Exposed to asbestos working for British Rail
A cancer sufferer has received £120,000 compensation for mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure working as a welder at the British Rail Derby workshops.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung. It is caused by exposure to asbestos and can take 40 years or more to develop.
There is no cure for the disease which currently affects 2,000 people a year. Many sufferers have just months to live following diagnosis.
He was diagnosed with the cancer of the lining of the lung in February 2009.
Thompsons Solicitors made claim for mesothelioma compensation
His trade union Unite instructed asbestos claims specialists Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a case for compensation. Thompsons successfully concluded the claim within eight months.
Thompsons Solicitors have pioneered a policy of striving to conclude mesothelioma cases in the shortest time possible, while securing the highest amount of compensation for the client.
The 76-year-old started work for British Rail when he was just 15 and first came into contact with asbestos in the Coppersmith’s Shop between 1950 and 1965.
The married father of two adult children said it was important to claim compensation to make sure his wife was financially secure in the future. He also wanted British Rail to take responsibility for their negligence.
He said: “I wanted to know my wife will still have a reasonable standard of living when I’m gone.
“This has been dealt with so quickly and professionally by Thompsons Solicitors. It means I can now rest assured that my case is out of the way and my wife will not be left facing financial hardship.
“I would urge anyone who has worked with asbestos to keep a close eye on their health.”
British Rail was responsible for negligently exposing thousands of employees to asbestos
Adrian Axtell from Unite said: “Exposure to asbestos has caused serious health problems for many of our members who worked without any protection or warning of the dangers. We offer support to all our members who are disabled by asbestos related disease.
David Fisher from Thompsons Solicitors added: “British Rail was responsible for negligently exposing thousands of employees to asbestos and as a result many are paying with their lives.
“It was important to conclude this case quickly because of our client’s very short life expectancy. He contacted his union for assistance straight away enabling us to commence the investigation of his claim immediately. This was a major factor in bringing about the successful conclusion of the case during his lifetime.”
Asbestos disease diagnosis? Talk to us for advice and support on how to secure compensation.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we can support you with advice on how to make a claim.
The process will be explained in plain English and with no obligation – our priority is to provide you with the best, expert advice on whether you have a valid case for compensation, and to signpost you to further sources of support.
There are strict time limits applied to making a claim – usually three years from the date of diagnosis. It doesn’t matter if the exposure to asbestos took place – as it often does – decades ago, the three year time limit applies to the date of knowledge of diagnosis or date of death.
For further information, visit our How to Make A Compensation Claim page.