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Respiratory Diseases

If you or a member of your family is suffering from a respiratory disease, caused in some way by another party, our specialist personal injury lawyers may be able to help you claim compensation. Contact us today on 0800 032 8511 for claim advice, or by completing a claim enquiry form.

Types of Respiratory Disease
Work Related Causes of Respiratory Disease
Common Symptoms
Making a Compensation Claim
Respiratory Disease Compensation
Our Industrial Disease Lawyers

Types of Respiratory Disease

There are a number of respiratory diseases that can be brought on or made worse by unsuitable working environments and exposure to certain irritants.

These include:

• Occupational asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• Emphysema
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Asbestosis
• Pneumoconiosis
• Silicosis

Each of these conditions can be very damaging to the sufferers health.

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Work Related Causes of Respiratory Disease

Many different substances are known irritants, found in a wide range of situations. For example many of the most well known causes of work related respiratory disease are found in heavy industry, such as coal dust, asbestos, silica and welding fumes.

These are not the only causes of respiratory disease in the workplace however. Agricultural workers may be exposed to mould, spores and toxins in spoilt hay and grains, causing conditions like farmers lung. Similarly, those working with animals can come into contact with certain bacteria and spores.  Even passive smoking has been known to cause respiratory complaints.

Many chemical processes produce fumes and vapours that are also irritants, such as chlorine and ammonia. Equally, some chemical products are harmful, for example solvents and pesticides.

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Common Symptoms

The symptoms of an industrial respiratory disease vary, dependent upon the condition in question. Some common signs that a person may be affected by something in their working environment are: breathing difficulties, persistent dry, wheezing cough, sore throat, tightness of the chest, fever and flu-like symptoms.

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Making a Compensation Claim

These type of diseases do not show themselves quickly after exposure. They can take many years to develop. By then the person you need to make a claim against (perhaps an employer) may no longer be alive or in business. Pursuing these claims is complicated and is best dealt with by an experienced personal injury lawyer.

In every case, medical evidence will be required. Detailed expert evidence is often also required in disease cases to show that the condition suffered by a claimant was caused by exposure to a particular substance.

In any personal injury claim it is necessary to show that the person you are making a claim against owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care (were negligent), and that the injury you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence.

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Respiratory Disease Compensation

There are two elements to a compensation award. The first is for the pain and suffering you may have gone through and what is known as loss of amenity. This is called general damages and can include an award for your inability to do things that you used to be able to do before (eg wash your car, look after your garden, walk the dog etc). The award for loss of amenity can be for a short period or for ever if that is what the medical evidence supports.

The second element of a compensation award is for your losses and expenses and is known as special damages. It is important to keep receipts for any expenditure you have related to your illness, so that these can be reclaimed. The aim is to put you back in a position financially as if the respiratory disease had never developed.

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Our Industrial Disease Lawyers

At The Legal Line, our specialist solicitors have extensive experience in making compensation claims on behalf of those suffering respiratory diseases. They can provide expert advice and assistance to anyone who believes that they, or a member of their family, may be affected.

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