Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Mesothelioma Compensation Claim for Widow of Former Welder
1st August 2012
Our specialist industrial disease team recently obtained compensation for the widow of a man who tragically died due to mesothelioma.
Exposed to Asbestos at Work
During his time as a welder at a well-known shipyard, our client worked alongside laggers who were applying asbestos insulation to the pipework and interiors of ships. Some of the lagging consisted of pre-formed pieces that would be cut to size using hand saws and some came in dry fibre form which was mixed into a paste and applied like cement. To complete his own jobs he also had to disturb and break old lagging.
Large amounts of dust were created by this work and debris covered the floor. Labourers would sweep up the dry waste and take it away, but this also stirred dust up into the air. Our client’s clothes and hair were often covered in dust during a shift.
His employer never warned him about the serious health risks of inhaling asbestos fibres and he was not given any respiratory protection.
Work-Related Cancer
After he retired, our client began to suffer chest pain and he lost weight. Tests were carried out and he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. He and his family were extremely distressed by his diagnosis, aware that his condition was terminal.
Several litres of fluid had to be drained from his chest and he underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy in an attempt to relieve some of his symptoms. Mesothelioma is a progressive and debilitating illness and his condition continued to deteriorate. After months of trying to manage his symptoms at home he was eventually admitted to a palliative care unit, where sadly he died.
Industrial Disease Claim
After learning that his illness was caused by asbestos he approached us for help with a claim against his former employer. We quickly compiled evidence of his work history and his medical condition to support the case. Unfortunately our client deteriorated rapidly and did not survive to see the claim concluded, but we continued to pursue it on behalf of his widow.
Faced with the evidence we had obtained, the defendant admitted liability. The next step was to ensure that the family received of the maximum possible compensation. We secured a settlement in excess of £130,000 for our client, which included a payment to recognise the pain and suffering her husband endured, travel and medical expenses, the costs of equipment and housing modifications that were needed during his illness and the loss of his pension. It also included an award of bereavement damages.
Asbestos Compensation Advice
If you or a family member have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, a personal injury claim may be possible.
At The Legal Line, our solicitors are experts in all areas of personal injury, with decades of experience in recovering compensation for the victims of industrial diseases.
Contact us on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online, for cost-free advice and assistance.
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