How Are Mesothelioma Damages Calculated?

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the quantifiable financial losses resulting from your mesothelioma diagnosis. These include all medical expenses — past, present, and projected future costs — as well as lost wages and lost earning capacity. If you were forced to stop working due to your illness, the income you would have earned over the remainder of your career is calculated and included in your claim.

Other economic damages may include household services you can no longer perform, modifications to your home to accommodate medical needs, and out-of-pocket expenses such as travel for treatment. Forensic economists and medical experts provide detailed analyses to support these calculations and ensure no financial loss is overlooked.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages compensate for losses that do not have a specific dollar amount but are no less real. Pain and suffering accounts for the physical discomfort and emotional anguish caused by mesothelioma and its treatment. Loss of enjoyment of life reflects the activities, hobbies, and daily pleasures that the disease has taken away.

Emotional distress, loss of consortium (the impact on your relationship with your spouse), and the general diminishment of quality of life are all recognized categories of non-economic damages. While these losses are harder to quantify than medical bills, experienced mesothelioma attorneys and their expert witnesses present compelling evidence to help juries and negotiators understand their true value.

Factors That Influence Damages

The total value of a mesothelioma case depends on many factors. Your age at diagnosis affects lost earning capacity calculations. The stage and type of mesothelioma influence both medical costs and prognosis. Your work history and income level determine lost wages. The strength of evidence linking specific defendants to your exposure affects how much each defendant will pay. The jurisdiction where the case is filed and the track record of local juries also play significant roles.

The defendant's conduct matters as well. Companies that deliberately concealed asbestos dangers or destroyed evidence face the possibility of punitive damages, which can substantially increase the total award.

How Your Attorney Builds the Damages Case

Your mesothelioma attorney assembles a team of experts to document and present your damages. Medical experts project future treatment costs and explain the severity of your condition. Economists calculate lost income and the present value of future losses. Life care planners detail the ongoing support and services you will need. Together, these experts create a comprehensive damages presentation that supports the maximum compensation your case warrants.

This thorough approach to damages calculation is what distinguishes experienced mesothelioma law firms and is a primary reason why specialized representation matters.