Mesothelioma is a word that can devastate an entire family. A relatively rare form of lung cancer, mesothelioma is a bit more intimidating than other cancers because it could have been prevented by having precautionary protection available from asbestos exposure, and it is incurable. Even more tragic is the bitter truth that, at the time the victim was exposed to asbestos, the dangers were not yet known. And, since decades sometimes pass before the symptoms of mesothelioma are noticed, the disease is now beginning to appear more frequently than ever before.

When these asbestos poisonings began, Philadelphia was one of the hubs that used this substance in abundance. Asbestos was cheap, easy to obtain, and durable. As workers breathed in the microscopic fibers that permeated the air, these fibers became imbedded within the pulmonary tissue and slowly began to wreak their havoc on the lungs of the worker. By the time the symptoms cause the patient to seek treatment, the disease has advanced to its incurable state.

The quest for such litigators can seem to be a daunting challenge at first, simply due to the sheer volume of lawyers who practice in Philadelphia. For this reason, it is important to remember that the attorney being sought must specialize in asbestos-related injury claims, including mesothelioma. The reason that specialization is paramount is that, due to the large volume of similar type cases that have already been filed and heard by Pennsylvania courts, the legislature has imposed certain restrictions and provisions for awards to be granted in these cases. Only a Philadelphia lawyer who knows the intricacies of these laws, can successfully maximize the compensation awarded for his/her client.

As the search for the best asbestos-related injury lawyer in Philadelphia proceeds, certain criteria should be given utmost consideration: (a) The lawyer must be very familiar with mesothelioma and the manner in which it affects not only the patient, but the patient's family; (b) The lawyer should be experienced in filing all claims, supporting documentation, and other matters conducive to the claim; (c) The lawyer should be proficient in calculating and requesting sufficient compensation in the claim to take care of the patient's future expenses; (d) The lawyer should be willing to travel to the patient's home for consultations; (e) The lawyer should never charge any up-front fees, and should only work on a contingency basis. This means that if no monetary rewards are granted, the patient pays no attorney fees. The lawyer only earns money if the client is granted an award and the lawyer's fee is based upon a percentage of the award.

Sometimes the most difficult aspect of finding the best mesothelioma attorney in Philadelphia is knowing where to start. One of the best places to begin the quest is with the Pennsylvania State Bar Association. While they cannot recommend any attorney's services over another, they can provide a list of attorneys who are in good standing with the bar association, as well as provide information as to the specialty of the practice.

Upon obtaining this list of Philadelphia attorney names, the next step is to research the names to determine how many cases each attorney has successfully represented, and the amount of each award that was granted to the plaintiff.

An even better resource for finding the best lawyer is to speak to other clients who have been represented by lawyers on the list. A former client will have no reason to not be 100% candid with the inquisitor, and can be a valuable source of information. The internet is another resource that can be tapped into for mesothelioma support groups that are more than happy to help guide the patient through the process of finding the best legal counsel. Some of these support groups provide online search tools that can be used by the patient in the comfort and privacy of his own home. As the search progresses, the patient should give first priority to those Philadelphia attorneys who do not charge a fee for the first consultation.

Just as there are stellar Philadelphia attorneys in the practice of mesothelioma compensation, there are also attorneys who should be avoided. They are not terribly difficult to identify, as long as the client knows what constitutes a red flag. One such indicator would be the attorney who, upon a brief first meeting with the client, states that he will be able to procure a specific amount of money for the client. This is a red flag because it indicates an attorney who plans to use a standard, "one-size-fits-all" approach to seeking compensation with preprinted petitions and claim forms, with no plans to research the client's individual situation or take special circumstances into account. This may result in the client being awarded an amount that is far short of the potential figure that could have been gained from the action.

Another possible red flag may appear if the patient notices that the attorney does not specialize in mesothelioma cases, but has a general law practice that represents cases dealing with such matters as divorces, wills, adoptions, and other non-asbestos damage issues. This is not to suggest that a general practice attorney is substandard. It is just highly unlikely that a lawyer, whose practice is not specialized in this way, would be apprised of all pertinent legal and legislative updates concerning the issue of asbestos-related injuries and the protocol for litigating them.