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We are expert Solicitors in the field of asbestos compensation, helping individuals affected by asbestos, and their families, to obtain the compensation they are entitled to.
Poole Alcock is a leading law firm whose dedicated asbestos-related disease team has over 25 years of experience in helping victims and their families throughout England and Wales, and we work closely with charities that support victims of asbestos.
An asbestos condition can lie dormant for many years after inhalation of asbestos fibres therefore a diagnosis can come as a complete shock and leave you confused about your options.
At Poole Alcock, we have successfully helped many people affected by asbestos, and their families, to obtain the compensation they are entitled to. Our team understands the devastating impact a diagnosis of asbestos disease can have, not only on you, but also your family, and we will do everything we can to make the claim process as simple and stress-free as possible.
Contact us to start your asbestos claim.
Once you have confirmed that you want us to act for you on your asbestos claim on a ‘no win no fee’ basis, we can start your claim. The claims process will usually be as follows:
Whilst this gives you an overview of the average claim, some claims are more complex. Further evidence may be needed from specialists to discuss care options and fibre count analysis amongst other things. Equally however, some claims can be settled without the need for issuing Court proceedings.
In light of the complicated nature of this type of claim and the amount of evidence needed, most claims can take anywhere between 18 months – 2 years to settle. Some can even take 3 years before settlement is reached. However it should be noted that most claims for asbestos-related claims are high value. Typically they range anywhere from £15,000.00 to £250,000.00.
Get in touch with our team for a free, stress-free consultation for your claim.
Conditions caused and associated with asbestos exposure can include:
Asbestosis is fibrosis within the lung caused by exposure to asbestos. Pulmonary (meaning relating to the lungs) fibrosis and interstitial fibrosis are the same conditions but may have other causes than exposure to asbestos.
Symptoms and diagnosis for Asbestosis usually occur more than 20 years after exposure. The condition is directly related to the length and extent of exposure to asbestos. Mild exposure over a short period is unlikely to cause fibrosis of the lungs.
In the very early stages there may be little or no symptoms. However, as the condition progresses there will be increasing breathlessness and coughing. Mobility becomes reduced and quality of life may be affected. Sufferers may also develop a rounded deformity to the fingertips, known as clubbing.
The risk of contracting lung cancer is increased if a person also smoked or smokes. A study in the USA showed that a person’s chances of developing lung cancer were increased 10 times by smoking, only five times by exposure to asbestos, but by 50 times by smoking and being exposed to asbestos.
The risk of contracting asbestos-related lung cancer is related to the level of exposure to asbestos. Symptoms can include:
Malignant mesothelioma or mesothelioma cancer is a disease caused by exposure to asbestos. In the UK about 2,500 people a year are diagnosed with mesothelioma, and although it is considered rare it is becoming more common with the number of new cases in the UK predicted not to peak for several years.
Mesothelioma is a tumour in the pleura (lining of the lungs) or the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity). Whether the tumour is associated with the lungs or the abdomen is usually related to inhalation or ingestion of asbestos. The average period between first exposure and diagnosis of this condition is 40 years.
Mesothelioma is usually found in people who suffered large exposures to asbestos, however, it has been known to occur in people who have suffered relatively light exposure. At present there is no evidence of a threshold dose (minimum level of exposure) below which there is no risk. Poole Alcock has helped people with apparently relatively light exposure, successfully secure compensation.
Poole Alcock has successfully represented victims of asbestos who have developed mesothelioma whilst working in a range of different jobs, trades and professions including:
Those exposed to asbestos second hand, for example from the clothes of someone working with the material, can also develop mesothelioma. There are also rare cases where the cancer has developed as a result of living near large deposits of the material, such as mining areas.
Unfortunately, symptoms of mesothelioma are notoriously difficult to detect or may be confused with other common ailments. Often patients do not experience symptoms until the tumours have spread. This makes diagnosing and treating the disease early, very difficult.
Typical mesothelioma symptoms include:
If you or anyone you know has even been exposed to asbestos and have these symptoms, it is worth getting checked by your doctor.
Pleural plaques are scarring to the lining of the lungs and are an indicator that asbestos fibres have been inhaled in the past.
Unfortunately since 2011, individuals can no longer claim compensation for a diagnosis of pleural plaques. The House of Lords took this decision based upon the fact that the majority of pleural plaque cases do not actually result in the individual suffering any noticeable symptoms.
However, as mentioned above, pleural plaques are an indicator of an individual’s exposure to asbestos and therefore, in some circumstances, other asbestos-related conditions may well develop in the future.
Pleural Thickening is fibrous damage to the pleura (outer lining of the lungs), which causes the pleura to become thickened. This disease is often caused as a result of exposure to asbestos.
This condition can be caused by things other than exposure to asbestos, for instance old infections, tuberculosis or rib damage, which have healed but left their mark on the pleura.
If this condition is diagnosed, AND it is known that the person was also exposed to asbestos, it is reasonable to assume the cause was exposure to asbestos. The symptoms for pleural thickening typically include mild to severe shortness of breath, and are usually dormant for 20 years or more after the original exposures. In some cases though it can be less.
If you would like a free consultation to discuss your asbestos claim, please complete the contact form below.
We’re happy to meet with you at home or in our offices – whatever is convenient for you.
If you prefer to speak on the phone, please do not hesitate to call us for free on 01270 625478.
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