Asbestos Claims

Being exposed to asbestos can lead to several serious health conditions, even years after this initial exposure took place. Dealing with the diagnosis of an asbestos disease can be incredibly challenging, both for you and your loved ones, but it may be possible to make an asbestos claim to ease this burden. At Lyons Solicitors, our asbestos solicitors in Bristol can assist with a range of asbestos compensation claims, so don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

Lyons have specialist expertise in personal injury and we support individuals in bringing asbestos claims for a range of associated illnesses, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and pleural thickening. We make sure not to delegate any of the work we take on for our clients, which means that all of the asbestos compensation claims we deal with are handled by qualified solicitors with substantial experience and expertise.

When you pursue an asbestos claim with the support of our team, the same solicitor will handle your claim throughout the process, ensuring that you always receive the best possible service. Whenever you need to get in touch with a member of the team, you can do so by contacting us over the telephone, by video conferencing or in person, and we can arrange for out of hours or home visits where appropriate.

Our clients benefit from our No Win, No Fee funding model, which allows us to take on asbestos compensation claims for clients who may have limited financial means or may be hesitant about the prospect of losing money on a claim

Our asbestos solicitors regularly lend their support to clients with potentially risky cases that other firms have rejected, or where clients have been let down by the service or results that another firm has delivered.

UNHAPPY WITH THE ASBESTOS RELATED CLAIMS SERVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER FIRM? DON’T GIVE UP – CALL US ON 0117-950-6506 FOR A SECOND OPINION.

Our asbestos solicitors in Bristol will explain the entire claims process and what you need to do from start to finish. If required, we also have close connections with specialist rehabilitation experts whom we can put you in touch with, as well as arranging for a specialist case manager to assist you with accessing any specialist equipment you may need.

Our Personal Injury Claims team is headed by Partner Duncan Shaw. Duncan has more than 25 years of experience in representing clients with claims for asbestos related diseases throughout England and Wales.

We have a strong track record of securing substantial amounts of compensation for clients pursuing asbestos claims in Kingswood, Westbury-on-Trym, Chew Magna, and the wider Bristol area.

Our team will work closely with our recommended and highly specialist barristers and make every possible effort to help you return to as normal a life as possible.

Speak to us about asbestos claims in Bristol

We offer a free initial consultation to answer any questions you might have about the asbestos claims process and to help you better understand your situation.

To book a free initial consultation with our asbestos solicitors in Kingswood, Westbury-on-Trym or Chew Magna, please get in touch today.

You can use the contact details for each office or, alternatively, fill in the ‘Ask us a Question’ form on the right-hand side of the page to request a call back.

For more information about our team, see our personal injury lawyers page.

Types of asbestos claims we deal with

We can assist with all types of asbestos compensation claims, including:

• Asbestosis claims
• Mesothelioma claims
• Pleural thickening claims
• Asbestos lung cancer claims
• Peritoneal mesothelioma claims
• Fatal asbestos exposure claims

To find out more about how we can help with asbestos claims in Kingswood, Westbury-on-Trym, Chew Magna and the wider Bristol area, please get in touch.

Our asbestos compensation claims fees

Our asbestos solicitors in Bristol, based in Kingswood, Westbury-on-Trym and Chew Magna, handle claims on a No Win, No Fee basis. Prior to taking on your case, we can discuss all of the options available to you, including insurance to cover any unforeseen costs.

Asbestos claims FAQs

Can you claim compensation for asbestos exposure?

If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related illness, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis, you may be in a position to make an asbestos compensation claim.

Prior to being banned in the UK, asbestos was widely used, which means that there are numerous industries and trades where people are likely to have come into contact with asbestos, resulting in the illness. Today, people who work in the construction and building maintenance industries are most at risk of asbestos exposure, though it is also possible to suffer second hand exposure (such as if someone comes into contact with clothes that are contaminated).

How do you claim for asbestos related illness?

The process for making an asbestos compensation claim can be more complex than other personal injury claims as, in some cases, it can take years or even decades for any symptoms to develop, which can make it difficult to know who to make a claim against. This is especially true where the employer responsible for the exposure has since ceased trading.

During an initial consultation, our asbestos solicitors will take a detailed look at various factors, including your employment history, instances where exposure to asbestos is likely to have taken place, your medical history, diagnosis and treatment. When this information is gathered, we will be able to advise whether you have grounds to make a claim and the reasonable prospects you have of achieving a settlement.

Can you make asbestos compensation claims if exposure happened years ago?

It is often the case that exposure happened many years ago and sufferers feel that it may be impossible to bring a claim because an employer is no longer in existence or cannot be located. It may still be possible to make a successful claim however.

Our asbestos claims solicitors are used to investigating where asbestos exposure could have taken place and using large databases to find the company responsible and their insurer. Even when people believe that it will be hard to trace those involved, we have been able to identify them and bring successful claims.

Can you make asbestos exposure claims for secondary exposure?

If an individual was exposed to asbestos and brought it home on their clothes, it is sometimes the case that someone else in the house develops an asbestos related illness because of secondary exposure.

It is still possible to make a claim, even if you yourself never worked for the employer where the asbestos exposure took place. We can investigate how and where the asbestos was and how you came to be exposed and build a case on your behalf.

Our asbestos solicitors have also successfully represented individuals who have been exposed to asbestos in other settings, such as while playing near somewhere that had loose asbestos or at school.

How long does an asbestos claim take?

The time it takes to settle an asbestos claim will vary depending on a number of factors. This includes issues such as:

• The type of asbestos related disease you have
• Whether it is possible to trace the company /employer responsible for the asbestos exposure
• Whether the company/employer responsible for the asbestos exposure admits responsibility
• What evidence is required to prove the asbestos exposure

For example, mesothelioma claims may take less time to resolve, as the condition can only be caused by asbestos exposure. On the other hand, asbestos lung cancer claims may take longer as additional evidence may be required.

Typically, you can expect an asbestos claim to take up to three years depending on the circumstances.

If your claim takes a long time, our asbestos solicitors can apply for interim payments on your behalf to give you financial support during the claims process.

How do you prove asbestosis or mesothelioma?

To prove that you have developed asbestosis or mesothelioma, you will need to be referred to hospital specialists who will carry out various tests to confirm your diagnosis. This will typically include undergoing x-rays and CT scans. In some cases, it may also be necessary to undergo fluid drainage (where there is a build-up of fluid around the lungs or tummy), or a thoracoscopy.

What are the time limits for asbestos claims?

You will typically have three years from the date you were diagnosed with an asbestos related condition to make a compensation claim.

However, there may be certain exceptions to this, such as when someone has died from an asbestos related illness, but this was not known until later. In these situations, someone bringing forward a claim would have three years from the date on which it should reasonably have been known that asbestos was the cause.

How much compensation is paid for asbestos related illness?

The amount of compensation paid for asbestos exposure claims depends on how severe the harm is, to include what your long-term prognosis is. If you take up our offer of a free initial consultation with one of our asbestos solicitors, we can discuss your circumstances and you can ask us any questions you may have about compensation.

If your claim is successful, you can expect to receive two types of damages:

• General damages; and
• Special damages

General damages

General damages are intended to compensate you for pain and suffering as well as for a reduction in the quality of life and no longer being able to do certain things, known as loss of amenity.

The Judicial College has guidelines of the amount that could be payable, and we can go through these with you once we have details of your diagnosis, condition and prognosis.

Special damages

Special damages are to cover the financial losses that relate to the harm you have suffered. This can include medical treatment and therapy not covered by the NHS, loss of earnings, future loss of earnings, the cost of travelling to medical appointments, prescription charges, special equipment and the cost of adapting your home, should this be necessary.

Loss of earnings is calculated by looking at issues such as whether you have had to take a part-time or lower-paid job or have been unable to progress in your career because of your diagnosis.

Do you have to go to court for asbestos compensation claims?

Many asbestos compensation claims are settled out of court. This can be a quicker process and less expensive for the other side as it reduces legal costs. Where we are able to establish what has happened and the other side admits liability, we will put together figures setting out how much compensation we believe should be paid.

This will take into account how badly you have been harmed, your financial losses and what help you will need for the future, such as care and home help. We will negotiate with the other side to try and agree on the best possible level of compensation.

It is only generally necessary to go to court where the other side does not admit liability or the amount offered to settle asbestos compensation claims is not considered sufficient. Even after we start preparing for court, it is still possible to settle, right up until the end of the hearing.

Bringing asbestos claims after death on behalf of an estate

It is possible to make asbestos claims after death. The claim will be brought by the estate of the person who has died, on behalf of the people entitled to inherit. This will either be those named in the will as beneficiaries or those entitled to inherit under the rules of intestacy.

The individuals entitled to bring the claim are the deceased’s personal representatives. This is either their executors or their administrators.

It is often the case that someone has not started an asbestos related claim because they were unwell or were not sure that it would succeed. We regularly act for personal representatives in making asbestos exposure claims after a death. We know it may seem daunting to start a legal claim at this difficult time and you will find our solicitors for asbestos claims to be understanding and sympathetic. We will do all we can to hold the other party to account for what has happened and make the claims process as easy as possible for you.

Speak to us about asbestos claims compensation in Bristol

We offer a free first consultation to answer any questions you might have about the asbestos claims process and help to clarify your situation.

To book a free initial consultation with one of our asbestos claims solicitors in Kingswood, Westbury-on-Trym, or Chew Magna, please get in touch today.

You can use the contact details for each office or, alternatively, fill in the enquiry form on the right- hand side of the page to request a call-back.