Whether or not you should hire a lawyer is likely the last thing on your mind when you’re given the unfortunate news that you have a cancer diagnosis. Instead, you’re more likely to be thinking about your treatment journey ahead and your probable prognosis. However, it pays to give at least some thought to legal professionals. There are many situations in which it’s worth hiring a lawyer, including the following:
Determine if Negligence or Exposure Caused Your Cancer
We don’t always know why people are diagnosed with illnesses like cancer. In many cases, there can be a range of risk factors. However, some forms of cancer tend to have only a few causes. For example, lung cancer is often linked to smoking tobacco, radon gas, asbestos, and occupational exposures.
As a result, if you were diagnosed with lung cancer and believe your workplace is responsible, it can be essential to hire a lung cancer lawyer. An experienced lung cancer lawyer can determine whether there’s a link between your cancer and workplace exposure to asbestos, chemicals, radiation, dangerous products, or other lung cancer-causing materials. They can also evaluate whether you have a legal claim and handle all investigations so you can focus on your treatment.
Protect Your Financial Stability
In most cases, cancer treatments in the United States cost tens of thousands of dollars. The bills can pile up quickly, and even more so when you’re unable to work while receiving treatment.
When you start to feel overwhelmed and aren’t sure what to do, don’t underestimate the value of hiring a lawyer. They can take the lead when your insurance claim for treatment has been denied, delayed, or underpaid. Lawyers can also assist if you’re facing aggressive collection tactics or need help navigating disability benefits.
Help You Address Employment Issues
It’s only natural to assume that your employer will support you when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer and need to take time off work. There are certainly supportive employers out there, but not all are. Unfortunately, you may need to hire a lawyer when you’re experiencing employment issues, despite there being laws designed to protect you.
Legal professionals can assist if you were fired, demoted, or pressured to quit due to your current situation. They can also represent you if your employer refused reasonable accommodations, denied medical leave, or retaliated against you for using it. If you’re unsure of your rights around workplace protections, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and your disability, you can rely on an experienced lawyer in that field to provide advice and information.
Secure Compensation and Support
If you believe that your cancer is linked to negligence or exposure, hiring a lawyer can be a crucial step toward securing the compensation and support you need and are entitled to. When a link is discovered, your lawyer can fight for your right to compensation in the form of:
- Past and future medical treatment
- Reduced earning capacity
- Lost income
- Caregiving and support services
You may also be able to receive compensation for your pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life. Most experienced lawyers use all available resources and their years of knowledge to secure the highest possible compensation.
Reduce Your Stress
Navigating the legal system while fighting cancer can be overwhelming. It’s only natural to feel like it’s a losing battle with all the physical, emotional, and logical challenges. Rest assured that lawyers are well-equipped to handle all parts of your legal battle on your behalf, leaving you to focus on your recovery.
They handle paperwork, including ensuring it’s completed by the deadline, and complete negotiations on your behalf. You can also rely on your lawyer to communicate with employers, insurers, and defendants.
Many of the best lawyers offer no-obligation free consultations, so you can choose a trusted professional to be by your side every step of the way. Additionally, if your case involves negligence or workplace exposure, many reputable lawyers operate on a no-win, no-fee basis. This means that they won’t charge a fee unless your case reaches a successful conclusion.
Plan for Your Future
Whether your health outlook is positive or not, lawyers are here to guide the way when you decide that now is the right time to plan for your future. Sometimes, a health scare is all it takes to realize you don’t have all your affairs in order.
You can consult a lawyer to update your will, choose a power of attorney, and set healthcare directives. If you have assets, property, or wealth, a lawyer can help you draft instructions to ensure decisions align with your wishes. You can also protect family members financially.
Signs Your Cancer Is Related to Workplace Exposure or Negligence
It’s not always easy to know whether your recent cancer diagnosis is related to workplace exposure or negligence. However, the following signs are strong reasons to speak to a lawyer:
• You worked around known carcinogens, such as asbestos, benzene, pesticides and herbicides, diesel exhaust, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and radiation.
• Multiple coworkers developed similar or identical cancers, indicating shared exposure rather than coincidence.
• Your type of cancer is regularly linked to occupational exposure, such as mesothelioma with asbestos, lung cancer with asbestos, silica, and diesel fumes, and leukemia with benzene exposure.
• Your symptoms appeared several years after exposure, as many occupational cancers have long latency periods of 10 to 50 years.
• You were diagnosed younger than average, which can suggest high-intensity exposure, long-term unprotected contact, and genetic damage from toxins.
• Your doctor has asked about your work history because they suspect non-random factors, and your cancer suggests an occupational or environmental cause.
• You don’t have a strong family history of cancer or lifestyle risk factors.
Most people won’t need to hire a lawyer after being diagnosed with cancer, but it can be worthwhile in many situations. If you have received a cancer diagnosis and have encountered legal issues because of it, don’t hesitate to request the services of a trusted lawyer to guide the way. While they take the lead in negotiating and communicating on your behalf, you can focus on your recovery.
