Asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma
Thompsons Solicitors has helped the widow of a businessman, who died of an asbestos-related disease, to recover £650,000 in damages.
The widow, who does not wish to be named, continued the claim on behalf of her husband after he died from devastating disease mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. There is no cure for the disease which can take up to forty years or more to develop.
The keen golfer was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February 2007 and sadly died in September 2008, aged 65.
Exposed to asbestos while working
He was exposed to asbestos while working for C A Parsons at Tilbury B Power Station between 1965 to 1967. His job involved fitting turbines. He worked alongside others who were removing asbestos on boilers but was never given any protection by his employers or warned about the dangers.
He received an interim payment of £60,000 before he died. The case was settled out of court just three weeks before it was due to be heard in the High Court in London.
His wife said: “My husband was always fit and active so it was a horrendous shock for the entire family when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He felt strongly about claiming compensation. He was aware that after years building up his business to provide for the family he would soon no longer be with us.
“He was relieved when Thompsons obtained the interim payment. It gave him peace of mind to know that when the claim was concluded we would be financially secure. The final settlement now allows us to put the case behind us. It was what he wanted.”
Lorna Webster of Thompsons Solicitors added: “It is important that mesothelioma sufferers obtain specialist legal advice. Although compensation can never replace a loved one it can help relieve the financial burden faced by dependent relatives. The level of damages in this case in part reflects the earnings our client would have achieved if his life had not been cut short by the development of mesothelioma. It is a great tragedy that he suffered such a painful illness due to the neglect of his former employers.”
Asbestos disease diagnosis? Talk to us for advice and support on how to secure compensation.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we can support you with advice on how to make a claim.
The process will be explained in plain English and with no obligation – our priority is to provide you with the best, expert advice on whether you have a valid case for compensation, and to signpost you to further sources of support.
There are strict time limits applied to making a claim – usually three years from the date of diagnosis. It doesn’t matter if the exposure to asbestos took place – as it often does – decades ago, the three year time limit applies to the date of knowledge of diagnosis or date of death.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.