskan minyak yang sangat lengket di dasar kendi.
Keesokannnya, setelah kendi dikembalikan, ternyata di dasar kendi ada sesuatu yang berkilau. Istri Kasim segera memanggil suaminya dan memberitahu suaminya bahwa di dasar kendi ada uang emas yang melekat. Kasim segera pergi ke rumah Alibaba untuk menanyakan hal tersebut. Setelah semuanya diceritakan Alibaba, Kasim segera kembali kerumahnya untuk mempersiapkan kuda-kudanya. Ia pergi ke gua harta dengan membawa 20 ekor keledai. Setibanya di depan gua, ia berteriak "Alakazam ! Buka…", pintu batu gua bergerak terbuka. Kasim segera masuk dan langsung mengarungkan emas dan harta yang ada didalam gua sebanyak-banyaknya. Ketika ia hendak keluar, Kasim lupa mantra untuk membuka pintu, ia berteriak apa saja dan mulai ketakutan. Tiba-tiba pintu gua bergerak, Kasim merasa lega. Tapi ketika ia mau keluar, para penyamun sudah berada di luar, mereka sama-sama terkejut. "Hei maling! Tangkap dia, bunuh!" teriak kepala penyamun. "Tolong… saya jangan dibunuh", mohon Kasim. Para penyamun yang kejam tidak memberi ampun kepada Kasim. Ia segera dibunuh.
Istri Kasim yang menunggu dirumah mulai kuatir karena sudah seharian Kasim tidak kunjung pulang. Akhirnya ia meminta bantuan Alibaba untuk menyusul saudaranya tersebut. Alibaba segera pergi ke gua harta. Disana ia sangat terkejut karena mendapati tubuh kakaknya sudah terpotong. Setibanya dirumah, istri Kasim menangis sejadi-jadinya. Untuk membantu kakak iparnya itu Alibaba memberikan sekantung uang emas kepadanya. Istri Kasim segera berhenti menangis dan tersenyum, ia sudah lupa akan nasib suaminya yang malang. Alibaba membawa tubuh Kasim ke tukang sepatu untuk menjahitnya kembali seperti semula. Setelah selesai, Alibaba memberikan upah beberapa uang emas.
Dilain tempat, di gua harta, para penyamun terkejut, karena mayat Kasim sudah tidak ada lagi. "Tak salah lagi, pasti ada orang lain yang tahu tentang rahasia gua ini, ayo kita cari dan bunuh dia!" kata sang kepala penyamun. Merekapun mulai berkeliling pelosok kota. Ketika bertemu dengan seorang tukang sepatu, mereka bertanya,"Apakah akhir-akhir ini ada orang yang kaya mendadak ?". "Akulah orang itu, karena setelah menjahit mayat yang terpotong, aku menjadi orang kaya". "Apa! Mayat! Siapa yang memintamu melakukan itu?" Tanya mereka. "Tolong antarkan kami padanya!". Setelah menerima uang dari penyamun, tukang sepatu mengantar mereka ke rumah Alibaba. Si penyamun segera memberi tanda silang dipintu rumah Alibaba. "Aku akan melaporkan pada ketua, dan nanti malam kami akan datang untuk membunuhnya," kata si penyamun. Tetangga Alibaba, Morijana yang baru pulang berbelanja melihat dan mendengar percakapan para penyamun.
Dilain tempat, di gua harta, para penyamun terkejut, karena mayat Kasim sudah tidak ada lagi. "Tak salah lagi, pasti ada orang lain yang tahu tentang rahasia gua ini, ayo kita cari dan bunuh dia!" kata sang kepala penyamun. Merekapun mulai berkeliling pelosok kota. Ketika bertemu dengan seorang tukang sepatu, mereka bertanya,"Apakah akhir-akhir ini ada orang yang kaya mendadak ?". "Akulah orang itu, karena setelah menjahit mayat yang terpotong, aku menjadi orang kaya". "Apa! Mayat! Siapa yang memintamu melakukan itu?" Tanya mereka. "Tolong antarkan kami padanya!". Setelah menerima uang dari penyamun, tukang sepatu mengantar mereka ke rumah Alibaba. Si penyamun segera memberi tanda silang dipintu rumah Alibaba. "Aku akan melaporkan pada ketua, dan nanti malam kami akan datang untuk membunuhnya," kata si penyamun. Tetangga Alibaba, Morijana yang baru pulang berbelanja melihat dan mendengar percakapan para penyamun.
Malam harinya, Alibaba didatangi seorang penyamun yang menyamar menjadi seorang pedagang minyak yang kemalaman dan memohon untuk menginap sehari dirumahnya. Alibaba yang baik hati mempersilakan tamunya masuk dan memperlakukannya dengan baik. Ia tidak mengenali wajah si kepala penyamun. Morijana, tetangga Alibaba yang sedang berada diluar rumah, melihat dan mengenali wajah penyamun tersebut. Ia berpikir keras bagaimana cara untuk memberitahu Alibaba. Akhirnya ia mempunyai ide, dengan menyamar sebagai seorang penari. Ia pergi kerumah Alibaba untuk menari. Ketika Alibaba, istri dan tamunya sedang menonton tarian, Morijana dengan cepat melemparkan pedang kecil yang sengaja diselipkannya dibajunya ke dada tamu Alibaba.
Alibaba dan istrinya sangat terkejut, sebelum Alibaba bertanya, Morijana membuka samarannya dan segera menceritakan semua yang telah dilihat dan didengarnya. "Morijana, engkau telah menyelamatkan nyawa kami, terima kasih". Setelah semuanya berlalu, Alibaba membagikan uang peninggalan para penyamun kepada orang-orang miskin dan yang sangat memerlukannya.
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