Frequently asked questions about claiming for Asbestos Diseases |
| Am I able to make a claim for an asbestos disease? |
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| If you have been diagnosed with Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Asbestos related lung cancer or
Pleural thickening in the last 3 years, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. |
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| Can I claim for pleural plaques, asbestos scarring or asbestos damage to the lungs? |
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| Recent legislation has been passed in the Scottish parliament so that if exposure to
asbestos occurred in Scotland, you can claim compensation. The English Parliament may well review it's position
on this in the near future. |
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| What if the diagnosis was more than 3 years ago? |
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| For asbestos related claims, much depends upon the date that your symptoms started or
the date you realised that you could make a claim. It may be that you had asbestos scarring more than 3 years ago and
you now have asbestosis. Every case is different, if you are unsure as to whether the 3 year rule applies in your
circumstances, call us and we can offer you some advice. (FreePhone 0800 783 9535) |
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| How long do asbestos claims take to settle? |
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Every case is different; some of the more straight forward cases can take between 6-12 months.
More complex cases are likely to take longer, especially when the asbestos exposure took place 30 or more years ago.
Certain companies have had many asbestos related claims against them - gas and electricity board for example -
they are more likely to settle the claim quickly.
Our solicitors will always strive to settle your claim as
quickly and efficiently as possible. |
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| How much compensation can I expect to receive for an asbestos claim? |
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| Again - every case is different. Mesothelioma victims may receive up to £200,000, sometimes
more. It very much depends on the severity of the disease, the level of exposure, the existence of the companies where
the exposure took place and the age of the claimant. Our solicitors will be able to provide a more accurate estimate.
We recognise of course that the compensation awarded is little more than a crumb of comfort to the victims
and their families. |
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| Do asbestos cases often go to court? |
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| It is highly unlikely that asbestos cases end up in court, the vast majority settle
at an early stage. |
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| Will I need to meet your solicitors? |
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| This is very much up to you. Our solicitors will travel to meet you where ever you are
in the UK and (within reason) outside of the UK. |
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| What if the companies where exposure took place no longer exist? |
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There is no limit to the number of companies you can claim against. Our solicitors have
access to several databases (other than Companies House) and will be able to run a thorough trace on each company to determine it's current status.
It may be that the insurance company can be traced or that the company was taken over or has changed names. Occasionally
it may be possible to bring companies back on the companies register.
If there is an element of doubt, it is
probably worth a 5 minute phone call for your piece of mind. Sometimes we do draw a complete blank, under these
circumstances you should still be able to claim from the government (Pneumoconiosis Act 1979).
We will be able to provide you with the contact details of the department that runs the scheme. |
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| What if the exposure to asbestos took place in the navy, army or air force? |
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| Unfortunately, The Crown is exempt from prosecution prior to 1987, so if you were in the
armed forces and exposed to asbestos before 1987, we will be unable to assist you.
However, you should still be able to get some compensation from the government. |
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| Will I have to pay any fees? |
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| No. There are no fees or expenses at any stage of the claims process, nor is any money
deducted from the final settlement - ie you will keep 100% of the compensation that may be awarded. |
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| How are the solicitors paid? |
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| Our solicitors recover their costs from the insurance companies of the companies where
the exposure to asbestos took place. |
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| What do I do next? |
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Contact Asbestosis-Compensation by telephoning us free on 0800 783 9535,
requesting a call back or filling out the online claim form.
If you are contacting us by phone, ask to speak to
either Lynne Manners or Warren Miller.
It would help if you could have a brief summary of your work history to hand.
We recognise that you may be going back several years and may not recall specific dates - at this stage that is not
too important, we only require a few basic details to assess your claim. |
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