An asbestos lawyer is a legal expert in the field of litigations pertaining to compensation lawsuits filed by victims of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs in nature. It found widespread use in commercial, public and residential constructions, because of its outstanding properties that made it known for being extremely resistant to thermal influences. Since the early 30s, data was showing a link between asbestos and critical health conditions in humans who were exposed to the material for longer periods of time. Asbestos exposure has been determined as the exclusive cause for a number of health conditions which include lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, also referred to as the 'asbestos cancer' is a fatal disease. The US government set forth an asbestos ban in the 1970s; however, it did not completely forbid the use of the material. The regulations were put in place to hold employers responsible for protecting their workers adequately if they were at risk of getting in contact with asbestos during their regular course of work. Unfortunately, not all job providers followed through and therefore willing fully and knowingly let their employees being exposed to the hazardous material. Handling asbestos is dangerous, as its toxic fibers get airborne and out everybody in close proximity at a high risk of inhaling the dangerous particles. This can result in the development of the aforementioned asbestos induced diseases.
If you have been diagnosed with a health condition that is due to occupational asbestos exposure, you should explore your legal options and find out if you have sufficient grounds for a personal injury compensation lawsuit. As soon as you received your conclusive diagnosis, it is advisable to seek the advice of a specialized asbestos lawyer.
Ideally, you already know an attorney whom you can trust and ask for a referral. Otherwise, the Internet is a good starting point in order to identify litigators with focus on asbestos litigations. One criterion every asbestos lawyer should have is a proven track record of successfully litigated cases that are similar to your situation. Most of them share excerpts of previously handled lawsuits on their web pages, as well as information about how much money they were able to obtain in compensation settlements for their clients.

Not all asbestos claims need to involve a judge and jury. As a matter of fact, most cases can be settled before trial, and are a result of negotiations between the claimant’s lawyer and the defendant’s insurance company. Nonetheless, the process can be painstaking and drag on for many months or even years. Therefore, some mesothelioma attorneys offer expedited trials.

Most reputable asbestos lawyers and law firms offer a first free consultation. This is great opportunity for you to discuss the details of your case and find out what the next steps are to put your asbestos compensation settlement compensation claim on track. Furthermore, it is common practice of the lawyers who litigate asbestos cases, to offer their services on a contingency basis. In other words, you actually don’t have to pay them, and only in the event they win the case for you, they will get a portion of monetary awards. Otherwise, you don’t owe them anything. 
It is important to note that the statute of limitations, which is different from state to state and jurisdiction, only allows for a certain amount of time for an asbestos exposure victim to come forward with his charges. Therefore, and as I mentioned earlier, make sure that you make an appointment with a reputable asbestos lawyer as soon as you have clarity on your asbestos induced illness.