Mesothelioma can be a huge shock to those diagnosed and their families. Since symptoms do not tend to appear until the late stages of the disease, it can be years after asbestos exposure when the disease is eventually diagnosed.
If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other form of asbestos related disease and wishes to make an asbestos claim for compensation, it is important to seek expert advice from a specialist asbestos claims solicitor to ensure that you get the right advice and support.
Irwin Mitchell has a team of solicitors who specialise in asbestos claims, using their expertise to provide plain-English advice and support to you and your family throughout the claims process.
Making an asbestos claim for compensation
Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis often wish to make an asbestos claim to help them cope with the effects of the disease and to handle the costs of support and care services. Asbestos compensation will allow financial support not only for the client's personal needs but also for their family and dependents.
Irwin Mitchell work closely with you and your family, exploring every aspect of your asbestos claim to determine how and where you were exposed to asbestos, how it has affected your health and how your standard of living may have been harmed as a result. By doing this, we can put together the best possible case for asbestos compensation as well as providing advice and support throughout the claims process.
Liability for Asbestos Exposure
The majority of asbestos claims will be against previous employers as exposure tends to happen in the workplace. An asbestos claim can be pursued against the employer, or the employer's insurance company.
If the company is no longer in business, it can be possible to make an asbestos claim against the company's insurance provider. Irwin Mitchell has vast experience in pursuing asbestos claims in this way. In rare cases where the company is no longer active and the insurers cannot be found, it may still be possible to claim for asbestos compensation under a government "no fault" scheme, which was put in place for cases such as these.
If the exposure did not occur at work it may still be possible to pursue an asbestos claim against the person or company responsible.
Who can make an asbestos claim?
If you have been exposed to asbestos and are suffering from mesothelioma, asbestosis or any other asbestos related illness, you can make an asbestos claim.
It is still often possible to pursue a claim if the client suffering from mesothelioma has died. If the asbestos claim was made during the client's lifetime but they passed away before the claim was concluded then the family can continue to pursue the claim. Similarly if the person who contracted mesothelioma has already passed away, it is still possible for the bereaved family to pursue an asbestos claim for all dependents of the mesothelioma sufferer. Bereavement damages can also be claimed by the widow or widower.
If you would like specialist advice on making an asbestos claim, speak to our expert legal team at Irwin Mitchell today.