| Who may qualify for compensation in a case involving asbestos or a similar claim? |
Response: The job backgrounds which most often have people who qualify for such compensation are: welders, insulators, painters, helpers, operators, utility men, electricians, millwrights, steelworkers, carpenters, machinists, sand blasters, pipe fitters, boilermakers, laborers, and roofers. There are, however, many other occupations that might also have been affected.
| When would I have had to have worked around the asbestos exposure to qualify? |
Response: You would have had to work around asbestos in a refinery, chemical plant or steel mill in Texas for a period of at least 5 years beginning in 1971 or before. If you were a sandblaster at least 5 years beginning in 1985 or before, you may also qualify.
| What are some of the asbestos-related problems which might qualify me for compensation? |
Response: The most common problems are cancers such as lung cancer, colon cancer and mesothelioma, but other asbestos-related health problems also may qualify you for compensation.
| I see numerous advertisements for asbestos screening tests, what are those all about? |
Response: There are several law firms which handle asbestos related cases and some of them will solicit screening applicants by various means including newspaper ads, TV spot ads, radio ads and the like. These law firms use free screening exams to determine if someone has any of the asbestos-related problems that might qualify them for compensation. Attorneys other than those advertising firms may also provide for such free screening exams, so you should inquire with an attorney of your choice before you decide on someone to handle your asbestos case to determine if they provide such free services.
| If I do have one of these free screenings which are sponsored by a law firm, do I have to sign a contract for them to represent me in any compensation recovery efforts which I may chose to pursue for my asbestos-related problems? |
Response: No, you do not. You are free to go to any attorney that you choose to represent you in such matters.