Families and the asbestos legacy

The use of asbestos in the UK building industry is now all but obsolete. Tragically though, the legacy of asbestos lives on as asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis kill thousands of people in the UK each year.

It is not only people who worked with asbestos in industries like shipbuilding, carpentry, mining, plumbing and painting and decorating who, through exposure to the fibre, go on to develop asbestos-related illnesses.

Their families too, are at risk. This is evidenced in the recent spate of asbestosis compensation and mesothelioma compensation claims that have been brought forward by family members who have developed asbestos-related illnesses through exposure to deadly asbestos dust on the clothes of their loved ones.

The messages the courts have sent out in resolving these asbestosis compensation and mesothelioma compensation cases is clear: if someone develops an asbestos-related illnesses through secondary contact, the employer of the family member who carried the asbestos dust should be held liable for any asbestos compensation claim.

This applies to the development of all asbestos-related illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis; though the law on pleural plaques and pleural thickening is less clear.

Claiming asbestos compensation on behalf of a deceased relative
Because, once they are diagnosed, asbestos-related illnesses can kill with merciless speed it may not always be possible for the sufferer to claim personal injury compensation in their lifetime.

In recognition of this, the Government has allowed family and dependents the right to claim asbestos compensation on behalf of a deceased relative.

Sometimes this may mean seeing through a personal injury compensation claim for asbestos-related illness that the deceased has already commenced. At other times it may mean family members starting the compensation claim posthumously (after the sufferer has passed away).

Whether the deceased is your father, husband, wife, mother, son, daughter or partner it may be possible to make a posthumous compensation claim.

Making a compensation claim on behalf of a relative in Scotland
The law in Scotland for asbestos compensation claims differs to that in the rest of the UK. In Scotland it is possible for both sufferers to claim while they are alive and for their families to make a separate claim once the initial claimant is deceased.

It is hoped by many, including leading UK personal injury solicitors who have launched a petition on the issue, that the rest of the UK will follow Scotland's lead on this issue and leave sufferers of asbestosis and mesothelioma not having to face the dilemma of whether they should claim or not in their own lifetime.

Making a no win, no fee claim for asbestos-related illness
Here at YouClaim we have extensive experience in making compensation claims for asbestos-related illnesses. Our panel of personal injury solicitors share our commitment to an ethical and sensitive approach.

Between us we have forged an impressive success rate in resolving claims for mesothelioma compensation and asbestosis compensation as well as other asbestos-related claims.

We understand that when you have experienced pain and suffering it would be unjust if you were exposed to the distress of financial risk when making a compensation claim. This is why we guarantee that you will not be charged a penny at any time during your claim for asbestos compensation.

This means that if you win, you will get to keep 100% of your compensation cheque and will not incur any fees from us; and, even if your claim is not successful, you will not have to pay a thing either as we can take out an insurance policy on your behalf covering you for all eventualities. Win or lose, no fee it's our guarantee.

If you wish to investigate your right to asbestos compensation you can contact our team of skilled legal advisors. You can reach them in one of several ways including requesting a call back at a time convenient to you, discussing your claim using e-chat, filling out an online claim form, or calling us now on 0800 10 757 95.