Industrial Diseases

There are five main asbestos related conditions:

Mesothelioma

This is terminal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It affects the lungs and less frequently the abdomen. Symptoms can include breathlessness, chest or back pain, a persistent cough and weight loss.

Victims do not need to have been exposed to a lot of asbestos to develop mesothelioma. There is no connection with cigarette smoking. There is a long latency period between exposure and development of the disease. Compensation claims for mesothelioma re usually substantial up to £100,000 or more.

Asbestos-related Lung Cancer

Asbestos has been known to cause lung cancer since 1955 or earlier. People who have asbestosis and smoke cigarettes are much more likely to get lung cancer than people who have asbestosis and have not smoked. It usually takes 20 years from being exposed to asbestos before lung cancer develops. A court will commonly award between £45,000 and £65,000 for the disease itself and in addition, compensation is available for loss of earnings, care and the cost of any specialist aids and equipment required as a result of the disease.

Asbestosis

This is a form of scarring or fibrosis which tends to develop 20 years or more after exposure to asbestos. It is necessary to have inhaled a lot of asbestos dust to develop asbestosis. Symptoms can include breathlessness, chest pain and a cough. For mild asbestosis, courts will award in the region of £15,000. For advanced asbestosis courts will award in the region of £75,000. Additional compensation can be obtained if the victim has lost their job, cannot work or needs care etc.

Diffuse Pleural Fibrosis or Thickening

The pleura is a very thin lining between the lung and the rib cage. It can be damaged by inhaling asbestos dust. It can be damaged by inhaling asbestos dust. It can affect one lung or both and can get worse gradually or suddenly. Sufferers usually have an increased risk of developing another asbestos related disease. As with the above conditions, victims can claim against former employers who negligently exposed them to asbestos dust. If the employer no longer exists a solicitor can bring them back into existence for the purpose of a compensation claim, provided they can find their Employers Liability Insurance at the time of the exposure to asbestos. Sufferers have the choice of a ‘once and for all’ award or of keeping open their right to return to court for more compensation if they develop a more serious asbestos illness in the future.

Pleural Plaques

Plaques are scars in the lining of the lungs which are visible on x-ray. In most cases the sufferer has no breathlessness or disability. In 2007 the House of Lords removed the right to claim for compensation for pleural plaques. A solicitor will be able to advice you of any changes in the status of potential claims for pleural plaques.

Claims for asbestos diseases can be difficult. There can be problems in tracing employers, in tracing insurers, where employers have gone bust, proving the illness was caused by asbestos etc. It is important to ensure that you obtain legal advice from solicitors who specialise in this work.

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