Compensation secured for man suffering from pleural thickening following exposure to asbestos.
A carpenter from Norfolk who developed lung disease as a result of being exposed to asbestos working for two employers has obtained compensation with the help of Thompsons Solicitors.
The 74-year-old was first exposed to asbestos when he worked as an apprentice at a building firm in Berkshire aged just 16.
He was employed there for more than 30 years cutting sheets of asbestos used under the eaves on roofs. He would often end up covered in asbestos dust.
He was later exposed to asbestos between 1987 and 2005, working as a school caretaker where he came into contact with old asbestos insulation in the school boiler room.
He was diagnosed with pleural thickening, a lung disease which causes breathlessness. After diagnosis, he contacted industrial disease specialists, Thompsons Solicitors, for advice and to pursue a claim for compensation.
He said: “I’ve had to slow down a lot as a result of my condition. I used to have no problem at all going for long walks with my friends and family, but now the breathlessness makes it very difficult.
“I’m told by my doctors that there’s a chance my condition will worsen and I may go on to develop other asbestos-related health problems. It’s been a real blow, but Thompsons took care to ensure that my compensation could be increased if the worst should happen in future, which gives my family and me greater peace of mind.”
Monique Medd, from Thompsons Solicitors, said: “My client was failed by the only two employers he ever worked with, both of whom were negligent by exposing him to asbestos.
“Although his condition is currently stable, the expert medical evidence I obtained shows that there is a risk of serious deterioration in his health in future, including an increased risk of developing the fatal asbestos disease, mesothelioma.
“We secured him immediate compensation as well as protecting his position for the future with a court order, which means that if the worse happens and his health deteriorates due to asbestos-related disease, then his case can be reopened to claim further damages.”
Asbestos disease diagnosis? Talk to us for advice and support on how to secure compensation.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we can support you with advice on how to make a claim.
The process will be explained in plain English and with no obligation – our priority is to provide you with the best, expert advice on whether you have a valid case for compensation, and to signpost you to further sources of support.
There are strict time limits applied to making a claim – usually three years from the date of diagnosis. It doesn’t matter if the exposure to asbestos took place – as it often does – decades ago, the three year time limit applies to the date of knowledge of diagnosis or date of death.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.