For urgent legal advice, call our expert asbestos compensation claims solicitors and we will help you pursue an asbestos illness related claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.”
The dangers of asbestos
Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals made up of microscopic fibres that was commonly used in the building trade, particularly shipbuilding and in factories, hospitals, homes and schools as insulation. When these fibres are released to the air, they unfortunately can enter the lungs and cause life-changing conditions. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease our expert solicitors can help.
Exposure to asbestos can cause a range of illnesses including:
- Mesothelioma – this condition attacks the lining of the lungs, and once diagnosed it is unfortunately almost always terminal.
- Asbestosis – like mesothelioma, asbestosis symptoms may emerge many years after initial exposure. Asbestosis results in scarring of the lungs but is not necessarily fatal.
- Asbestos related lung cancer – this condition is identical to the more common form of lung cancer.
- Pleural thickening – this is the name given to inflammation of the lungs. It is not fatal but is common among people exposed to asbestos.
Making an asbestosis/mesothelioma claim
We handle these claims on a No Win No Fee basis which means you do not have to pay any fees and if your claim does not succeed, you will not have to pay anything at all. Your exposure to asbestos could have taken place decades ago, but do not let this stop you from making a claim as our expert solicitors can trace insurers and businesses that are no longer trading.
If you were exposed to asbestos as part of your job and are suffering with an asbestos related condition, you can make a claim for compensation.
The length of time an asbestos claim takes depends on the complexity of each case. On average, a mesothelioma/asbestosis claim can take anywhere between twelve and twenty-four months. Lung cancer and asbestosis claims may take as long as three years from the initial diagnosis.
In these cases, you generally have three years from the date of diagnosis to make a claim. You should contact us as soon as you become aware of your condition.
Support through the asbestos claims process
We can provide assistance in applying for state benefits and lump sum payments from the government. You may be able to claim under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme if:
- your disease was caused by employment in the UK
- your application is made within three years of your diagnosis or onset of symptoms if you have not already made a civil claim for your mesothelioma
- if you are unable to trace the employers responsible for your exposure
We can provide assistance with making a Will, taking out a Grant of Probate and Trusts, and assistance with family in dealing with Coroner and Inquests following the death of a loved one.
We can represent the dependants of loved ones who have unfortunately died as a result of one of the above conditions, and will also continue to pursue any claim should they die before the process is concluded.
Our expert personal injury solicitors can advise you on what your claim is worth. The amount you can claim depends upon which asbestos related illness you have been diagnosed with. Individual circumstances such as age, life expectancy and the severity of your illness will also have a bearing on the level of damages you may receive.
If you have mesothelioma and have been awarded Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, you will also be entitled to a lump sum payment under the Pneumoconiosis (Workers’ Compensation) Act or the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme. To qualify for a payment, you must show that your illness has been caused by exposure to asbestos within paid employment and that you are receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
You may also be able to claim if you are the dependant of a loved one who has died from an asbestos related disease, and this claim must be made within 12 months of their death.
Our expert solicitors can provide assistance in pursuing an award under these schemes.
We have an expert team of compassionate lawyers who have extensive experience over a number of years in bringing these claims to a successful conclusion.
