As in most personal injury situations, obtaining the services of a lawyer who specializes in Benzene lawsuits is a must, rather than going on your own. It does not make sense to settle a Benzene lawsuit without consulting an attorney before settling, when the issues are complex and technical. You are at an extreme disadvantage against an experienced defense team who know the law involved, the value of your case (which they will not tell you), and are very good at applying pressure to settle. On the other hand, your Benzene lawyer knows what parties can be sued; (2) knows the value of your claim and if it is worth pursing in court; ( 3) is further up the learning curve than you in knowing effective trial tactics and settlement possibilities; and (4) knows which court to file in and which judge or jury is more sympathetic (or more hostile to large companies) .
Even if you decide you don’t want a full trial but just want to take it to settlement, you still need an attorney because he/she has more experience in negotiation practices. In an effort to “get out quickly,” you may unintentionally give up some of your rights or settle for much less than your claim is worth.. Your attorney will know what your case is worth and can better negotiate with the defense attorney on the unique aspects of your claim.
Most personal injury lawyers, including Benzene specialists, work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the attorney is paid only if you win, and he/she will only take around 30-40% of the final award or settlement. As with all agreements, these matters are negotiable between you and your attorney.