Asbestosis and Pleural Thickening Claim - How much compensation will I receive?

When somebody has been diagnosed with asbestosis or pleural thickening caused by their exposure to asbestos dust, they are entitled to pursue an asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim for compensation.

They will need advice from a specialist asbestos solicitor about their claim and about the likely value of their asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim.

The amount of money a person diagnosed with asbestosis or pleural thickening will receive depends on a number of things.  Your asbestos solicitors will be able to advise you how much compensation you are likely to receive in your asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim.  

It is likely your asbestos solicitor will need to get a medical report about your illness.  

1. Compensation for pain and suffering
   
   This is the compensation paid in an asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim to compensate for pain, suffering and loss of amenity.  This is compensation for the illness itself and how it has affected you in the past and how it likely to affect you in the future.  
   
   The Judge will decide on the amount of compensation you should get based on a set of guidelines called the ‘Judicial College Guidelines' and using decisions in past asbestos claims.  Your asbestos solicitors will know what these guidelines are and will have details of all the past decisions to be able to value your asbestosis or pleural thickening claim.  
   
   When assessing compensation in a pleural thickening claim or asbestosis claim the courts take into account how long you have had the condition for and what is likely to happen in the future.  They will also look at what symptoms you have and if they are likely to get worse.
   
   Often people with asbestosis or pleural thickening have other illnesses as well.  This does not mean they can’t get compensation for the pain and suffering caused by their asbestosis or pleural thickening.
   
   The guidelines for compensation in a pleural thickening claim or an asbestosis claim for pain suffering and loss of amenity are between £12,000 and £89,000.
    
2. Care, Nursing and Assistance.
   
   Those with asbestosis or pleural thickening sometimes need additional care and support from family and close friends.  
   
   In a pleural thickening claim or an asbestosis claim, you can claim for the cost of care which has or will be provided by close family and friends.  Your asbestos solicitor will advise you about this.
   
   In some cases, if necessary, your asbestos solicitors will arrange for a care expert to provide a report about the amount of nursing care which will help you. Your asbestos solicitors may also speak to your family and take statements from them about the amount of care you are receiving to help with your asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim.
   
   The awards for care vary and your asbestos solicitors should be able to tell you how much this part of your claim is likely to be worth.  
    
3. Extra Equipment at Home.
   
   You may need equipment to help you in the home. Sometimes this is provided free of charge by local authorities or charities but there can sometimes be long waiting lists for certain equipment for example a stair lift.  
   
   If you believe that you need equipment in the home, you can ask your local authority to carry out a care and support needs assessment.  Even if they do not provide any equipment, they should be able to provide you with details of other organisations that can help and details of the equipment that may help you.  
   
   If you choose to buy any equipment, your asbestos solicitor may be able to recover the cost of this for you in asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim.
   
   What equipment you many want or need varies. The things you may want to consider include: –

• Pillow protectors

• Mattress protector

• Bed fleece

• Heel/elbow protectors

• Adjustable table

• Motor rise reclining chair

• Commode

• Non-slip tray

• Walking stick

• Grab rails

• Additional hand rails on the stairs

• Stair lift

• Portable scooter

• Wheelchair

• Adjustable single bed

• Sock/stocking aid

• Pill dispenser
  
  It is also sometimes necessary to make adaptations to your home such as for example installing a walk-in-shower rather than a bath.  It is sometimes possible to claim the cost of these adaptations from your opponents and your asbestos solicitor can advise you about this.  

4. Additional Expenses
   
   Often those diagnosed with asbestosis or pleural thickening incur additional expenses as a result of their illness.  For example they may have travel and parking costs or extra heating costs if they are not able to go out as often.    
   
   In an asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim, it is possible to recover the expenses which a sufferer has incurred.  Your asbestos solicitors will be able to advise you about this.  
    
5. Loss of Earnings
   
   If you were working before you were diagnosed with pleural thickening or asbestosis and you are no longer able to work, have had to cut back your hours or you are likely to have to retire earlier than you planned then your asbestos solicitor may be able to claim your loss of earnings from your opponent.  Your asbestos solicitor will advise you about this.  
   
   Your asbestos solicitors will get details of your earnings.
    
6. Things you can no longer do in the home.
   
   These are claims for things that the person diagnosed with asbestosis or pleural thickening used to do but is now unable to do because of his or her illness.  This may be DIY, gardening or housework.  
   
   Your asbestos solicitor will include in your asbestosis claim or pleural thickening claim, an amount for this if you are no longer able to do these things.
    
7. What about if your illness gets worse in the future?
   
   If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis or pleural thickening there is sometimes a chance that your condition will get worse in the future.  Your asbestos solicitor will get a medical report from a specialist chest doctor about your illness.
   
   There is often also a small chance that you might develop a different asbestos condition.
   
   When the Judge is deciding how much compensation you should receive.  He or she will usually give you the option of coming back to court in the future if your condition gets worse.  If you do not want this option, then the Judge will give you a bit more money now.  Please click here for further details.
    
8. What if someone has died from asbestosis or pleural thickening?
   
   If you believe a loved one has died from asbestosis or pleural thickening, it may still be possible to pursue a claim for compensation.  There may be other compensation you can claim on top of the ones on this page.  For details of other compensation which you may be entitled to, please see our page on mesothelioma compensation here.