A retired ship engineer exposed to asbestos in the 1950s and 60s has secured £40,000 in compensation with the help of Thompsons Solicitors
The man was frequently exposed to asbestos while employed as a shipyard fitter/turner and then as a seagoing engineer for various merchant shipping lines. Despite the dangers of asbestos being well-known at this time, neither he, nor his colleagues, were warned by the employers or provided with any form of protection.
Increasing breathlessness
His diagnosis of asbestosis came after he visited his doctor with concerns over increasing breathlessness. He then instructed Thompsons Solicitors to investigate a claim for compensation.
The effects of his condition have made basic tasks extremely difficult, and his mobility has been reduced to the extent that he has had to install a lift simply to get up the stairs in his home.
Life has lost its sparkle
The former engineer said: “I used to enjoy being active, doing the gardening and walking the dog, but asbestosis means I can no longer do these things like I used to and it is much more difficult to leave the house. My life has lost the sparkle it once had.”
Eamonn McDonough at Thompsons Solicitors said: “This case shows the benefit of seeking compensation no matter how long ago the asbestos exposure occurred. At Thompsons we have the specialist expertise to bring claims for asbestos disease to a successful conclusion for the compensation our clients are entitled to in the shortest possible time.”
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.