Bridge McFarland LLP has secured £75,000 in damages for the family of an ex Hull docker who died from asbestos related mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer in January 2020.
He was exposed to large amounts of dangerous asbestos dust during his work as a docker on the Hull docks in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Sacks of asbestos would be imported from Africa and he was exposed to the dust from the bags splitting as they were hauled onto the quayside. He was never provided with any breathing protection or warned of the dangers of working with asbestos. Asbestos has been known to have been dangerous to health since the late 1800’s.
Our client fell ill in late December 2019 and deteriorated rapidly after this. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but there was also a suspicion that he had developed asbestos related lung disease before his death. He died in January 2020.
After his death his post-mortem revealed that he also had developed malignant mesothelioma which is frequently linked to workplace asbestos exposure.
Partner James Burrell, an Industrial Disease Specialist, said “this was a complicated case requiring specialist medical advice and involving multiple defendants. It was not until post-mortem and inquest that the family were made aware of the deceased’s mesothelioma. We hope that they see the settlement as achieving some justice for their late father and this allows them to finally move on.”
A family representative said “we were devastated when our father died and were quite shocked when we were told that asbestos also played a part in his death. He was very fit and healthy before he fell ill and died within a matter of weeks. It has been a long road but finally reaching a settlement does allow us some closure. We are grateful to James Burrell and all of the team at Bridge McFarland for helping us with our case. We feel that we finally have some justice for him.”
Bridge McFarland’s specialist industrial diseases team have extensive experience in various asbestos-related disease claims, including those concerning:
- Asbestosis
- Asbestos-related lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pleural thickening
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pleural plaques
Although, unfortunately, we cannot reverse the devastating consequences of asbestos-related disease, we can support you and your loved ones in tackling the various challenges that such diagnoses bring.
There are strict time constraints associated with claiming compensation for asbestos-related diseases, so ensuring that you seek the appropriate advice promptly is vital. Please call 01482 320 620 or email enquiries@bmcf.co.uk to speak to our Hull-based solicitors today.
