Asbestos Related Claims
If you, or a loved one, has been exposed to asbestos at your place of work and suffer an illness as a result, you could be entitled to claim for compensation.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos still kills more than 5,000 workers (pdf) each year, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). And, far from being a past problem, it can still be present in any building that was constructed or refurbished before the year 2000.
Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral material, often used commercially and industrially due to its insulating and fire resistant properties. It is classed as carcinogenic.
When materials or areas containing asbestos are drilled, broken or damaged, fibres are released into the air. If the fibres are inhaled they can cause serious scarring, or fibrosis, to the lungs (known as ‘pneumoconiosis’).
Often, asbestos-related illnesses take years to develop. Most commons forms are:
- Mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer caused by asbestos)
- Absbestos-related lung cancer
- Asbestosis
- Pleural thickening
The symptoms of all these illnesses can include:
- Severe shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
- Persistent cough
- Exhaustion
- Chest pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fluid around the lungs
Why make an asbestos-related illness compensation claim?
It’s our job to take the stress out of putting a case together. Our specialist industrial disease solicitors have many years’ experience of getting results in this area, which takes the pressure off you when it comes to assembling the facts and information in preparation for making the claim.
Hopefully this allows you more time to continue with your life and provide for your future.
How can First4Lawyers help?
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be able to claim asbestos compensation. You may also have a claim if you are a family member (eg. husband/wife or child) of someone who has died from an asbestos-related disease.
Your first step is to get in contact with us and tell us your situation. We will listen and ask questions, then assess whether you are likely to have a claim. Then we’ll guide you through the whole process, including our No Win No Fee services.
Only pay a fee if you receive compensation
Our No Win No Fee solicitors will take a success fee from the compensation you are awarded for a successful claim in the form of a percentage of your damages. This could be up to 25% but it won't be more than that, except in cases of road traffic accidents. Changing laws mean our solicitors will now take a payment of 35% of the final compensation amount plus VAT for all road traffic accident claims.
First4Lawyers are an award-winning claims management company with a track record of delivering service that our clients love.
How much compensation will I receive for an asbestosis compensation claim?
Settlement amounts very much depend on your illness, the severity and duration of your symptoms and how it affects your life. The Judicial College Guidelines range of compensation starts at £18,430, with upper limits of more than £100,000.
Is there a time limit for making an asbestos disease claim?
Asbestos-related claims fall under personal injury law, so should generally be brought within three years of the date of knowledge of the presence of an asbestos-related disease.
This is usually three years from the date of diagnosis by a medical expert. The Court do have discretion to allow exceptions, but you’d need very good reasons to request this.
I think I have a claim, what do I do next?
You can enquire about an asbestos-related industrial disease compensation claim by getting in touch with our friendly and compassionate advisors.
Just give us a call, request a call back or start your claim online.
