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Mesothelioma Claims

By Julie Glynn

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 04Feb2012
Word count: 444
Viewed: 240 time(s)

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Exposure to asbestos dust can cause a wide variety of health problems, one of which is mesothelioma. If this condition develops due to asbestos exposure in the workplace, the injured party will be able to make an asbestos-related claim.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium - the thin membrane that lines the chest wall.

Nine out of ten mesothelioma cases will be caused by exposure to asbestos dust. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which was once widely used in the construction industry. Being heat and fire-resistant, the material was a favourite amongst the trades. However, suspicions over ill health and asbestos began to arise in the late 1930s, although this was not confirmed until 1960.

Now asbestos is banned in the UK as a building material, as it known to cause a number of serious illnesses, although these may take years to manifest. Indeed, it can take between 15 to 45 years after exposure for an asbestos-related disease to be diagnosed.

One such illness is mesothelioma, a cancer which at first may not cause any symptoms. But as the disease develops, someone may start to experience:-

* Sweating;

* Tiredness;

* Loss of appetite;

* Weight loss;

* Breathlessness;

* Chest pain.

Can You Claim For Mesothelioma?

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you need to ask yourself: has the disease developed because you were exposed to asbestos during the line of work? If the answer is yes, you will be entitled to make a personal injury claim.

This is because your employer has a duty to protect the health, safety and well-being of his staff. If there is a failure to do so, he will have breached his legal responsibility.

Therefore if you have been exposed to asbestos at work, your employer will have put your safety and risk. You can claim for any injury you sustain because of this breach, including mesothelioma. Even if you are no longer in that person's employment, you will still be able to make a claim for the pain and suffering you have subsequently endured.

However, when making a claim, there are certain time limits which must be adhered to. Normally in the UK, claims must be commenced within three years of the incident in question. Nevertheless, asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma often develop many years after the initial exposure. The three years you have to make a claim will therefore start from the date you become aware of your illness - for example, the date you were diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Visit Work Accident Solicitors if you have been Injured At Work. Read more about Work Accident Claims to discover everything you need to know about making a claim.

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