Editing Asbestos Trust Funds (section)

== How Do I Qualify for Asbestos Trust Fund Compensation? ==

=== Disease Categories and Compensation Levels ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Disease Level
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Condition
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:center;" | Combined Recovery Range
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Medical Requirements
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Level 8 (Highest)
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | '''Mesothelioma'''
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center; color:#28a745; font-weight:bold;" | $300,000 - $500,000+
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Pathology confirming malignant mesothelioma
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold;" | Level 7
| style="padding:12px;" | Lung Cancer
| style="padding:12px; text-align:center;" | $350,000 - $450,000
| style="padding:12px;" | Asbestos exposure + causation evidence
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | Levels 1-6
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Non-Malignant Conditions
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8; text-align:center;" | $7,000 - $50,000 per trust
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Asbestosis, pleural disease, other conditions
|}

{| style="width:90%; margin:1.5em auto; background:#f8f9fa; border-left:4px solid #1a5276; border-radius:0 4px 4px 0;"
|-
| style="padding:20px 25px 15px; font-style:italic; font-size:1.05em; line-height:1.6;" | "Mesothelioma claims receive priority processing at most trusts because the disease is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. This strong causal connection simplifies the documentation requirements compared to other asbestos-related diseases where alternative causes must be ruled out."
|-
| style="padding:5px 25px 20px; text-align:right;" | '''— Michelle Whitman,''' Attorney, [https://dandell.com/lawyers/michelle-whitman/ Danziger & De Llano]
|}

The [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-diagnosis/ mesothelioma diagnosis guide] explains the medical documentation process, while the [https://dandell.com/lung-cancer/ lung cancer resources] address the specific requirements for those claims.

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=== Exposure Documentation Requirements ===

{| style="width:100%; background:#f8f9fa; border:2px solid #1a5276; border-radius:8px; margin:1em 0; overflow:hidden;"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:center; font-size:1.1em;" | ✅ Documentation Checklist
|-
| style="padding:15px; width:50%; vertical-align:top; border-right:1px solid #dee2e6;" |
'''Exposure Evidence Required:'''
* ☐ Employment records with dates and locations
* ☐ Social Security earnings statements
* ☐ Union membership records
* ☐ W-2 forms from relevant employers
* ☐ Co-worker affidavits confirming exposure
* ☐ Product identification evidence
| style="padding:15px; width:50%; vertical-align:top;" |
'''Medical Documentation Required:'''
* ☐ Pathology report with diagnosis
* ☐ Imaging studies (CT, X-ray, PET)
* ☐ Physician causation statement
* ☐ Treatment records
* ☐ Military service records (DD-214 for veterans)
* ☐ Work history timeline
|}

'''Exposure Period:''' Minimum 6 months of "meaningful and credible" exposure to the bankrupt company's products.

'''Exposure Deadline:''' Before December 31, 1982 for most trusts, reflecting when most companies stopped using asbestos.

'''Latency Period:''' Minimum 10-15 years from first exposure to diagnosis.

{| style="width:90%; margin:1.5em auto; background:#f8f9fa; border-left:4px solid #1a5276; border-radius:0 4px 4px 0;"
|-
| style="padding:20px 25px 15px; font-style:italic; font-size:1.05em; line-height:1.6;" | "Documentation is where most victims underestimate the complexity. Companies went out of business 40+ years ago, employment records may be lost, and witnesses have passed away. Experienced attorneys maintain databases of jobsite information and product identification that prove invaluable for building strong claims."
|-
| style="padding:5px 25px 20px; text-align:right;" | '''— Rod de Llano,''' Founding Partner, [https://dandell.com/lawyers/rod-de-llano/ Danziger & De Llano]
|}

For comprehensive information about [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos/manufacturers/ asbestos manufacturers] and their products, consult the [https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/asbestos/products/ product identification database].

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