Mesothelioma Compensation Personal Injury News:

Work Related Personal Injury Claims

Claiming Compensation for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is quite a rare cancer, but it is becoming more common due to exposure to asbestos over the past 40 years or so. In fact research from cancer charities suggest that between seven and eight out of every ten people diagnosed with mesothelioma (70 - 80%) say they have been in contact with asbestos.

More than 2,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with mesothelioma - a malignant tumour of the lung lining which is often fatal - and there are about five times as many cases in men as in women. This is probably because so many cases have been caused by exposure to asbestos at work.

Around one in ten people exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma - in the pleural membranes of the chest. However, many people diagnosed with the rarer mesothelioma in the abdomen - also known as peritoneal mesothelioma - also report being exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma and asbestos

A link between asbestos and lung disease has been recognised since the beginning of the 18th century, but the link with mesothelioma has only been known since the 1960's.

The extensive use of asbestos for its heat-proofing properties in a wide range of industries - including shipbuilding, manufacturing and construction - until the late 1980's means the number of cases of mesothelioma in the UK each year is expected to rise sharply over the next 20 years.

Mesothelioma claims

Many people who develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure may be able to claim compensation. If you are thinking of making a mesothelioma claim it is important to talk to a solicitor as early as possible.

There are a number of legal avenues they can explore, even if the company you worked for is no longer trading, and there are also government compensation schemes that can be explored.

A typical example of a mesothelioma compensation claim is highlighted below: