Case Studies

Firm secures widow £100,000 settlement in asbestos dust case

Background to the claim

Our client’s husband was exposed to high levels of asbestos during his work for a local insulation company between around 1964 and 1965.

His work involved exposure to asbestos through the tipping of bags of dry asbestos into tubs, mixing it, and also through cutting sections of asbestos insulation and breaking off old asbestos pipework every day. He was never provided with any breathing protection or warned about the dangers of working with asbestos.

The deceased became breathless in 2018, and he was sadly diagnosed with both asbestosis and asbestos related lung cancer.

Specialist advice and guidance from Bridge McFarland LLP Personal Injury Team

We obtained an opinion from a Doctor who made the link between his exposure to asbestos and his lung cancer.

He sadly died in 2019.

We used our expertise in tracing historic insurers and managed to locate the relevant company who insured his employer at the time that he was exposed to the asbestos dust.

Compensation and damages secured

We secured a compensation award of £100,000 which included damages for his injury, for the care which was provided by his widow before he died, and for financial dependency into the future.

Seeking advice for asbestos exposure

There is typically a latency period of between 20 and 60 years between exposure to asbestos, often in working life, and symptoms starting and subsequent diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Workers were often exposed to asbestos during their working lives on building sites, in the insulation industry, and when working on ships and during dock work.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos related condition such as mesothelioma then please do contact our personal injury team for a no-obligation review. If we take your case on then we can offer a ‘no win no fee’ funding arrangement.

FAQs

Why is a survey on the property I wish to buy so important?

In English law when a property is sold the principle of ‘Buyer Beware’ applies. The property is effectively ‘sold as seen’. For example, if the boiler breaks down the day after the sale is completed or if you find that the property suffers with rising damp, you will have to bear the cost.

Where can I find out more about surveys?

The RICS site explains the different survey options available to you and will direct you to a local RICS Surveyor. In certain areas we may be able to recommend a surveyor to you.

Is there anything else we need to do before the moving date?

When your legal adviser lets you know how much money they need to complete the purchase, you need to ensure that you let your legal adviser have money in cleared funds before the moving date. Otherwise you risk defaulting under the terms of the contract.