Asbestosis Claims

Sadly, there's no cure for asbestosis once it has developed, as the damage to your lungs can't be reversed. This fact will be considered when we calculate how much compensation you should receive. It is classed as a benign condition, however.

Asbestosis can get worse over time and because you have had contact with asbestos, you have an increased risk of developing illnesses like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pleural disease. The condition sometimes has a significant impact on your day-to-day health due to breathing issues and can even shorten your life expectancy.

All of these factors will be analysed by a medical professional before we calculate how much compensation you should receive. They will provide us with information on the impact asbestosis has on your current health, the likelihood of the condition progressing in the future and any care and support you may need to have the best quality of life possible.

If you have already made a claim for asbestosis, but your condition deteriorates, you could be entitled to another compensation award. Our solicitors can advise you whether this is the case and help you make a further claim.

Even though asbestos was banned in the UK over 25 years ago, it’s still important that precautions were taken to limit your risk of exposure to asbestos already in situ. Regulations were introduced in 1970 to provide guidance on the use of asbestos in the workplace.

The most toxic forms of asbestos have been banned since the mid-1980s, the last being regulated in 1999. Because of this, it’s possible that you could have been exposed to asbestos if you have worked in buildings that were built or refurbished before the year 2000.

If you are currently employed and your role at work means you could be exposed to asbestos, even now, your employer must follow strict rules set out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Employers, managers and traders should:

• Identify if asbestos is present and what type it is
• Carry out a risk assessment to see whether it’s possible to do the work without any asbestos exposure
• Consider whether the work should be done by a contractor who holds a specialist licence to handle asbestos
• Notify the relevant authority (if needed) to let them know about the work that could involve asbestos exposure
• Provide training and protective equipment to employees

If your employer didn’t follow regulations around the use of asbestos in the workplace and you later developed asbestosis, we could help you make a compensation claim. To find out more about making an asbestosis claim, contact us today on 0808 303 8275.

You may be able to make a claim even if your former employer is no longer trading. Our lawyers can access several databases, so we will be able to trace the company and can check whether it’s currently trading under a different name.

If your employer is no longer trading, don’t worry, as compensation is normally paid by your former employer’s insurer. Even if you were exposed to asbestos decades ago, we can still help you find out who was responsible so that you can access the compensation you deserve.