Mesothelioma is a cancer that is linked to asbestos exposure and, unfortunately, is not curable. It can have a significant impact on a sufferer’s life by preventing them from working and participating in family events and social activities. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have grounds to seek compensation for the suffering caused. This guide about mesothelioma claims will explain how much compensation could be awarded for mesothelioma and the eligibility criteria that apply.

Our team of specially trained advisors can help you to begin the claims process. They’ll offer free legal guidance about your options as part of a no-obligation consultation. They could then partner you with one of our specialist personal injury solicitors who’ll represent you on a No Win No Fee basis if they believe your claim has a high enough chance of success. Although we know that a mesothelioma claim will never be easy, knowing that you don’t need to pay legal fees unless you’re compensated should make the process a little less stressful.

Please call us on 0800 6524 881 to discuss your options or read on to find out more about mesothelioma compensation claims.

What Is Mesothelioma?

According to Cancer Research UK, pleural mesothelioma (the most common type of mesothelioma) is a type of cancer that affects the tissues lining the lungs. Another type of mesothelioma affects the peritoneum (the tissues covering organs in the abdomen) but this is less common.

Approximately 2,700 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the UK each year and it is more common in men than women and often in older men (over the age of 75). That’s largely due to the fact that the use of asbestos was completely banned in the UK in 1999.

Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

In most cases, any symptoms caused by mesothelioma might not appear until decades are being exposed to asbestos. According to the NHS, the most common symptoms associated with pleural mesothelioma include:

Symptoms linked to peritoneal mesothelioma include a swollen tummy, pain in the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation and diarrhoea.

If you have any concerns about cancer linked to asbestos exposure, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible.

Who Is At Risk Of Mesothelioma?

Due to its excellent insulating properties, asbestos was used in construction and other industries a lot until it was banned in the 90s. Therefore, builders and tradesmen were often at risk of exposure to asbestos particles.

However, anybody who lived or worked in buildings containing asbestos was also at risk especially if the asbestos was disturbed or damaged. Additionally, families and friends of workers could be endangered too when workers carried asbestos dust home on their clothing.

Am I Eligible To Make A Mesothelioma Compensation Claim?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible to seek compensation for the suffering caused. Our personal injury solicitors may be able to help you claim compensation for mesothelioma whether you were exposed to asbestos as a tradesperson or while working in a school, hospital or any other building with asbestos insulation.

If you’re not sure where you contracted mesothelioma, it’s still worth contacting our team. Your solicitor may be able to trace the company where you were exposed to asbestos and sue them on your behalf. Importantly, you may still be able to claim compensation from the company’s insurance provider even if the company is no longer trading.

The best way to find out if you’re eligible to make a mesothelioma claim is to speak to our team as soon as possible after receiving your diagnosis.

Can I Claim Through The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme?

Where the employer responsible for your illness cannot be identified, it may be possible to receive compensation through one of the government’s diffuse mesothelioma payment schemes. This is something our specialist solicitors can help you to claim. The amount you may receive is age-based and dependent on which scheme is appropriate for you.

Can I Claim For Somebody Who Has Died From Mesothelioma?

If a loved one has passed away and their death was caused by mesothelioma, you could still sue their employer on their behalf. Even if your loved one began their own claim but died before it was completed, you could seek damages for them.

As well as claiming compensation for the deceased’s suffering, you could be compensated if you relied on their pension or income and if you have incurred out-of-pocket costs such as funeral expenses. Please see our page on fatal accident claims or get in touch with a member of our team for free advice. There’s no obligation and your call will be handled sensitively by your advisor.

How Much Compensation For Mesothelioma Could I Claim?

Mesothelioma claims are unique because the impact of the condition will vary from case to case. As well as compensating you for any physical suffering, claims must also consider any financial implications. If you make a successful mesothelioma claim, your solicitor could secure damages that cover:

• Any physical discomfort and suffering.
• Distress, depression, anxiety and other mental health injuries.
• Loss of enjoyment i.e. if you can no longer play with your grandchildren because of your illness.
• Medical expenses including life-changing medical treatment.
• The cost of travelling to and from medical appointments.
• Care costs.
• Lost earnings if you were still working at the time of your mesothelioma diagnosis.
• Home or vehicle modifications to make it easier to deal with mobility issues or moving equipment (such as oxygen tanks).

As you can see, there is quite a lot to think about when starting a mesothelioma compensation claim. If your case is managed by one of our specialist solicitors, they’ll try to ensure everything is included in an effort to ensure that you are compensated fairly.

Time Limits For Claiming Mesothelioma Compensation

As you may have heard already, there is a 3-year time limit for mesothelioma claims. As the condition can take years or decades to materialise, the time limit will usually begin from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure to asbestos.

Therefore, we would suggest that you begin the mesothelioma claims process as soon as you find out your diagnosis. This should make it easier for your solicitor to find the evidence needed to support your claim.

Additionally, where liability for your illness is accepted, an early start to your mesothelioma claim could allow for interim payments to pay for care or treatment costs to be made before the claim is actually settled.

If you’d like to begin a mesothelioma claim, please call our team today.

What Information Will I Need To Make A Mesothelioma Claim?

Our solicitors will try to determine who was responsible for your ill health as soon as possible and try to claim compensation on your behalf. To make this process easier, it’d be a good idea for you to write down as much of your employment history as possible. Where possible, this should include:

• Company names;
• Employment dates;
• Addresses of any sites you can remember working on.

In addition to your employment history, your solicitor will request copies of your medical records to help prove your diagnosis. They may also ask your friends and family for information about how you’ve been affected by mesothelioma to help build a picture of its impact.

If you have any further information that might be relevant, please let your advisor know when you call to discuss your claim.

Starting The Mesothelioma Compensation Claims Process

You can rest assured that if your claim is taken on by one of our solicitors, you’ll only have to pay for their time and costs if you’re compensated. Their No Win No Fee mesothelioma service means:

• There are no legal fees payable upfront.
• If the claim fails, you won’t be liable for any legal fees whatsoever.
• If the claim is won, a success fee (explained on this page) will be deducted from your compensation to pay for your solicitor’s work.

The No Win No Fee service is available whether you’re claiming for yourself or on behalf of your loved one and one of our solicitors agrees to represent you. During the claims process, your solicitor will aim to:

• Investigate your work history and collect medical evidence.
• Handle all communications with your employer’s insurers on your behalf.
• Keep you updated about any progress in your claim.
• Only agree to settle the claim if they believe it compensates you fairly.

Our team of specialists is on hand if you have any questions about the mesothelioma claims process. Simply call 0800 6524 881 today and your chances of being compensated will be assessed for free.

Remember, any accepted claim will be handled on a No Win No Fee basis by one of our specialist solicitors.

If you have anything else you’d like to know about the process of making a mesothelioma claim, please use our free live chat service.