What You Need to Know About Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Texas
Due to the importation of large amounts of asbestos into the state of Texas throughout the 20th century, thousands of people were exposed to it. Because of this, a lot of people contracted mesothelioma, and Texas continues to see about 3000 mesothelioma diagnoses each year. If you have ever been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma, you will be glad to know there are laws that protect you and you have avenues through which you can get compensation. Below, we will look at some of these laws and what you can do if you have been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma.
Texas Asbestos Laws
Texas has tight regulations on how asbestos can be handled. The laws and regulations cover such issues as how buildings can be demolished and how asbestos can be disposed of.
The Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act is a piece of legislation that regulates the remodeling or demolition of any buildings that contain asbestos. The Act requires that any building owners or construction companies that want to demolish such buildings have them inspected. People who violate this law can be fined $10,000 per day.
The Texas Department of Health must be contacted if any buildings are found to contain asbestos. The department of health works within the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act and through certified and approved contractors to ensure that such buildings are demolished safely.
Legal Recourse
If you have been exposed to asbestos, the first thing to do is to get a professional diagnosis for mesothelioma. Once you have done this, it is time to get in touch with attorneys in El Paso TX or in the jurisdiction you live in. They will start negotiations with the other party to find out how much you will be compensated. If this fails, they will bring the case to a judge and the court will decide if you have a legitimate case or not.
These cases usually end up in a settlement and go very well for the plaintiff when they have a legitimate diagnosis.
Possible Outcomes
This area of the law can be complicated to navigate because if the case goes to a judge, your lawyers have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were exposed by the party you are suing. Because of this, you will need lawyers who:
- Have years of experience dealing with mesothelioma cases and lawsuits
- Know the full history of asbestos exposure in Texas
- Have a comprehensive understanding of mesothelioma laws in Texas
Once you find the right lawyers, you can either file a wrongful death suit or a personal injury claim. For the best outcome, ensure that you have as many details about the claim as possible on hand so your lawyers have an easier time arguing your case.
Protecting Your Company
If you know that you have a building at a site that is verified to have asbestos, ensure that you take the necessary measures to ensure you are not sued. These include providing protective gear for anyone entering the site as well as placing appropriate warning signs at the site.
Mesothelioma is a serious condition and the good news is that if you have it, there are some legal steps you can take to get a settlement.
7 Ways to Minimize Expenses in a Law Firm
Like other businesses, law firms must implement cost-cutting measures. While radical changes should be implemented to reduce expenses, this does not mean that the quality of legal service should be compromised. Read on and let’s talk about some of the best ways for law first to cut down expenses.
1. Go Paperless
Being digital is one of the easiest ways for law firms to minimize their expenses. Paper, toner, and other things you need for printing will cost money, especially considering the thousands of pages of documents law firms have to deal with. Use law firm billing software to distribute invoices online. Going paperless also entails the need to digitize documents, which will make them accessible anytime and anywhere.
2. Embrace Technology
Law firms must invest in new technologies to improve their operations while also reducing costs. A good example of this would be law practice management software. This can help address inefficiencies in the law firm while also improving productivity and profitability. Documents can be accessed anytime and anywhere, allowing lawyers to work even outside of the office.
3. Outsource Services
Through legal process outsourcing, law firms can save not only money but also time. This refers to the process of working with outside providers to complete mundane but time-consuming tasks. This also means that the law firm does not have to employ a full-time in-house team to complete those tasks.
4. Consider Coworking Spaces
This can be a good idea for small and new law firms. Office spaces are expensive nowadays, especially in strategic locations. Coworking spaces can help create a true sense of community while also sparing the firm from the high cost of office rental. It can also improve the productivity of workers.
5. Use Renewable Energy
Law firms can benefit from tapping alternative energy sources to save money while also saving the environment. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in solar panels. Depending on where your law firm operates, doing so can even make you eligible for government benefits, such as tax rebates.
6. Reduce Compensation
The law firm management must rethink the compensation of its people. From lawyers to paralegals, among others, evaluate the salary packages and align it with the budget of the law firm.
7. Rethink Meetings
Meetings are endless in law firms. Most of the time, it is also expensive. There are even instances when there is a need to fly to conduct meetings. To save money, consider new ways of doing meetings, such as through teleconferencing. Aside from saving money, this is also one of the best ways for law firms to cut their carbon emissions.
To improve profitability in a law firm, one of the most important is to minimize expenses. Embracing technology, outsourcing non-essential services, renting a coworking space, and conducting meetings online are some of the best ways to bring the costs down and profits up.