How to Claim for Pleural Thickening Compensation

How to Prove Where the Asbestos Exposure Occurred

Asbestos-related illnesses can take many years to develop following the exposure, so you may not be completely sure when and where the asbestos exposure occurred. But don’t let this put you off making a claim, as our Industrial Disease Solicitors can work with you to put together a detailed picture of your employment history and working environments and obtain records of all of your past employers and when you worked for them.

This can help us establish what risks you were exposed to at work and whether your employer had fundamentally unsafe working practices in place. If the employer responsible is no longer in business, we can often track down their insurer who had insured them at the time of your employment through a national database, who would then be liable to pay the compensation if the claim is successful.

As experienced Industrial Disease Solicitors, we can often recognise the warning signs that a client may have pleural thickening. After we’ve taken on a pleural thickening claim, we will get a copy of the client’s medical records, including scans that often show evidence of scarring on the lungs and the thickening. We can obtain an expert medical report to confirm the diagnosis. We can then consult with an independent engineering specialist, who can estimate how much asbestos you’re likely to have inhaled from your description of exposure.

Were You a Smoker?

Even if you have a past smoking history, you are still likely to be able to claim compensation for pleural thickening.

Time Limit for Pleural Thickening Claims

You must claim within 3 years of being diagnosed with pleural thickening, so it’s best to get in touch with our Industrial Disease Solicitors as soon as possible. That will give us more time to investigate specific details of your claim, arrange an independent medical assessment and put together a picture of your full employment history.

With this information, we’ll be able to calculate an appropriate amount of compensation that reflects the seriousness of your condition and ensures you get access to the care and rehabilitation support that you need. We can also put in place an option so that you can claim further compensation in the future if the thickening worsens or you develop any further diseases related to asbestos.

What is Pleural Thickening?

Pleural thickening is an asbestos-related lung disease, caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust or fibres which become embedded in the lining of the lungs. This can cause scarring and a gradual build-up of scar tissue on the outside of the lungs causing the lining of the lung to thicken, which makes it harder for the lungs to expand properly when breathing often resulting in breathlessness.