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The pleura is the double-layered membrane which lines the inside of the ribcage and protects the outside of the lungs. The two layers are filled with a small amount of liquid which helps reduce the friction between the layers and means that the lungs can expand and contract without any problems.
When asbestos fibres are inhaled into the lungs they can work their way out to the pleura and may cause fibrosis or scarring. This causes localised thickening or calcification of the outer layer of the pleura, although the lungs themselves remain unharmed.
It can take more than 10 years for the scarring to show in X-rays, but once identified it provides an indicator of the terrible effect asbestos has on the health of those exposed to particles.
Pleural plaques, also known as pleural thickening, are chronic and do not have a cure.
If you have discovered that asbestos has caused damage to the lining of your lungs, your hopes of compensation may seem distant, since a 2007 court ruling stated that this condition is not enough to launch a claim for damages.
It used to be the case that if you had been diagnosed with pleural plaques due to exposure to asbestos at work, and fault could be attributed to your employer, then you would have been able to make a personal injury claim.
However, while sufferers are no longer eligible to make a claim for pleural plaques, the diagnosis is good proof of exposure to asbestos and a sign of future industrial illness, so it is still worth contacting YouClaim for free and confidential advice.
Living with the fear of asbestos-related disease can be debilitating, especially if former colleagues have become affected by diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
However, the current situation is that pleural plaques are deemed not to have an adverse effect on lung function or cause any physical disability. In 2008, a consultation began to examine the possibility of this legal situation changing, however, in 2009 it was ruled that, as pleural plaques are symptomless and do not impact a person's health, insurers are not required to pay compensation for the condition.
If you have been diagnosed with pleural plaques and you would like to talk about your concerns, a personal injury solicitor may be able to help you. Here at YouClaim we can give you expert advice based on our wide-ranging personal injury experience and our knowledge of the current state of the law.
At YouClaim we can assess your claim and let you know whether you have a case. There are no obligations or pressures for you to proceed with a claim unless you feel completely ready to do so, and if you are, we will appoint an experienced personal injury solicitor to represent you.
We guarantee there are no costs and no risks when you make an asbestos-related compensation claim through us. Win or lose, you will not pay any money to anyone at any time.
For more information about asbestos compensation, from pleural plaques to mesothelioma, contact us by filling in our online form or make a call back request and we will get back to you at the time which is convenient to you. Alternatively, call our advisors free on 0800 10 757 95.
