Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Industrial Disease Claims
Unfortunately, many people develop work-related illnesses, also known as industrial diseases, every year. Industrial diseases are caused by exposure to hazards in the workplace, including dangerous substances such as asbestos or toxic chemicals, and other hazards, for example excessive noise or vibration.
Industrial diseases can be brought on immediately after exposure to a hazard, or may develop many years later, as in the case of asbestos related illnesses. Our expert personal injury lawyers are specialists in industrial disease cases and may be able to assist you in recovering compensation if you have been affected. See the guide below for further information:
Industrial Disease Compensation - How We Can Help You
Have You Been Diagnosed With An Industrial Illness?
How And When Were You Exposed?
Can Your Employer Be Held Responsible?
How Much Compensation Might You Receive?
Can You Claim State Benefits?
What Types of Case Does The Legal Line Deal With?
Who Will Handle Your Claim?
Industrial Disease Claim Advice
Successful Industrial Disease Compensation Claims
Useful Links
Industrial Disease Compensation - How We Can Help You
The Legal Line's Lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors, are specialists in industrial disease, with extensive experience in a wide range of cases. We never act for employers or insurance companies, so you can be sure that we will always act in your best interests.
Our lawyers were involved in some of the landmark test cases relating to compensation claims for asbestos-related diseases and other work-related illnesses, helping to shape the law on these important issues.
Have You Been Diagnosed With An Industrial Illness?
If you have been diagnosed with an illness or condition caused by your past or present working conditions, you should seek legal advice from an experienced lawyer at the earliest opportunity.
There are time limits for making an industrial disease compensation claim. Usually this would be three years from the date of diagnosis, with few exceptions. See our questions answered section for further information about the personal injury claims process.
How And When Were You Exposed?
It is important for us to know how and when you were exposed to a hazardous substance, in order for your solicitor to establish who was to blame. We also need to investigate and identify the hazard responsible. Your exposure may have occurred at more than one place of employment for example, or perhaps many years ago.
Try to collate the details of your employment history and the work you did in each job, as this will be helpful in pursuing your claim. If you are still in contact with any colleagues that can act as witnesses to your exposure, this may also be useful.
Can Your Employer Be Held Responsible?
Employers are required to reduce assess the risk and then eliminate it or failing that, control or reduce the risk of harm to their employees as far as is reasonably possible. This includes, as a last resort, providing adequate protection from any hazardous substances in the workplace if avoiding its use altogether does not prove practicable..
If your employer failed to provide sufficient training, risk assessments, avoidance of usage or control measures, protective equipment or health and safety measures for example, and you developed an industrial disease as a result, it is likely they could be held responsible.
In most cases, a claim can be made against an injured person's current or former employer/s. Sometimes the responsible employer may no longer be in business, however it is often possible to trace an existing insurer for the company and make a claim through them.
Our lawyers have extensive experience in recovering compensation for industrial disease victims, so can use their expertise to explore every possible method of making your claim.
How Much Compensation Might You Receive?
At The Legal Line, our aim is to maximise the amount of compensation that you will receive. Various factors are taken into account when an award of compensation is calculated, including:
- The pain and suffering of the affected individual
- Disability
- Any financial losses (for example loss of earnings and pension rights)
- Costs of care, transportation, housing modifications and services
- Any other expenses that are related to the illness
- Loss of employability
The aim of compensation is to put you in a position financially as though you had never developed an industrial disease. Therefore past, present and future losses are all taken into consideration.
You will receive 100% of the compensation awarded, our lawyers do not make any deductions.
Can You Claim State Benefits?
Dependent upon your condition, the circumstances under which it was caused and how seriously your health is affected, you may also be entitled to claim state benefits, such as industrial injuries disablement benefit (or IIDB) and there may be an entitlement to care allowances.
Any claim for state benefits will be made separately to your compensation claim via the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Our lawyers can also provide advice on this aspect.
What Types of Case Does The Legal Line Deal With?
Our specialist personal injury lawyers are experienced in all areas of industrial disease. On the left hand side of this page you will find links to useful information about some of the types of case that we can deal with. If you cannot find the information you need please contact us for advice on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online.
Who Will Handle Your Claim?
At what can be a very distressing and confusing time, you will want to ensure that your case is being handled as efficiently and professionally as possible. If you pursue an industrial disease claim through The Legal Line, your claim will be dealt with by a specialist lawyer, experienced in your type of case.
You will be kept informed throughout the claim and, if you have any queries, we will be happy to provide the information that you need.
Industrial Disease Claim Advice
If you or a member of your family has been affected by an industrial disease, our lawyers may be able to help you. With specialist knowledge of the laws relating to industrial diseases, we can provide expert guidance and assistance with making your compensation claim.
It may also be possible to make a posthumous claim for a family member who has died from an industrial illness. Contact us on 0800 0328511 for sympathetic, cost free advice. Alternatively, complete an online claim enquiry form and we will contact you.
Successful Industrial Disease Compensation Claims
Our expert lawyers have successfully pursued many cases on behalf of the innocent victims of industrial disease. Details of some of these claims, and issues relating to industrial illnesses, can be found in our news and success stories sections or by following the links below:
Machine Operator Receives Damages in Occupational Dermatitis Claim
Vibration White Finger Claim for Council Worker
£35,000 Damages in Pleural Thickening Compensation Claim
Compensation Awarded to Woman Suffering Asbestos Related Cancer Mesothelioma
Industrial Deafness Claim for Parcel Service Worker
Widow of Merchant Seaman Receives Mesothelioma Compensation
Vehicle Polisher Receives Compensation for Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
Asbestosis Compensation for Retired Former Rail Worker
Compensation Awarded in Occupational Dermatitis Claim
Compensation for Victim of Industrial Deafness Caused by Woodworking Machinery
Claim Against MoD for RAF Painter Exposed to Dangerous Chemicals
Ministry of Justice Pleural Plaques Compensation Scheme
Groundskeeper Receives Compensation for Vibration White Finger
Widow of Mesothelioma Victim Receives Compensation
Employer Pays Compensation to Family of Pleural Thickening Victim
Right to Pleural Plaques Compensation Restored in Northern Ireland
Silicosis Compensation Claim for Former Foundry Worker
Group Claim for Employees With Work-Related Respiratory Illness
Mesothelioma Claim for Former Asbestos Factory Worker
Occupational Asthma Compensation for Factory Employee Exposed to Chemicals
Mesothelioma Compensation for Victim of Non-Work Asbestos Exposure
Maintenance Technician Suffers Cold Injury Through Work in Freezing Conditions
Compensation Claim for Respiratory Condition Caused by Welding Fumes
Northern Ireland Pleural Plaques Victims Now Have Right to Compensation
Occupational Asthma Compensation for Recycling Centre Worker
Widow of Former Joiner Makes Successful Asbestosis Claim
- In the course of his work for a company producing medical equipment, our client worked extensively with vibrating tools, including grinders, power drills, lathes, sanders, pneumatic air files and linishing belts. He joined the company as an apprentice and has been employed by them for in excess of 30 years.
He began to experience symptoms including coldness, numbness and stinging in the fingers and thumbs of both hands and found that they were clumsy with certain tasks, particularly in cold weather. Our client was examined by a company doctor, who diagnosed vibration white finger. This condition affects his ability to work, as he must avoid using vibratory tools where possible, and also affects him whilst carrying out certain activities, such as gardening and driving.
The claimant appointed our solicitors to assist him in making an industrial disease claim against his employer. He felt that they were responsible for his condition as they failed to monitor his exposure to vibration or take steps to minimise it, did not provide health and safety training or information to highlight the risks and did not supply personal protective equipment. The claim was successful and our client received £20,000 compensation.
Useful Links
Department for Work and Pensions - Information about industrial injuries disablement benefit
NHS Direct - Details about the symptoms and treatment for various industrial illnesses
Asbestos Support Group Forum - Offering information and support for the victims of asbestos-related diseases and their families
Asthma UK - Information resource for asthma sufferers
Deafness Research UK - Research charity for the deaf, hard of hearing and sufferers of tinnitus
The British Lung Foundation - Support for sufferers of lung diseases
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - Information about safety at work and hazardous substances in the workplace
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Testimonials
"This compensation is not going to bring my health back. But it will make sure my wife will be looked after. It's a big relief to know that this has all been sorted out in my lifetime."
Charles
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