Asbestos is a building material that was widely used in the UK from the 1940s until the 1980s when it was eventually banned. We now know that asbestos is incredibly harmful to lung function. Working with asbestos without the right protection can lead to life-shortening illnesses. These include asbestosis, asbestos-induced lung cancer, mesothelioma and pleural thickening.
If you or a loved one has an asbestos-related disease, then you may be able to claim.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is the term for a group of 6 minerals made up of soft, microscopic fibres that are resistant to heat. Before the dangers of asbestos were known, it was commonly used as a building material. It was used in insulation, roofing, flooring and on ceilings and walls. Whilst asbestos poses little risk if left alone, when the microscopic fibres are disturbed or damaged, the fibres will be released and can be breathed into the lungs causing damage.
Types of Asbestos Claims
Exposure to asbestos can cause a variety of health conditions further down the line. Asbestos-related diseases can present themselves years or even decades after initial exposure to asbestos.
The most common types of asbestos claims are asbestosis claims and mesothelioma claims.
Asbestosis is a disease that causes the lung tissue to harden. It is associated with prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos dust.
Symptoms of asbestosis include:
- shortness of breath
- persistent cough
- dry crackling noise in your lungs
- chest pain
- lack of or difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite and weight loss.
Asbestosis is a slowly progressive disease. It usually takes between 15 and 30 years to develop, after initial exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive type of cancer. Little or intermittent exposure to asbestos fibres can cause it.
Similarly to asbestosis, symptoms include:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- weight loss
- loss of appetite.
Virtually all cases of Mesothelioma are linked to asbestos.
All employers, past and present, owe their staff a duty of care to ensure their working environment is safe and staff are not at risk. You may be able to make an asbestos claim if you believe your employer failed in their duty of care. For example, if they did not provide you with the correct safety equipment. Another example is if they did not tell you the dangers associated with working with asbestos.
Asbestos Claim Example
An example of a compensation claim for mesothelioma was a man who was diagnosed nearly 40 years after he stopped delivering materials to an asbestos manufacturer. Sadly, he died of his illness shortly after starting the claim process. However, his widow and lawyer were able to continue to pursue payment after his death, even though the firm he worked for had ceased trading.
Who is Most at Risk of Developing an Asbestos-related Disease?
Those who worked in the construction industry during the 1970s to the 1990s are most at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Although asbestos is no longer used as a building material you may still be at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease if you are a:
- heating and ventilation engineer
- demolition worker
- construction worker
This is because, within these roles you may disturb or damage asbestos remaining in older buildings. This disturbance causes fibres to be released which can then be inhaled, resulting in an asbestos-related disease later down the line.
Am I Eligible to Make an Asbestos Claim?
In order to be eligible to make an asbestos compensation claim, you must be able to prove that you developed an asbestos-related disease due to the negligence of somebody else. This may mean that your employer at the time did not warn you of the dangers of working with asbestos, or did not provide you with the proper safety equipment.
The easiest way to find out whether you are eligible to make an asbestos claim is to get in touch with our team. They will discuss the details of your case with you to determine whether you claim is likely to be successful.
What is the Time Limit to Make an Asbestos Claim?
In most negligence cases, the time limit to make a claim is 3 years from the date of an incident. As an asbestos-related illness may present itself years or even decades after exposure to asbestos, this time limit does not apply. Instead, you are able to make an asbestos claim within 3 years of diagnosis of an asbestos-related condition. This time limit may be further extended in complex cases, as asbestos compensation cases often are. This will however be decided on a case by case basis.
How Much am I Likely to Get for an Asbestos Compensation Claim?
Asbestos-related illnesses are often life-changing and can even result in death. You may be able to claim compensation to cover any associated medical costs for your treatment or extra support needed, as well as damages for changes to your lifestyle and an inability to continue working, amongst other things.
The amount of compensation you could receive for your claim will depend on the severity of your condition and the impact it has had on your life. By contacting our team, they will be able to give you an estimate of the amount of compensation you could receive and will work hard to get you the amount you deserve, should you choose to pursue your claim.
Making an Asbestos Compensation Claim
Because asbestos-related illness can take years to show, some victims do not know they may be able to make a claim. They may also think it is too late. Speaking to The Compensation Experts can help clarify your situation. We can provide you with the information so you can make the right choice for you.
We work with select personal injury lawyers who specialise in asbestos claims. Whether you are claiming for yourself or a loved one, you can expect your solicitor to gather the necessary evidence. This will prove the illness could have been avoided if the right precautions had been taken. Millions of British workers were exposed to asbestos up to the early 1980s. While many employers were aware of the risks associated with the material, they did not adequately educate or protect their staff. This led to tragic consequences for them and their families.
We certainly appreciate that our clients may be unwilling or unable to pay legal fees upfront with no guarantee of a positive result. We therefore offer a no win, no fee (*Conditions may apply. Please see details at the bottom of the page) contract to remove the financial risk associated with claiming compensation.
Am I eligible?
If you have been harmed physically in the last 3 years, due to someone else’s negligence, the short answer is yes.
Exceptions to this are for instance industrial disease or if you were a child at the time of the accident. In this case you may have a longer period to claim.
How much could I claim?
As every injury is different, the amount of compensation paid out can differ case to case. Varying factors lead to the final figure. These include: extent of your injuries, loss of earnings, future losses and more.
Our dedicated team of experts will give you an indication of how much you could potentially claim for.
How does the process work?
We understand that when making a claim it’s important to know what to expect and when to expect it. That’s why we make the process as transparent & clear as possible.
Your solicitor will gather all the evidence. They will then notify the negligent party that you wish to begin claim proceedings. With your solicitor negotiating on your behalf, you will be up to date every step of the way.
Why should you use us?
No Win No Fee*
We assess all claims on a No Win No Fee basis, then we can determine how successful a claim is likely to be. However, if your claim is successful we will charge up to 25% of the total compensation awarded and if you terminate the agreement before your claim for damages ends then you may be liable to pay basic charges in addition to this.
We assess each claim on its merits with the information you provide, which then helps us to determine its likely success rate.
Our dedicated panel are experts in securing compensation no matter the injury.
Our panel of personal injury lawyers are committed to securing the best possible outcome for you. They also provide expert support every step of the way.