Asbestos-Related Diseases
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, you could be at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
The most common asbestos-related diseases affect the lungs; however, the stomach and other parts of the body can also be affected.
All asbestos-related conditions have a latency period from the date of exposure to asbestos to symptoms of a condition developing. This is thought to vary between a minimum of 10 years and up to as many as 50 or 60 years.
Asbestos-related conditions
The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer for which, although there are treatments available, there is not yet a cure. Mesothelioma affects the linings of the body’s organs, most commonly the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but it can also affect the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma) and other parts of the body.
Lung cancer has many causes and exposure to asbestos is one of them. Asbestos fibres can be inhaled and become trapped in the lungs, this can then cause scarring which can trigger the tissue cells to mutate and grow out of control, forming a tumour.
This is a lung condition that also, unfortunately, has no cure, however, for most people it does progress slowly. Asbestosis (or asbestos-related pulmonary fibrosis) is scarring of the lungs and fibrous hardening. It is a non-cancerous but chronic condition which causes breathing problems.
This is when the lining of the lungs (the pleura) becomes calcified, scarred or thickened and can stop the lungs from expanding properly. This can cause shortness of breath.
- Pleural effusion
A pleural effusion is a build-up of fluid in the space between the lining of the lung and the outer surface of the lung. This can be caused by exposure to asbestos but can be caused by pneumonia, congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis and other causes.
- Pleural plaques
These are areas of hardening caused by scar tissue on the lining of the lungs. Pleural plaques are very common amongst people who have been exposed to asbestos and, in most cases, do not cause any symptoms. In England and Wales, compensation generally cannot be claimed for pleural plaques, unless it can be shown that they are causing a restrictive defect on lung function.
Claiming compensation for asbestos-related diseases
All of our claims are run on a no win, no fee basis so you do not have to worry about paying a legal bill should your claim be unsuccessful due to insufficient evidence.
Our expert asbestos disease solicitors will guide you through every step of the claims process, from your first contact with us to the end of your case, we are by your side.
Every case is different and so we cannot say exactly how much compensation you might receive. Usually, a claim is made up of general damages, which is an amount of compensation for the symptoms a condition has caused, and special damages which is for out-of-pocket expenses such as loss of earnings, travel expenses or care costs.
Many people worry that they will have to go to Court to make a claim for compensation. Although in some cases we will issue Court proceedings, this does not mean that your case will end in a trial at Court. The vast majority of cases settle without having to go to trial.
In addition to a claim for compensation, you may be eligible for government benefits such as Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or Attendance Allowance. We can help you complete and submit your applications.
No hidden fees
Once we have established that you have a claim to bring, we will enter into a Conditional Fee Agreement with you. This is more commonly known as a no win, no fee agreement. This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, due to insufficient evidence, you do not pay for our costs, and any disbursements we have incurred are covered by an insurance policy taken out at the outset of the claim.
Personal service
Your claim will be dealt with by one of our expert solicitors. We will tailor our service to your needs. We can correspond with you via phone and email or, if you would prefer, by post. We also offer an initial home visit so if you would like to meet us face to face, you can.
Our asbestos-disease team is small compared to larger firms, and this allows us to offer you a more personal service. You won’t have to speak to lots of people and be passed from pillar to post just to get an update on your claim.
Proven track record
All firms say they offer excellent service, but we can prove it. We are rated Excellent on Trustpilot, and you can read reviews from real clients here.
“Excellent service from James Cameron at Oliver & Co who dealt with my father’s asbestos claim, who sadly passed away during the claim. James was very supportive at this time and gave us the belief to pursue the claim on behalf of my dad, to recover a good result for my mother. The service we received from James was very professional, excellent personal service and extremely efficient with regular updates. Thank you again for your help and support, we would certainly not hesitate to recommend and use again in the future.” C Wilson
Vetting process
From your first contact with us, we will investigate whether we think you have a claim to bring. We have a rigorous vetting process to ensure we take on cases that we believe we can win, this helps to reassure our clients that they are not wasting their time with a claim that is unlikely to succeed. Once we have completed our vetting process which will include confirming your diagnosis, discussing your employment history and identifying potential defendants, we will sign you up as a client on our no win, no fee agreement.
If, at the end of the vetting process, we do not believe you would succeed in making a claim for compensation, you will not be charged for any of the work done.
Get in touch
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition and would like to know if you could claim compensation, get in touch with our expert Industrial Disease team today on 01244 312306. Alternatively, you can email us law@oliverandco.co.uk.
Oliver & Co have far exceeded our expectations with their professionalism, honesty and integrity during the most painful episode of our lives.
They are very easy to contact, with any and all queries being dealt with very quickly. James and his team have gone above and beyond the call of duty in helping us pursue justice for our Dad. James has also given us much emotional support and his wisdom, expertise and honesty have helped more than I can express in this review.
Thank you so much James, Lucy and all of the team for all you have done for us.
Call and speak to a member of our team on 01244 312306
