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Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops due to exposure to asbestos. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs, but it can also affect the lining of the stomach.
More than 2,500 people are diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK and it can take many years to develop (sometimes several decades after the initial exposure to asbestos).
Sadly, mesothelioma in women is on the rise. There has been an alarming increase of 92% in women with mesothelioma since 1999. Women are also more likely than men to be diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. Read more about the rise of women with mesothelioma and some thoughts from campaigner Mavis Nye in our Mesothelioma Newsletter.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to make a mesothelioma compensation claim, even if you aren’t sure how you were exposed in the first place or you came into contact with asbestos a long time ago.
Mesothelioma is a fatal disease, with unfortunately typically has a short life expectancy following a diagnosis.
This fact, combined with the 3-year limitation period for mesothelioma claims, demonstrates how important it is for cases to be turned around as efficiently as possible. Our team can help with this, with straightforward cases often taking around 6 months or less and more complicated claims typically taking longer to resolve.
Our dedicated team of specialist mesothelioma solicitors has helped hundreds of people and their families who have developed mesothelioma due to exposure at work, in the home, or in the community.
We are experts in mesothelioma compensation claims, ensuring those affected get the compensation they deserve. Compensation will give you and your family better financial security. It can help you pay for extra medical care and support, and will allow for any lost earnings if you have had to give up work due to your illness.
Compensation for mesothelioma will also give you more peace of mind and help to ensure that your loved ones will be taken care of when you are no longer around. This helps to reduce any financial burdens that have potentially arisen following your diagnosis. In addition to financial support, we will work to secure an acknowledgement of the harm caused.
We have helped people who have been exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma may years later, in a wide range of settings including:
- Dockyards
- Power stations
- Shipyards
- Construction sites
- Railways
- Schools and colleges
- Universities
- Hospitals
- Dental practices
- Engineering sites and factories
- Offices
- Houses and flats
- Public buildings
- Shops
Our specialist mesothelioma compensation solicitors also have strong links with support groups that help people and their families who have received a diagnosis, offering information, advice and friendship including Mesothelioma UK and SWASAG.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops due to exposure to asbestos. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but it can also affect the lining of the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma).
There is currently no cure, although treatment can help control some of the symptoms and new medicines are being developed. Most cases occur in people aged over 60 and men tend to be more commonly affected than women. The disease can take a long time to develop, typically between 15 and 40 years, but it can take as long as 60-70 years.
Pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the thin tissue lining the lungs (known as the pleura). It is the most common type of mesothelioma, and is caused by exposure to asbestos fibres which are inhaled into the lungs and become lodged in the pleura.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It affects the thin tissue lining the abdomen (called the peritoneum). Peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by inhaling or ingesting tiny, microscopic asbestos fibres that get lodged in the peritoneum.
Who is at risk from mesothelioma?
If you have worked in industries where asbestos was heavily used, you are more at risk from developing mesothelioma. This includes those who worked in plumbing, engineering, joinery, construction or at dockyards.
We have also helped people who have been exposed to asbestos because they worked in a building containing asbestos (such as a school or hospital) or lived close to a factory or building site with asbestos.
Novum Law is supporting women who have been exposed to asbestos in schools, banks, shops and even rented houses. You can also be at risk if you have had ‘secondary exposure’ to asbestos, such as washing a family member’s work clothes covered in asbestos dust.
It is important to note that you do not need to know exactly where you were exposed to asbestos to make a mesothelioma claim. When pursuing compensation for mesothelioma, our team take a thorough approach to finding out where the original exposure occurred.
Even where your former employer may no longer be trading, it may still be possible to make a mesothelioma claim. We can establish whether compensation can be secured through the employer’s insurance police and, where this is not possible, the option of bringing a claim via a government scheme may apply.
Who can make a mesothelioma compensation claim?
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last three years, you could be able to make a compensation claim. Our specialist solicitors can also help you make a claim on behalf of a loved one who has already died. We can also continue with their compensation claim if they die before a settlement is reached.
How to make a mesothelioma claim
Starting a mesothelioma compensation claim is a straightforward process. After you initially contact our team, your solicitor will be in touch to discuss the details of your mesothelioma claim.
To make a successful mesothelioma claim, our team will collect all the information we need, including your employment history and the impact your diagnosis has had on your life. This will give us confirmation of whether you will have a viable claim.
If you are happy to proceed, your solicitors will launch a mesothelioma claim on your behalf. This will include contacting the defendant’s insurers and gathering suitable evidence to support your claim.
Throughout the mesothelioma claims process, your solicitor will keep you regularly updated and answer any questions you may have.
What happens if my employer has gone out of business?
If your employer has gone out of business, you may still be able to make a claim for compensation. In fact, given how long it can take to develop mesothelioma following negligent exposure to asbestos, it is often the case that companies are no longer trading.
We have the expertise to help you find out who was responsible for your asbestos exposure and can secure compensation from your former employer’s insurance firm.
What happens if I die before my mesothelioma claim has settled?
It is completely understandable to have concerns about the future if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you die before your compensation claim has settled, we can help your loved ones continue with your claim. This means that your family will have financial security after you’ve gone.
It’s not easy talking about these things but Novum Law has helped countless families in the same situation and we can talk you through the whole claims process so everyone is fully informed.
Benefits for people diagnosed with mesothelioma
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you are worried about financial support and need advice, watch this video where Andrew Stinchcombe, Novum Law’s mesothelioma specialist Director, speaks about the available benefits you may be entitled to.
Book your free initial consultation with our mesothelioma solicitors
If you believe you or a loved one are entitled to compensation for mesothelioma, our industrial disease compensation solicitors in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon are here for you.
To begin your claim, contact us on freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online form for a free, no-obligation chat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The general rule is that you have three years from the time you were diagnosed to make a mesothelioma claim or the date you realised your asbestos exposure may have been caused by someone else’s negligence or mistakes.
If a family member has died from mesothelioma, you normally have three years from the date of death to pursue a claim or from the date you found out exposure to asbestos had caused their illness.
It can take several decades for mesothelioma to develop, so it does not matter when the exposure to asbestos took place. Our specialist mesothelioma solicitors can help even if your employer has gone out of business or you don’t know how you were exposed to asbestos.
The compensation you receive depends on your personal circumstances and the impact mesothelioma has on your life. Factors such as loss of income now and into the future and any care costs will also be taken into account.
If a family member has died from mesothelioma, you may be able to claim as a dependent on their income. This includes if you are a widow or widower, partner, child, or dependant of the deceased. We can give you more advice if this applies to you.
Every case is different. Our specialist mesothelioma solicitors will work as quickly as possible to secure the maximum compensation available to ensure you and your family have peace of mind and a financially secure future.
In straightforward cases, mesothelioma claims can be resolved in an average of 6 months, while more complex cases that are disputed are often resolved within an 18 month timeframe.
Yes, you may be entitled to receive certain state benefits, such as:
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Blue Badge and Attendance Allowance
We can advise you on the state benefits available and how to claim them.
You may also be entitled to make a claim for certain government compensation schemes, sometimes referred to as government ‘lump sum payments.’
The schemes available are: The Pneumoconiosis Workers’ Compensation Act which gives lump sum payments to workers who contracted the disease through their previous work.
Your specialist mesothelioma compensation claims solicitor can give more advice on the compensation schemes available.
We may also be able to secure early, interim payments (an immediate payment to meet your needs) before a final settlement has been reached. This means it is important to get in touch with us as soon as possible, so that we can help alleviate any financial concerns you have.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be entitled to receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Our team can support with this by filling out your benefit forms and ensuring you receive exactly what you are entitled to. As mentioned above, you may also be eligible for benefits such as the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Blue Badge and Attendance Allowance. We can advise you on the state benefits available and how to claim them.
Starting a mesothelioma compensation claim is straightforward. To begin your claim, contact us on Freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online form for a free, no obligation chat. Click here to learn more about our team and our high level of experience and expertise in mesothelioma claims.
After an initial consultation phone call, your specialist solicitor will visit you in your home or a location at your convenience – or online if you prefer – to discuss the details of your claim. This will include information such as your work history and the impact that your illness has on your day-to-day life, so they can understand your needs and advise you on the compensation you may be able to claim.
Our legal expert will also use this as an opportunity to talk you through the process of making a claim and to explain your funding options and any relevant paperwork for making your claim.
From that point on, your solicitor will pursue your claim on your behalf. The next step will be to contact the defendant’s insurers and to start gathering evidence to support your claim, liaising with medical experts and healthcare providers to access your records. Your solicitor will keep you updated as your claim progresses and at every step of the process.
Yes, if your loved one has died from mesothelioma, you may still be able to make a claim on behalf of their estate. As a general rule, this should be done within three years of their death, but there are some exceptions, so it’s important to get expert advice from a specialist asbestos disease solicitor. You can call our team in confidence on Freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or contact us online for advice.
Compensation following a mesothelioma diagnosis is not automatically granted. A claim needs to be made that proves asbestos exposure took place and this directly caused your mesothelioma.
Proving asbestos exposure, and being able to claim mesothelioma compensation for family members or yourself, relies on your specialist solicitor obtaining various pieces of evidence. This includes medical reports and employment records that prove you were exposed to asbestos and this was the fault of your employer (or any other relevant party).
There are no upfront or hidden costs when you make a compensation claim with Novum Law. We fund all mesothelioma claims on a No Win, No Fee basis, also known as Conditional Fee Agreements.
With a No Win, No Fee claim, you will not need to make any upfront payments and there is no financial risk to pursuing a claim.
Find out more about our No Win No Fee funding options
Most cases are settled without going to court. This can ensure you access the maximum compensation available faster and without any added stress.
Court proceedings may sometimes be necessary as part of pursuing mesothelioma compensation for family members or yourself. However, it is unlikely that you will need to attend court, as it is often possible to agree on an out-of-court settlement before your hearing date.
If you are making a compensation claim and you’re unhappy with the service or advice you are receiving, we will be happy to give you a second opinion. In some cases, we can take over your case altogether.
We are often asked to review cases where people believe that their case is moving too slowly or the level of compensation that has been secured is lower than it should be.
If you have a question that is not listed above, please visit our FAQs page. Alternatively, please call our specialist team on Freephone 0345 357 9645 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation chat.
