Skip to main content
  • About
  • News & Insights
  • Careers
  • International
Call us Free on 0800 056 4110
Dialog that contains search functionality
Irwin Mitchell Logo
  • Personal
    • Personal
    • Personal Home
    • Personal Injury Claims
      • Personal Injury Claims
      • Personal Injury Claims Home
      • Abuse Claims
      • Accidents In Public Places Claims
      • Criminal Injury Compensation Claims
      • Accident At Work Claims
      • Air, Rail & Maritime Claims
      • Asbestos & Mesothelioma Claims
      • Changing Solicitors During a Personal Injury Claim
      • Group Claims
      • Holiday Accidents & Illness Claims
      • Illness Compensation Claims
      • Industrial Disease Claims
      • Injury Types
      • Military Injury Compensation Claims
      • No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims
      • Personal Injury Claims In Scotland
      • How To Claim Compensation For Personal Injury
      • Product Liability Claims
      • Road Traffic Accident Claims
      • Serious Injury Claims
      • Who Can Help?
      • Support Services
    • Medical Negligence Claims
      • Medical Negligence Claims
      • Medical Negligence Claims Home
      • Cancer Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Birth Injury Claims
      • Cauda Equina Syndrome Claims
      • Never Event Claims
      • Ambulance & Paramedic Medical Negligence Claims
      • Cosmetic Surgery Claims
      • Private Healthcare Claims
      • Cerebral Palsy Claims
      • Defective Medical Device Claims
      • Dental Negligence Claims
      • Diabetes Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Fatal Medical Negligence Claims & Inquests
      • GP Negligence Claims
      • Hospital Negligence Claims
      • What Is Medical Negligence?
      • Meningitis Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Failure To Prevent Suicide Claims
      • Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Ophthalmic Negligence Claims
      • Pregnancy & Gynaecology Injury Claims
      • Sepsis Negligence Claims
      • Pharmacy And Medication Negligence Claims
      • Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust Maternity Care Claims
      • Stroke Misdiagnosis Claims
      • Surgery Compensation Claims
    • Counselling
      • Counselling
      • Counselling Home
      • Counselling Myths Dispelled
    • Family Law
      • Family Law
      • Family Law Home
      • Divorce Solicitors
      • Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Solicitors
      • Child Abduction Solicitors
      • Civil Partnership Solicitors
      • LGBT+ Family Law Solicitors
      • Unmarried Couples' Rights
      • Divorce Financial Settlement Solicitors
      • Child Arrangement Orders
      • Family Mediation
      • Out of Court Divorce Solicitors
      • Separation Agreement Solicitors
      • Adoption & Surrogacy Solicitors
    • Wills, Trusts & Estates
      • Wills, Trusts & Estates
      • Wills, Trusts & Estates Home
      • Estate Planning Solicitors
      • Powers Of Attorney
      • Trusts
      • Will Writing Services
      • Will Disputes & Contentious Probate
    • Conveyancing & Property Solicitors
      • Conveyancing & Property Solicitors
      • Conveyancing & Property Solicitors Home
      • Conveyancing Fees Calculator
      • Buying A Property
      • Selling A Property
      • Remortgage
      • Transfer Of Equity
      • Buy To Let
      • Freehold Purchase (Leasehold Enfranchisement) Solicitors
      • Lease Extension Solicitors
      • Conveyancing Guide
      • Residential Property Disputes
    • Tax
      • Tax
      • Tax Home
      • Business Tax
      • Inheritance Tax
      • International Tax
      • Professional Negligence
      • HMRC Tax Investigations
      • Tax Disputes & Litigation
      • Tax Residence
      • Tax Returns & Compliance
      • UK Resident Non-Doms
      • Wealth Structuring
    • Probate
      • Probate
      • Probate Home
      • International Probate
      • Probate Sale Conveyancing
      • What Is Probate & How Does It Work?
    • Will, Trust & Estate Disputes
      • Will, Trust & Estate Disputes
      • Will, Trust & Estate Disputes Home
      • Trust Disputes
      • Inheritance Act Claims
      • Contesting A Will
      • Contentious Probate
      • Pre-Death Agreements
      • Professional Negligence
      • Challenging A Lifetime Gift
      • Financial Abuse
      • Statutory Will Disputes
      • Defending A Contested Will
    • Employment Solicitors
      • Employment Solicitors
      • Employment Solicitors Home
      • Employment Contract Solicitors
      • Employment Disputes
      • Dismissal & Redundancy Solicitors
      • Employment Discrimination Solicitors
      • Employment Lawyers for Legal Expenses Insurance
      • Harassment & Bullying At Work Solicitors
      • Parental & Family Friendly Employment Rights
      • Professional Discipline Solicitors
      • Recruitment & Promotion
      • Senior Executive Employment Lawyers
      • Settlement Agreements
      • Whistleblowing Solicitors
    • Elderly Legal Services
    • Protecting Your Rights
      • Protecting Your Rights
      • Protecting Your Rights Home
      • Actions Against The Police
      • Inquests
      • Environmental & Planning Law
      • Assessment & Treatment Unit Solicitors
      • Data Protection Breach Claims
      • Education Law
      • Healthcare & Social Services
      • Human Rights
      • Judicial Review
      • Mental Capacity
      • Professional Regulation & Discipline
      • Dispute Resolution
      • Legal Aid
    • Immigration Solicitors
      • Immigration Solicitors
      • Immigration Solicitors Home
      • British Citizenship & Naturalisation Solicitors
      • EU & EEA Immigration Solicitors
      • Indefinite Leave To Remain Solicitors
      • Spouse Visa Solicitors
      • Innovator Visa
      • Permanent Residence Solicitors
      • Business Immigration Solicitors
    • Crime & Investigations
      • Crime & Investigations
      • Crime & Investigations Home
      • Crime
      • Fraud & Financial Crime
      • Court Martial Solicitors
      • Motoring Offences Legal Advice
      • Regulatory Investigations & Enforcement
    • Insolvency
      • Insolvency
      • Insolvency Home
      • Business Restructuring & Insolvency
      • Debt Consultancy
      • Insolvency Disputes & Litigation
    • Court Of Protection
      • Court Of Protection
      • Court Of Protection Home
      • Court Of Protection Deputyship
      • Personal Injury Trusts
      • Court Of Protection Problems & Disputes
      • Healthcare and Social Services
      • Court of Protection Frequently Asked Questions
      • Powers Of Attorney Disputes
      • Statutory Wills Solicitors
  • Wealth Management
    • Wealth Management
    • Wealth Management Home
    • Asset Management For Personal Injury
    • Charity & Philanthropy
    • Estate Planning
    • Ethical & Sustainable Investing
    • Financial Planning
    • Intergenerational Wealth Management
    • Investment Management
    • Retirement Financial Planning
    • Family Offices
    • Succession Planning
    • Tax Planning
  • Business
    • Business
    • Business Home
    • Sectors
      • Sectors
      • Sectors Home
      • Agriculture & Rural Business
      • Retail, Leisure & Hospitality
      • Education
      • Financial & Professional Services
      • Landed Estates
      • Manufacturing
      • Real Estate
      • Sport
      • Technology & Communications
    • Banking & Finance
      • Banking & Finance
      • Banking & Finance Home
      • Corporate Banking
      • Leveraged & Acquisition Finance
      • Real Estate Finance
      • Receivables Finance & Asset Based Lending
    • Environmental, Social & Governance
      • Environmental, Social & Governance
      • Environmental, Social & Governance Home
      • Cyber Security
      • Environment
      • Net Zero
      • Social
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Governance
      • International
      • ESG Legal Advisory Services
      • Legislation Library
      • Manufacturing Sector
      • Real Estate
      • Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Sector
      • Sports Sector
    • Business Crime
      • Business Crime
      • Business Crime Home
      • Anti-Bribery & Corruption
      • Asset Tracing & Recovery
      • Cartels & Illegal Price Fixing
      • Cybercrime
      • Dawn Raids
      • Deferred Prosecution Agreements
      • Extradition
      • INTERPOL Red Notices
      • Mutual Legal Assistance
      • Private Prosecution
      • Proceeds Of Crime Act
      • Unexplained Wealth Orders
      • Fraud Lawyers
      • Insider Trading & Market Abuse
      • Corporate Internal Investigations
    • Business Immigration
      • Business Immigration
      • Business Immigration Home
      • Business Visitor Visa
      • Global Business Mobility Visas
      • Innovator Visa
      • Prevention Of Illegal Working
      • Skilled Worker Visas
      • Sole Representative Of An Overseas Business
      • UK Visa Sponsor License
    • Commercial
      • Commercial
      • Commercial Home
      • Commercial Contracts
      • Competition Law
      • GDPR & Data Protection
      • Information Technology
      • Sourcing
      • Notary Public Solicitors
    • Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution
      • Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution
      • Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Home
      • Banking & Finance Litigation
      • Business Interruption Insurance Lawyers
      • Contract Disputes
      • Defamation & Reputation Management
      • International & Cross-Border Disputes
      • Commercial Debt Recovery
      • Litigation Funding
      • Professional Negligence
    • Corporate
      • Corporate
      • Corporate Home
      • Corporate Advisory
      • Equity Capital Markets
      • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
      • Private Equity
      • Search Funds and Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Lawyers
    • Costs Team
    • Employment Law
      • Employment Law
      • Employment Law Home
      • Business Immigration
      • Employment Contracts, Policies & Procedures
      • Disciplinary & Grievance
      • Employee & Industrial Relations
      • Employment Lawyers for Legal Expenses Insurance
      • Employment Litigation & Resolution Lawyers
      • Equality, Diversity & Discrimination
      • Flexible Working Arrangements
      • Health & Safety
      • HR Advice Service - IMhrplus
      • Managing Sickness Absence
      • Pensions
      • Recruitment
      • Restrictive Covenants
      • Restructuring & Redundancy
      • Self Employment, Contractors & Agency Workers
      • Employment Seminars, Training & Updates
      • TUPE
    • In-House Counsel
    • Intellectual Property and Media
      • Intellectual Property and Media
      • Intellectual Property and Media Home
      • Defamation & Reputation Management
      • Copyright Lawyers
      • Design Rights Lawyers
      • Image Rights Lawyers
      • Online Marketplace Seller Account Or Listing Suspensions
      • Stopping IP Infringement By Sellers On Online Marketplaces
      • Patent Lawyers
      • Trade Mark Lawyers
      • Trade Secrets Lawyers
    • Legal Helpline
    • Licensing
      • Licensing
      • Licensing Home
      • Betting & Gaming Licensing
      • Event Licences
      • Alcohol Licensing
    • Pensions
      • Pensions
      • Pensions Home
      • Employment
      • Managing Death Benefit Trusts
    • Regulatory & Compliance
      • Regulatory & Compliance
      • Regulatory & Compliance Home
      • Road Transport & Operator Compliance
      • GDPR & Data Protection
      • Regulatory Investigations
      • Account Freezing Orders
      • Anti-Money Laundering
      • Companies House Prosecutions
      • Environment & Safety Regulatory Compliance
      • Financial Services Regulation
    • Real Estate
      • Real Estate
      • Real Estate Home
      • Corporate Occupiers
      • Real Estate Development and Regeneration
      • Construction & Engineering
      • Environmental
      • Real Estate Finance
      • Real Estate Investment
      • Later Living & Care
      • Planning
      • Property Litigation & Real Estate Disputes
      • Real Estate Tax
      • Residential Development
      • Strategic Land
      • Structured Real Estate
    • Restructuring & Insolvency
      • Restructuring & Insolvency
      • Restructuring & Insolvency Home
      • Corporate Insolvency
      • Partnership Insolvency
      • Directors' Duties
      • Restructuring Plans
      • Debt Recovery (up to £100,000) – Pricing
      • Restructuring
    • Tax
      • Tax
      • Tax Home
      • Corporate Tax
      • Real Estate Tax
      • Tax Investigations
  • People
    • People
    • People Home
    • Search By Name
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Expertise
    • Business Management
  • Offices
    • Offices
    • Offices Home
    • Birmingham
    • Brighton
    • Bristol
    • Cambridge
    • Cardiff
    • Chichester
    • Edinburgh
    • Gatwick
    • Glasgow
    • Leeds
    • Liverpool
    • London
    • Manchester
    • Middlesbrough
    • Newbury
    • Newcastle
    • North Yorkshire
    • Nottingham
    • Reading
    • Sheffield
    • Southampton
  • Contact
  • About
  • News & Insights
  • Careers
  • International
Irwin Mitchell Logo
Dialog with Irwin Mitchell phone number
Call us on 0800 056 4110

We're here 24/7, 365 days a year.

  • Home
  • Personal
  • Personal Injury Claims
  • Asbestos & Mesothelioma Claims
  • Pleural Thickening Claims

Pleural Thickening Compensation Claims

Trustpilot

Pleural thickening is a tragic side effect of inhaling asbestos dust. It damages the thickening of the lining of your lungs. This causes breathlessness and pain as your lungs struggle to inflate properly. Sadly, there’s no cure and this condition can take its toll on your quality of life.

Our specialist team of solicitors can help you to find out exactly where you were exposed to asbestos, as your exposure may have happened years ago. We can then help you to make a pleural thickening compensation claim. If your work took place in Scotland, we could also help you to make a pleural plaques compensation claim.

Compensation can help you to pay for treatment and care to help you lead the most active life possible. Contact us today to discuss your situation with one of our specialist solicitors.

We’ve worked on many high-profile claims, including representing the Forum of Asbestos Support Groups in the Supreme Court.

Those who’ve had asbestos exposure may develop more serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma. This can lead to pleural thickening. So, we can settle your claim on a provisional basis, meaning you can easily come back for further compensation if you develop any other asbestos related illness.

We understand how shocking and distressing it is to be diagnosed with what can be a debilitating illness. That’s why we’ll work in the way that’s best for you.

We’ll act on your instructions and work tirelessly to get you every penny of compensation you deserve.

Why choose us to handle your pleural thickening compensation claim?

Our specialist team of pleural thickening solicitors have decades of experience in successfully securing compensation for our clients.

We understand the drastic changes in your life that come after a diagnosis of pleural thickening. That’s why we treat each compensation claim as the unique situation it is. We give tailored advice that gives you the best chance of getting the compensation you’re owed.

We’re continually praised by independent legal guides, including The Legal 500, who call us: “Superb in every way.”

We’ve a proven track record of successfully securing compensation for our clients in a wide range of asbestos-related claims. We’re ranked in the highest tier for industrial disease solicitors by independent legal guide Chambers & Partners. They call us a “… talented and very dedicated team to assist its clients in getting the best outcome from their case. They are well suited to handling complex and sophisticated matters.”

We work closely with Mesothelioma UK and are listed as recommended legal support for those seeking compensation. We’re also proud supporters of several local charities that help people with respiratory conditions, including:

  • Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
  • June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund.

We’ve also represented the Forum of Asbestos Support Groups in the Supreme Court.

We’ve a specialist team of Support and Rehabilitation coordinators. These trained clinicians will assess the help you need and use our connections with charities and support groups around the country to get it for you. Our nationwide connection with these organisations means we can get support that’s local for you.

We’ll always work in a way that’s best for you. Our offices are located across the UK, so you can visit us at your local branch. If you’re unable to travel, we can arrange to meet you at home or in hospital to discuss your claim. We can also communicate via telephone, email, or video call. Our team in Scotland can also advise on Pleural Plaques (see below).

Once your claim’s been settled, you may be unsure of how to manage your compensation. Our Asset Management team of financial experts and advisors will be here to help you ensure your money lasts as long as you need it to. They can advise you on ways to invest your compensation and make sure it pays for all your medical needs.

Experience in ground-breaking asbestos claims
No Win, No Fee*
UK's largest team of asbestos solicitors
Advice on state benefits and statutory service

Call us for a free initial consultation

0800 056 4110

Or we can call you back at a time of your choice

Phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year

Contact us today

For a free initial consultation

Freephone

0800 056 4110

Prefer not to call?

Use our form

This data will only be used by Irwin Mitchell for processing your query and for no other purpose.

Adrian Budgen
Adrian Budgen Partner Meet the Team

More information on pleural thickening claims

Asbestos was known to be a danger to health in larger quantities from the mid-20th century. After October 1965, it was generally understood that even small amounts of asbestos could be very harmful. There was legislation in place to protect those in the asbestos industry and those working in dusty factories right back to the 1930s.

If you’ve developed pleural thickening and believe it’s linked to your job, you could be entitled to compensation.

To begin your claim, contact us to speak to one of our specialists. We’ll advise you on whether you could make a claim and discuss the way forward. There’s no obligation to pursue your claim with us after this initial free consultation.

If you do decide to proceed, we’ll begin by gathering evidence to support your claim. We’ll use independent medical experts who can link your condition to your job.

Due to the nature of asbestos-related diseases, you’re likely to have been exposed to a harmful substance some time ago. This doesn’t mean you can’t claim, as many illnesses like mesothelioma or pleural thickening often don’t show symptoms until at least 20 years later.

We’ll use our medical experts’ evidence to determine who was at fault for your exposure. We’ll then contact the company and/or their insurer.

If your employer accepts responsibility for exposing you to asbestos, we’ll work to get you interim payments. These payments are taken from your final compensation settlement and are paid ahead of your claim being settled. Interim payments are there to help you make up for any loss of earnings and can be used to pay for health and travel expenses.

We’ll always do everything we can to keep your claim from going to court. This can help to make the process simpler and reduces the stress for you. However, if your employer doesn’t accept responsibility, or disagrees with the amount of compensation we feel you need, we’ll have to prove it. This may involve beginning court proceedings.

Even then, we may still be able to resolve the claim without needing to go to a final court hearing. We’ll always do everything we can to make the process as simple and stressless as possible for you.

You can only claim compensation for developing pleural plaques in Scotland and Northern Ireland – not in England or Wales.

In 2011, the House of Lords decided that you can’t claim compensation for plural plaques because they’re symptomless.

The Scottish Parliament reversed this decision. They allowed people to make pleural plaque claims for compensation if the asbestos exposure happened in Scotland. A similar situation exists in Northern Ireland.

Our Glasgow office can investigate your case and work out how your exposure happened and if there were ways to prevent it. You don’t have to be a current resident of Scotland to make a claim.

Even though pleural plaques have no symptoms, they do mean you were exposed to asbestos, and you may feel anxious about your future. If your exposure to asbestos was in Scotland, we can help you claim compensation for this emotional distress. Contact us today to discuss your circumstances.

Read more about the asbestos claims process.

Payouts for pleural thickening claims often range from £35,000 up to £100,000.

Each claim is unique, as is the amount of compensation awarded. The best way to get an idea of your claim’s value is to speak to our experts. Once we’ve learned more about what happened to you, we’ll be able to give you a better idea of how much compensation you could claim.

The amount of compensation you could claim depends on several factors, including:

  • The severity of your illness
  • Any loss of earnings you’ve experienced because of your illness
  • The care and support you may need
  • Your medical and travel expenses
  • Any specialist equipment or treatment you may need
  • Any modifications you might need making to your home.

Yes, most of our pleural thickening compensation claims are made using a no win no fee agreement. No win no fee claims mean there’s nothing to pay upfront and you won’t need to pay anything if your claim isn’t successful.

If your claim is successful, most of our fees will be paid by your employer’s insurer.

To make a no win no fee claim, you need to have a suitable insurance policy. We’ll discuss the finer details with you before we start working for you.

Find out more about no win no fee.

You’ll normally have three years, starting from the date you learned your illness could be linked to your job, to make a claim.

You may have less time than this if you developed pleural thickening while working outside of the UK.

If you’re claiming on behalf of a loved one who lost their life, the three-year period may start from the date of their death. If they were unaware of their diagnosis of pleural thickening in their lifetime or died within three years of being told of it, the period begins from the date they passed away.

It’s always recommended that, whatever the circumstances, you make a claim as soon as possible. This is because the details are fresher in your mind and the evidence will be easier for us to gather.

You’re at a higher risk of pleural thickening if you had an occupation that could have exposed you to asbestos. Jobs that commonly cause asbestos exposure include:

  • Laggers and insulators
  • Asbestos removers
  • Pipe fitters
  • Carpenters
  • Railway engine and carriage builders
  • Shipbuilders
  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Engineers
  • Gas fitters
  • Construction workers
  • Sheet metal workers
  • Textile workers
  • Vehicle manufacturers.

If you had any of these jobs or similar and are diagnosed with pleural thickening, there’s a good chance it was caused by your occupation. Contact us to discuss making a claim for compensation.

If you live/lived with anyone who had a job like this, you could also be at risk of pleural thickening due to them bringing dust home on their clothes.

Sue, our client, sat at home

The money has allowed me not to worry if I need to pay someone to help out. It was settled out of court… but at least it was some form of recognition. Clive would have been pleased with that."

Sue, client

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pleural thickening?

Pleural thickening is the term given to damage to and thickening of the lining of the lung. Pleural thickening affects a larger area of the lining of the lung than a pleural plaque.

Pleural thickening, unlike plaques, causes breathlessness and pain as your lungs struggle to inflate properly. There’s no cure and it can reduce your quality of life.

Having pleural thickening can also indicate that you may go on to develop other asbestos-related illnesses.

What causes pleural thickening?

Many people suffer asbestos-related diseases after being exposed to exposed to asbestos. Others are affected after coming into regular contact with someone who worked with asbestos.

This could be as simple as washing a spouse’s clothes after a shift on a construction site.

Is pleural thickening a disability?

Pleural thickening can be disabling as your lungs can no longer expand as far as they used to. This can cause breathlessness that may be so severe you can’t carry out simple tasks.

If you’re diagnosed with pleural thickening, you could be entitled to claim state benefits. You may be unable to work due to your breathlessness and be entitled to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

Read More FAQs

Related information - pleural thickening claims

Support and Rehabilitation - our specialists can help you get all the support you need
Help With Health Costs - our factsheet provides information on financial support you could claim for help with healthcare costs
Asbestos Claims Guide - information on the claims process following asbestos exposure.
Industrial Illness - we have years of experience representing people who have developed an industrial illness

Scottish Flag All Scottish cases will be handled by the Scottish law firm with which we are associated, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP. The law relating to funding is different in Scotland and you will receive separate advice about what that means as well as a separate funding agreement.

 

About Irwin Mitchell

Founded in Sheffield in 1912, Irwin Mitchell has always been a bit different. Our advisers really get to know the people and business that we help.

We have offices around the UK so wherever you are, our experts can help.

Contact Us

Give us a ring to speak to a member of our team in the strictest confidence. Or you can fill out our contact form and we'll ring you back.

0370 1500 100

Our phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year

Get a call back

Fill in your details below and we'll be in touch as soon as possible

This data will only be used by Irwin Mitchell for processing your query and for no other purpose.

  • Contact
  • 0370 1500 100
  • Contact Irwin Mitchell
  • Social Media
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • About Irwin Mitchell
  • About Us
  • Responsible Business
  • Careers
  • Business Management
  • Alumni Programme
  • Pay A Bill
  • Complaints Procedure
  • SRA Regulated
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & Security
  • Hoaxes
  • Modern Slavery Act Statement
  • Manage Cookie Settings

© 2025  Irwin Mitchell LLP

Irwin Mitchell LLP is authorised & regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Our Regulatory Information

Dialog that contains a form to request a callback.

Request A Callback

Enter your details below and a member of our team will contact you within 24 hours

This data will only be used by Irwin Mitchell for processing your query and for no other purpose.