Scotland gets green light for asbestos compensation claims

For people living in Scotland, whether they are in Glasgow, Dundee or Edinburgh, asbestos compensation claims for pleural plaques, symptomless asbestosis and pleural thickening are now a reality.

Community Safety minister Fergus Ewing announced the news in the following way, "Industries such as ship-building and construction contributed to our nation's wealth in the past. Sadly however these industries have also given many Scots a legacy which still impacts on their lives today through exposure to asbestos.

"It is therefore right and proper that we should not turn our back on these people. That is why the Scottish Government has taken urgent steps to overrule the House of Lords judgment and ensure that people with pleural plaques can continue to raise an action for damages.

"The bill has been widely welcomed by asbestos groups and other bodies including the Faculty of Advocates. Most of the opposition to the bill is from insurers and business interests. They have concerns about increased costs of claims and insurance premiums and that the bill will open the floodgates for claims for other conditions that are not currently compensatable.

"I am aware of those concerns, but believe that fears about wider effects of the bill are exaggerated. The bill will be concerned only with three asbestos-related conditions - pleural plaques; symptomless pleural thickening; symptomless asbestosis- and will have no effect beyond those conditions.

"There have been claims that we are legislating for the "worried well". This is a gross misrepresentation of people who have a significantly higher risk than the general population of developing serious asbestos-related disease.

"There has been evidence that lawyers who handled personal injury claims have benefited more than the victims. It is certainly not our intention to line the pockets of lawyers. In the past the costs associated with settling such cases have been as high or higher than the compensation awarded.

"That is surely wrong. This situation should not continue and that is why I expect lawyers involved in such cases to ensure that they are settled more quickly and more cheaply.

"This Government takes this issue very seriously and I hope this move to help those who have been affected by exposure to asbestos will bring some relief to people living with this condition."

No win, no fee asbestos compensation solicitors
Wherever you live in Scotland, whether it's Glasgow, Dundee, or Edinburgh, asbestos compensation claims for so-called "benign" asbestos-related conditions are now possible.

Living with the knowledge that you have pleural plaques, pleural thickening or symptomless asbestosis is incredibly difficult, as there is always the awareness that a more serious asbestos-related condition could be lurking round the corner.

YouClaim's no win, no fee solicitors are well versed in all aspects of asbestos law. We work right across Scotland and have an excellent success rate in securing positive outcomes for pursuers.

Win or lose, we never charge any fees, costs or disbursements for our services. We also protect you from costs incurred by the opposing side, ensuring your compensation claim is always cost-free.

In addition, unlike many personal injury claim firms, we never take a cut from any client's damages award, delivering 100 percent compensation in every winning case.

If you wish to be put in touch with Solicitors Regulation Authority governed asbestos specialist who is best suited to your case, you can call us on 0800 10 757 95.

Alternatively, you can get in touch with us online by filling out a claim form, using our echat service, or requesting a callback.

However you reach us, whatever town or city you are in, from Clydebank to Carnoustie to Edinburgh, asbestos compensation claims are always cost-free with our service.