AFFF Settlements: What Can Victims Expect

If you are one of the many people seeking AFFF settlements, you can expect:

• To have the right to seek an AFFF lawsuit payout from anyone who contributed to the toxic contamination that caused your pain and suffering
• To have the option of getting financial assistance so you can hire the lawyer you want and continue to support your family during the case
• That whatever compensation you receive should cover your financial losses, as well as the effects on your physical and mental health
• That a lawyer from our network can assist you with your case

AFFF Lawsuit Loans

If you want to file a lawsuit but are not sure you can spare the money, a lawsuit loan can help. This money is designed to cover your everyday living expenses while your lawsuit is in progress, making up for any lost income and freeing up funds for you to pay for legal representation or medical care.

In addition, you would only have to pay back your AFFF lawsuit loan if you end up winning compensation. Otherwise, the loan money is yours to keep.

AFFF lawsuit loans are financed by Verum Funding, an organization that provides financial support to both law firms and their clients.

How Can an AFFF Lawsuit Loan Help?

Lawsuits can take years to work their way through the system. During that time, you could still be suffering the health effects of AFFF exposure, and you will still need to pay for things like:

• Groceries
• Rent or mortgage payments
• Car payments
• Utility bills
• Supporting dependents

In addition, AFFF-related illnesses can be severe or even fatal. Conditions that have been linked to AFFF exposure include:

• Thyroid cancer, kidney cancer, and other types of cancer
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Developmental problems in unborn children, such as low birth weight
• Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol

If your AFFF-related illness is serious enough, you may find it difficult or impossible to earn a steady paycheck. You may also require long-term or expensive treatment, such as:

• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Prescription medication
• Hospitalization
• Home nursing or hospice care

If you want to file a lawsuit after AFFF exposure, you deserve the chance to do so, no matter what your financial situation is like. An AFFF lawsuit loan would give you the “breathing room” you need to file for the payout you deserve while being able to pay for everyday expenses.

Can AFFF Lawsuit Loans and Verum Funding Work With My Attorney?

Verum Funding and lawsuit loans work with many attorneys across the country.

If it is important to you to get an AFFF loan while fighting your suit, be upfront about it. When meeting with an attorney for the first time, ask them about financing options. You don’t want to waste your time—or the law firm’s time—on an attorney that cannot offer the financial assistance you need.

Some attorneys offer clients other cost-saving measures, such as a free case evaluation. Feel free to ask about these options as well.

How Much Compensation Will I Get if I Was Exposed to AFFF?

Predicting how much you can get from any lawsuit is difficult, especially if:

• You have not yet had an attorney evaluate your case
• Cases similar to yours have not yet been adjudicated
• You have a case against multiple parties, each of whom may owe you a different amount of compensation

While some AFFF cases have already been settled—one recent case resulted in a $17.5 million settlement, to be divided among multiple plaintiffs with various grievances—others are still ongoing.

A lawyer can calculate the exact amount of money your circumstances entitle you to and fight for that amount from the AFFF manufacturer or anyone else who contributed to your exposure. Your lawyer could determine the amount you seek by:

• Making sure you have an official diagnosis of your condition
• Asking a doctor to offer an opinion about the possible connection between AFFF exposure and your illness
• Reviewing paystubs or tax filings that show how much money the illness has prevented you from earning
• Reviewing bills and receipts that show how much money the illness has cost you, as well as doctors’ prognoses that show how much treatment may cost in the future
• Talking to you and your loved ones to establish the effect your illness has had on your personal life and wellbeing
• Examining any similar lawsuits to see what other plaintiffs received for their suffering

In seeking AFFF settlements with an attorney’s help, victims can expect to receive guidance and assistance with every portion of their lawsuit. This includes deciding how much to sue for and figuring out the best way of fighting for the money you deserve.

Potential AFFF Settlements in Firefighting Foam Cancer Cases

Many AFFF cases are still being litigated, but a few have already been settled. The settled cases resulted in multimillion-dollar awards being split between all of the plaintiffs involved in that particular case.

The payout you receive from an AFFF lawsuit may be influenced by a variety of factors, some of which are in your control and some of which are not. For example:

• You could choose to pursue your case alone or by joining a mass tort, such as multidistrict litigation (MDL).
• The liable party could decide to settle out of court quickly, or they could decide to fight your lawsuit for as long as they can.
• You could get legal representation as soon as you realize the harmful effects of AFFF, giving your lawyer more time to file and build a strong case.

For more information on how you can preserve and act on your right to AFFF compensation, you can talk to an attorney. They would be happy to serve as your guide throughout the legal process.

What to Know Before You File a Lawsuit

The legal process can be very complicated, especially in cases involving big corporations or multiple liable parties. It can therefore be difficult for victims to know what to expect when they seek AFFF settlements.

A good way to learn about your rights and options is by speaking directly to a law firm. They can provide information specifically relevant to your case.

What Is a Contingency Fee?

A contingency fee is a type of payment accepted by many law firms. Unlike hourly or upfront fees, a contingency fee allows you to get legal representation without paying anything right away. Instead:

• The firm begins to build your case immediately without requiring any attorney’s fees
• You would not owe the firm any attorney’s fees until after you have received compensation
• The firm waives its attorney’s fees if you do not receive any compensation

Before hiring a lawyer, make sure you understand what kind of fee agreement they have, what you are expected to pay, and when.

The Statute of Limitations for AFFF Lawsuits

The statute of limitations—or the deadline before which you must file your lawsuit—varies from state to state. It may also depend on whether you are filing your own suit or are suing on behalf of a loved one who passed away from an AFFF-related illness.

In most cases, the statute begins either the day you were exposed or the day you discovered the injury or illness.

As a general rule, it is best to start your case as soon as possible. This will help you avoid the risk of losing your right to damages before you’ve had a chance to fight for them.

Compensation for AFFF-Related Loss or Suffering

When calculating your damages, it is important to realize that you are not limited to seeking compensation only for your economic losses, which include:

• Medical expenses: Treating the kinds of conditions AFFF causes may involve surgery, chemotherapy, hospital stays, emergency intervention, medication, and more.
• Other expenses: When you are very ill, you may need to hire someone to help you clean the house or take care of children or pets. These are also AFFF-related expenses you could seek compensation for.
• Lost income: The more serious or long-lasting your illness, the more time you may have to take off from work, and the more money you lose. This could cause your family undue hardship and make it hard to afford medical care.
• Lost earning capacity: If your condition is chronic, you may have to permanently reduce the amount of time you spend at work. You could even have to give up your career.

Seeking compensation for these losses is critical, but you can also be reimbursed for the physical and emotional toll the exposure has had on you. This includes:

• Pain and suffering: Many AFFF-related illnesses can be extremely painful or require painful treatments. Having to live with such conditions can strain your mental health as well.
• Reduced quality of life: Having a serious illness could impact your ability to take care of yourself, perform household chores, engage in favorite activities, socialize with friends, and more.
• Loss of consortium: Your relationship with a loved one—such as your ability to be there emotionally for your children or spouse—may suffer.
• Disability: Both the illness and the treatment could prevent you from being as physically active as you were before. You might even end up losing part of your body, such as a cancerous organ.

Every case is different, so you could qualify for some or all of the categories described above. You could also be eligible for compensation not discussed here, including wrongful death damages associated with the loss of a loved one to an AFFF-related illness.

Choosing an AFFF Lawsuit Attorney

Many lawyers may claim they can help you with an AFFF lawsuit. However, even a very talented lawyer might not be right for you. It is vital that you get to know a firm before selecting someone to represent you because you only get one chance to sue for compensation over a particular injury. Making a mistake could cost you dearly.

Here is some advice on how to choose the right AFFF lawsuit attorney for you:

• Do research online: Many firms now have websites that you can look over. These sites tell you about the lawyer’s background, past verdicts and settlements, practice areas, awards and accolades, and more.
• Use a referral service: Services like ours are designed to connect people with lawyers who could help with their cases. We can take a lot of the guesswork out of selecting an attorney.
• Talk to multiple attorneys: The first lawyer you talk to may seem like the right fit, but only by speaking to multiple lawyers can you make sure they are the best available representative.
• Visit the firm: By visiting the law firm personally, you can get to know both the attorney and their staff better. You could also see the environment they work in and how the team interacts with both you and each other.
• Ask plenty of questions: It may help to brainstorm questions ahead of time and write them down. A good lawyer should be happy to answer any and all questions you have.

If something seems “off” about an attorney you speak to, even if you cannot pinpoint what it is, trust your instinct and cross them off your list. Lawsuits can be very complex and last a very long time, so choosing a lawyer you can trust is essential.

Our service helps AFFF exposure victims like you find toxic contamination lawsuit attorneys in your area who can complete the job required of them.

Want Help Pursuing an AFFF Lawsuit Payout?

If you believe you are entitled to an AFFF settlement, a mass torts lawyer in our network can help you fight for it. Call 1.844.44TORTS (1.844.448.6787) or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation today. A member of our team can tell you what victims and survivors of AFFF contamination can expect—and what an attorney can do to protect your right to compensation.