Pleural Thickening Claims

Along with asbestosis, mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, pleural thickening, or diffuse pleural thickening, as it is also known, makes up the quartet of asbestos diseases, for which it is possible to claim asbestos disease compensation. If you believe you may have developed an asbestos disease caused by exposure to asbestos at work, in a public place or under any other circumstances, call us now on 0800 987 8809 to speak with one of our specialist asbestos disease solicitors and to find out if you might have a claim.

Not all cases of pleural thickening are caused by asbestos disease. Asbestos exposure is just one of many possible causes.

When it is the cause, asbestos exposure occurs in the same way it does with other types of asbestos disease – by the victim inhaling the tiny fibres in asbestos dust. In the case of pleural thickening, once inhaled, the asbestos fibres find their way into the gap between the two-layered protective lining of the lungs, called the pleura, where they remain lodged.

The fibres cause the pleura to scar and thicken. Eventually, symptoms of pleural thickening will begin to affect the victim. Most commonly, these are breathlessness and tightening of the chest.

Symptoms usually take decades to appear. This period is called the latency period. If you develop symptoms, your first point of contact to find out whether you have got asbestos disease is your GP, who will refer you for tests and arrange for you to see a lung disease specialist.

If you are thinking of taking legal advice on whether to pursue an asbestos disease claim, it’s sensible to do so soon after receiving a diagnosis of pleural thickening. There are several reasons for this, including:

• The sooner you start your claim, the sooner it will be concluded.
• It’s better to begin a pleural thickening claim before your illness progresses when managing your condition will take priority.
• If you find the right specialist asbestos disease solicitors to help you, they will provide much-needed support at a challenging time.

If you cannot find the information that you are looking for, simply contact us using this form or by calling us on 0800 987 8809. We will be only too pleased to try and help you.

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Who is at risk of getting pleural thickening?

Most people diagnosed with pleural thickening were exposed to asbestos at work.

This is why asbestos disease is often called an industrial disease or an accident at work.

However, others at risk of developing pleural thickening lived near factories where asbestos products were being made or where asbestos was used and people who frequent public buildings or work in buildings where asbestos is still present in the infrastructure.

Still, most people diagnosed with pleural thickening were those exposed to asbestos at work before the respective asbestos bans came into force.

Examples of industries where workers were often exposed to asbestos include:

• Shipyard workers.
• Boiler maintenance engineers.
• Construction site workers.
• Asbestos manufacturing.
• Railway engineering workers.
• Power Station maintenance.
• Joiners/carpenters.

The occupations listed here are not the only ones where asbestos was a risk. Asbestos had lots of uses in many different businesses.

Can I make a pleural thickening compensation claim?

If you have been diagnosed with pleural thickening, you may be able to make an asbestos disease claim. In most cases, this will be against your former employer. In the case of visitors to public buildings, your claim will be against the owners of the premises that caused you to be exposed to asbestos.

Employers owe their employees a duty of care to ensure their workers are provided with a safe working environment. Failing to provide protection from asbestos exposure would be a breach of their duty of care.

In the case of public buildings, occupiers of premises owe a similar duty to ensure any visitors will be safe during their visit.

How do I start a pleural thickening claim?

If you are considering making an asbestos claim, you should start by contacting a specialist asbestos solicitor. Asbestos compensation claims can be complex, and it is vital that you choose a personal injury lawyer who has the experience required to deal with some of the complex situations that can arise during a pleural thickening claim.

Our experienced asbestos disease solicitors have many years of experience working on asbestos claims.

Call James Burrell or Leanne Keating, both partners at Bridge McFarland LLP solicitors now on 0800 987 8809 or email them at enquiries@bmcf.co.uk.

Whether you have already received a diagnosis or have not yet been diagnosed but think you have symptoms of asbestos disease, make that call.

You will feel comfortable in safe hands as soon as you speak to one of our asbestos solicitors.

Can I make a No Win No Fee pleural thickening claim?

If our asbestos disease solicitors believe you have reasonable grounds for making a pleural thickening compensation claim, they will talk to you about ways of funding your claim.

Most of our asbestos cases are handled using Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) arrangements or No Win No Fee agreements as they are more commonly known.

Our solicitors will explain how this type of arrangement works if you decide to ask Bridge McFarland LLP to act for you.

The main point to note is that having the benefit of a No Win No Fee arrangement means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will have no legal fees to pay.

How will you contact the employers that exposed me to asbestos?

When you ask our asbestos solicitors to act for you, one of the first things they will do is trace your former employers. If an extended period has passed since you worked for them, it may be that the company no longer exists.

However, our solicitors have built up a vast database of the insurance companies of businesses whose employees were exposed to asbestos.

As long as we can trace the insurers of a company at the time you worked for them, an asbestos claim can be made with the expectation that if your claim is successful, you will recover compensation.

Will I be able to get an interim payment for my pleural thickening claim?

If liability is accepted by the other party (the insurers of your former employer), we will request an interim payment for you.

An interim payment is part of the compensation you will receive at the end of the claim. Interim payments help to ease your financial burden at a really difficult time.

Will I have to go to court to get asbestos compensation?

While we often issue court proceedings in pleural thickening claims, we do it to pressure the other party (the defendant) to settle your claim quickly. Only when a Defendant denies liability for your claim it may go to court. Most asbestos disease claims we handle settle without needing a court hearing.

Sometimes we issue proceedings at court if you instruct us to handle your claim close to limitation (the time limit for bringing a claim). You must bring an asbestos claim to court within three years of realising you have an illness that you believe is related to asbestos exposure.

Limitation is likely to start on the date you received a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease. Still, please get in touch with an experienced asbestos solicitor for advice on your particular case because there are some exceptions.

What if my claim settles and I go on to get a more serious asbestos disease?

Some people with pleural thickening may later go on to get mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer, although it is not inevitable. Nevertheless, if our experienced asbestos solicitors handle your pleural thickening claim, they will look to settle it on a provisional damages basis. By doing so, you will be able to go back to court for further compensation in the event that you develop mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer.

If you think you may have the symptoms of asbestos disease, or if you have been diagnosed and would like to speak with a specialist asbestos solicitor, in confidence, please get in touch.

Asbestos Awareness is dedicated to informing, educating, and supporting people in relation to asbestos-related diseases.

For further information, or to speak to a member of our experienced medical personal injury solicitors, please call 0800 987 8809. Alternatively, you can fill in this contact form.

To discuss making an asbestos compensation claim, please complete the form below to receive an email or a phone call from us.