Many former members of the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy who have been exposed to asbestos and had compensation claims turned down could still be entitled to claim compensation.
Some ex-Navy personnel who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last three years may have had compensation claims rejected by law firms because HM Government was immune from prosecution.
This applied to any members of the British armed forces who were exposed to asbestos prior to 1987, so anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last three years may still be entitled to compensation; even where they have already been advised that they are not allowed to proceed with their claim.
We're rated‘Excellent’Industrial Disease claims Lawyers at Simpson Millar have pointed out that symptoms of mesothelioma - an incurable form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres - may not develop for many years.
Furthermore, the law firm stated that the majority of Royal Navy and Merchant Navy personnel are likely to have docked in U.S. ports at some point in their career, and been exposed to harmful asbestos fibres at this time as ships were usually refitted and maintenance work carried out whilst in dock in the U.S.
As a result, Simpson Millar believes that a person in this situation, including family members of those who have died of mesothelioma within the last 3 years, could still be able to claim compensation.
The law firm stated that in certain circumstances, a claim for asbestos compensation could be brought in the U.S instead of or in addition to the UK.
For instance, it said a former member of the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy who was exposed to asbestos on board ship can potentially bring a product liability claim against the manufacturers of the asbestos or asbestos components aboard the vessels where the exposure took place.
Simpson Millar would therefore be able to work in association with a law firm in the U.S. with whom the firm has brought similar claims in the past, liaise with the Coroner and obtain Probate on their behalf.
Simpson Millar is encouraging ex-Navy personnel who docked in a U.S. port and been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last three years to get in touch to see whether they might be entitled to industrial disease compensation.
If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness such as mesothelioma, we can help you claim for state benefits, such as Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). We can also get you compensation payments from HM Government to help you have a better quality of life.
Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis, can be incredibly difficult for you and your loved ones to deal with.
Asbestosis is a severe lung condition that results from breathing in significant amounts of asbestos dust and fibres over a prolonged period of time. Usually, people will be diagnosed with asbestosis years after first being exposed to the material, often at a former workplace.
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