Asbestos & Mesothelioma Claims

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Claims

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors for Asbestos & Mesothelioma Claims

Make No win No fee claims for Asbestos and Mesothelioma Disease

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise on making no win no fee claims for asbestos and mesothelioma disease.

Asbestos and mesothelioma disease are sometimes known as industrial disease or asbestos-related disease – and the terms can cover several different conditions, including asbestosis, pleural thickening and pleural plaques.

About Asbestos and Mesothelioma Disease

Asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer are diseases which can take decades to develop.

They are caused when small particles of hazardous materials – such as asbestos fibres – are inhaled and lodge in the lungs.

It can take 10 to 30 years for asbestos-related diseases to develop and be diagnosed.

Some industrial diseases like asbestos and mesothelioma are only diagnosed in their late stages – or even at post-mortem.

Some workers develop a condition known as pleural plaques – usually 20 years after exposure to asbestos. This causes scarring on the membrane surrounding the lungs.

Different Types of Asbestos

The six different types of asbestos subject to regulation are:

• Actinolite – green to brown, not widely used commercially
• Amosite – brown asbestos found in cement and insulation
• Anthophyllite – brownish grey and used in floor tiles and lino
• Chrysotile – white asbestos used in buildings, not the most hazardous
• Crocidolite – blue asbestos and one of the most dangerous types
• Tremolite – various colours, found in paint and roofing materials.

Other asbestos-like materials can also be used in industry and commercially but have yet to be regulated, including erionite and taconite.

Who can make Asbestos & Mesothelioma Claims?

Until 1985 asbestos was frequently used to fireproof buildings and homes – and can still be found in buildings built before then.

Homeowners are responsible for the management or removal of asbestos from their homes. More information about asbestos in the home is at GovUK.

Asbestos can also be found in buildings used for schools, colleges, hospitals, care homes and sometimes offices, shops or shopping malls.

Employers and local authorities have a legal duty to manage asbestos in works premises and in public places – and to protect employees, contractors and the public when asbestos is removed from a building, which must be done by a specialist asbestos contractor under controlled conditions.

Members of the public exposed to hazardous material can make a Public Liability Claim.

Workers who develop asbestos-related lung disease after exposure to asbestos in the course of their duties can make a claim for asbestos and mesothelioma compensation.

Industries in which workers might have come into contact with asbestos or other hazardous materials include:

• Carpentry
• Construction
• Demolition
• Electricians
• Fire proofing
• Fire fighting
• Maintenance work
• Pipe fitting.

Sometimes the spouse or other relative of a worker exposed to asbestos materials may develop asbestos and mesothelioma disease, if they come into close contact with their loved one or their contaminated work clothes when they return home from work. In these cases, relatives of workers may also claim asbestos and mesothelioma compensation.

Non-asbestos Industrial Disease Claims

Workers exposed to other hazardous materials can also develop industrial diseases such as lung disease, including:

• Aluminium workers exposed to aluminium particles
• Bakery workers or millers exposed to flour
• Carpenters exposed to wood dust in saw mills or carpentry workshops
• Coalminers exposed to coal dust
• Teachers exposed to chalk dust.

These workers may suffer from diseases like pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease, silicosis, lung cancer or chronic asthma.

Workers diagnosed with work-related diseases can make industrial disease claims for compensation.

How long do I have to claim for Asbestos and Mesothelioma disease?

Claims for asbestos and mesothelioma compensation fall under the area of law known as personal injury.

Personal injury claimants usually have three years from the diagnosis of asbestos or mesothelioma disease to make a claim for compensation. Claims can sometimes be made outside the three-year limitation period, however.

Because of the limitation period for personal injury claims, it is important to seek legal advice from Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors as soon as possible if you are diagnosed with asbestos or mesothelioma disease.

Family members can call Duncan Lewis for advice on making a claim if a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness and is too ill to call.

Families who have lost a loved one to asbestos and mesothelioma disease have three years from the date of diagnosis or diagnosis at post-mortem to make a claim.

How much compensation can I claim for Asbestos and Mesothelioma Disease?

Compensation for Asbestos and Mesothelioma Disease consists of general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

The exact amount will be assessed according to the type of lung disease you have and how this affects the quality of your life and life expectation.

Settlements are usually based on recent similar asbestos and mesothelioma compensation settlements made by the courts.

In some cases, interim payments may be made before full settlement is reached

Your Duncan Lewis asbestos and mesothelioma claims solicitor will be able to advise you further on your claim.

Who will pay my Asbestos and Mesothelioma compensation?

The Health and Safety Executive sets guidelines for the management of asbestos in the workplace – but many workers may have come into contact with hazardous materials before the full dangers of asbestos were known.

However, it is your current or former employer’s insurer who will settle any claim for asbestos or mesothelioma compensation.

Employers’ insurers are logged on a central system called the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office (ELTO) – so even employers and insurers dating back decades can be traced for the purpose of making an asbestos and mesothelioma claim.

Will I have to go to court to claim compensation?

Your Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitor will keep you fully informed at all stages of the case.

Many claims for asbestos and mesothelioma compensation are settled out-of-court, even if asbestos exposure dates back decades – Duncan Lewis personal injury lawyers negotiate hard to get the best settlement for you and your family.

But if a court hearing is necessary, Duncan Lewis instructs leading barristers who specialise in asbestos and mesothelioma personal injury cases, to make sure you have the best legal representation possible.

Why Duncan Lewis is the best solicitor for Asbestos & Mesothelioma Claims

• Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors believe in putting you and your family first to obtain the best results for you
• Duncan Lewis is one of the leading firms of Personal Injury and Legal Aid solicitors in the UK
• Our initial advice on making a claim for asbestos and mesothelioma compensation is free
• Duncan Lewis accepts asbestos and mesothelioma claims on a no win no fee basis, so you will not have to worry about legal fees
• We will visit you at home if you are ill or recovering from treatment – and can arrange expert medical opinions to help back up your claim
• Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors will make sure you understand every stage of your asbestos and mesothelioma claim
• We will handle negotiations for you, so you do not have to worry while you and your family are coping with your illness.

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors have a successful track record in asbestos and mesothelioma claims – and will make sure you win the compensation you are entitled to for your illness.

Contact Duncan Lewis for free advice on making an asbestos and mesothelioma compensation claim by calling 020 7923 4020.