Asbestos was a substance that was widely used in construction until it was banned in the 1980s. We know now that exposure to asbestos is harmful and affects lung function. Because Asbestos was so widely used, there are several asbestos-related illnesses you can claim for, but many people do not know which ones.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses You Can Claim For
Illnesses that are related to asbestos exposure that you can make a claim for include Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Pleural Thickening, and Asbestos-induced lung cancer.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a disease where the lung tissue hardens. It is associated with prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos dust.
Symptoms of asbestosis include:
- shortness of breath
- persistent cough
- dry crackling noise in your lungs
- chest pain
- lack of or difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite and weight loss.
Asbestosis is also a slowly progressive disease. It usually takes between 15 and 30 years to develop, after initial exposure to asbestos. It can cause long term scarring and inflammation in the lungs. This can also result in lung cancer and heart disease.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive type of cancer. Little or intermittent exposure to asbestos fibres often causes it. Similarly to asbestosis, symptoms include:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- coughing
- weight loss
- loss of appetite.
The cause of virtually all cases of Mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Once a person receives a diagnosis of Mesothelioma, it is almost always incurable.
Pleural Thickening
Pleural thickening, sometimes known as Diffuse Pleural Thickening or DPT, happens when exposure to harmful asbestos fibres causes scarring and calcification of the lining of the lungs. The main symptoms of pleural thickening are shortness of breath and chest pain.
Pleural thickening can cause a victim to have chest pain or difficulty breathing. This is because the lungs cannot expand and contract as nature intended. Sadly, there is no cure.
Claiming for Asbestos-related Illnesses
All employers, past and present, owe their staff a duty of care to ensure their working environment is safe and staff are not at risk. You may, therefore, be able to claim for an asbestos-related illness if you believe your employer failed in their duty of care. For example, if they did not provide you with the correct safety equipment. Another example is if they did not tell you the dangers associated with working with asbestos.
Asbestos-related illnesses take decades to form and can often have a life-changing effect on all involved. There are also cases where, sadly, a person did not live for very long after they were diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. In this case, a spouse or next of kin may have to make a claim on their behalf.
The law surrounding asbestos illness claims is complex. Therefore, you should get solicitors that specialise in these types of claims.
How We Can Help
Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with industrial disease claims. This includes Asbestos-related illnesses. So contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.