Legal News

A man who developed mesothelioma as a result of contact with asbestos at work has won a six-figure sum in compensation.

Asbestos compensation is paid to workers who develop the deadly lung cancer mesothelioma as a result of their employment. It can also be paid to families after the victim has died – and to family members such as spouses, if it can be proved they came into contact with asbestos as a result of their partner’s employment.

For example, women who washed their husband’s work clothes and went on to develop mesothelioma or asbestosis (scarring of the lung tissue) because the clothes were contaminated have received payouts in the past.

Some workers may also develop a condition called pleural plaques, which is scarring of the membrane covering the lungs, although pleural plaques does not necessarily lead to lung cancer.

Asbestos is a material which was used for insulation in buildings until the mid-1980s. It contains small fibres which if released into the atmosphere lodge in the lining of lung tissue. Asbestos-related lung disease can develop 10-30 years after contact with the toxic material.

Lung disease can also develop if workers come into contact with other small particles such as coal or wood dust, or concrete dust, which can sometimes contain asbestos.

Before the dangers were fully understood, many workers worked in industries without any protection when handling asbestos or carrying out work which brought them into contact with toxic dust.

In recent years, the number of former workers in industry and construction developing mesothelioma and claiming compensation from their former employers has risen. Many personal injury solicitors specialise in this type of compensation claim.

In the latest mesothelioma payout, Martin Rudge from Halesowen fought a legal battle against Halesowen Joinery Limited, which he joined as an apprentice in 1966.

Mr Rudge worked for the company until 1974, manufacturing fire doors which involved large sheets of asbestos being cut to size to insert in the doors. The process generated large amounts of dust.

It was not until late in 2012 that Mr Rudge began suffering chest pains and shortage of breath and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2012.

Now 62, Mr Rudge is undergoing debilitating chemotherapy for his terminal cancer and often is unable to walk up and down stairs as a result of breathlessness caused by his lung disease.

“When I was told I had terminal cancer I was obviously shocked and devastated and found it very hard to come with the fact I was so poorly from something that I’d had no control of,” said Mr Rudge.

The exact figure Mr Rudge received in asbestos compensation cannot be revealed for legal reasons.

Personal Injury Claims

Claims for asbestos-related disease fall under the area of law known as personal injury.

This area of law also covers accidents at work, slips, trips and falls in public places, medical negligence, accidents at work, road traffic accidents (RTAs), holiday/travel accidents – and fatal accidents or accidents resulting in life changing or catastrophic injuries such as brain injury or loss of limb.

The Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Team specialises in a wide range of personal injury claims.

Personal injury claimants usually have three years from the date of injury or diagnosis to make a claim, so it is advisable to call our team of personal injury solicitors on 020 79323 4020 as soon as possible after an accident or injury.