Asbestos Compensation Claims
Check If You Can Claim Compensation
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness after exposure that was not your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. If a loved one has died from an asbestos-related illness, their estate or eligible dependants may also be able to make a claim.
We handle asbestos compensation claims across the UK and will explain your options clearly and help you understand the next steps.
Regulated solicitors
Years' experience
No Win No Fee
Can you make an asbestos compensation claim?
You may be able to make an asbestos compensation claim if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, such as asbestosis, pleural thickening, asbestos-related lung cancer, or mesothelioma, and the exposure was linked to work where your employer should have protected you.
A claim is usually made against a former employer, through their insurance, even if the business has since closed or changed hands. Where no employer or insurer can be traced, a government scheme may still provide a payment. Most claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis. If you are not sure whether you can claim, our team can check for you.
Why asbestos exposure leads to a claim
Asbestos was widely used in UK building and industry until the last types were banned in 1999. Employers in trades such as construction, shipbuilding, engineering, and factory work often knew, or should have known, of the dangers yet failed to protect their workers with proper ventilation, masks, or safe working methods.
Asbestos-related illnesses can take a long time to appear, often decades and sometimes up to around 60 years after exposure, so the link to work done long ago is not always obvious. When an employer failed in its duty and someone later develops an asbestos-related condition, the law may entitle them, or their family, to compensation
You may still be able to claim. Many employers were insured against these claims, and the insurer can often be traced years later, even for exposure decades ago. Where no insurer can be found, a government scheme may still provide a payment for certain asbestos diseases.
We handle the tracing and paperwork for you.
Asbestos-related conditions you can claim for
You may be eligible to claim if you were diagnosed with any of these after asbestos exposure your employer should have controlled.
Asbestosis
Scarring of the lungs caused by breathing in asbestos fibres, which can leave you short of breath and reduce your lung function over time.
Pleural thickening and plaques
Pleural thickening can affect breathing and may support a claim. Pleural plaques usually cause no symptoms, and compensation depends on where in the UK the claim is made.
Mesothelioma & lung cancer
Serious cancers strongly linked to asbestos. Mesothelioma in particular is almost always caused by asbestos exposure, often many years earlier.
Common exposure settings include construction, shipyards, power stations, factories, insulation and lagging work, and trades such as plumbing, joinery, and electrical work. Tell us where you worked and we will let you know where you stand.
How much compensation for an asbestos claim?
There is no single figure. Asbestos compensation depends on your diagnosis, how much the condition affects your breathing and daily life, and the financial losses that follow. A milder condition is treated very differently from a severe or life-limiting one.
We will never promise a set amount. Once medical evidence sets out your diagnosis and how it affects you, your solicitor can explain what your claim may include.
- Pain, suffering and the effect on your daily life
- Lost earnings, now and in the future
- Treatment, care and support with daily life
- Travel and other out-of-pocket costs
Evidence that supports your claim
Clear evidence helps link your condition to asbestos exposure at work and show how it has affected you. You do not need to gather everything before you get in touch. We can help.
It is not too late to ask. Even if you left the job decades ago, or the employer has since closed, we can often trace the right insurer and gather the evidence needed.
No Win No Fee asbestos claims
You can start an asbestos compensation claim without paying anything upfront. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay a fee for our work, subject to the terms of your agreement.
If your claim succeeds, an agreed success fee is deducted from your compensation. Your solicitor will explain this clearly before you commit to anything.
You will see the full terms in writing before your claim begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before starting your claim.
Can I claim if I was exposed to asbestos many years ago?
Often, yes. Asbestos illnesses can take decades to appear, so the three-year time limit usually runs from when you first knew your condition was linked to asbestos, not from the exposure itself. Even if the exposure was many years ago, it is worth getting advice about where you stand.
How much compensation can I get for an asbestos claim?
It depends on your diagnosis, how much it affects your breathing and daily life, and the financial losses that follow. A milder condition and a severe or life-limiting one are worth very different amounts, so there is no reliable average. Our team can give you a clearer idea once the medical evidence is in place.
Who pays the compensation if my old employer has closed down?
Usually the former employer’s insurer, not the individual. Many employers were insured against these claims, and a claim can often be pursued against that insurer even if the business has closed or changed hands. Where no insurer can be traced, a government scheme may provide a payment for certain asbestos diseases. We can help work out who is responsible.
Can I claim on behalf of a relative who has died from an asbestos illness?
Yes. If a family member has died from an asbestos-related illness, close relatives or the estate may be able to bring a claim. These claims have their own time limits, so it is best to get advice as early as you can. We will handle the process with care and keep it as straightforward as possible.
Is there a government scheme for asbestos compensation?
Yes. Alongside a civil claim, you may qualify for a lump-sum payment under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979, the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme, or Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. Each has different eligibility rules, and some apply where a liable employer or insurer cannot be traced. We can explain which options may apply to you.
How long do you have to make an asbestos claim?
Time limits apply to asbestos claims. In England and Wales, court proceedings generally need to be issued within three years of the date you first knew, or could reasonably have known, that you had a significant condition linked to someone else’s actions or failures.
Different rules can apply following a death and in Scotland or Northern Ireland. Courts may allow some claims to proceed after the usual deadline, but this is not guaranteed, so you should seek advice as soon as possible.
Check if you can make an asbestos claim
Tell us what happened and we will review your details and get back to you. We will explain your options in plain English, with no obligation to go ahead.
- Free, no-obligation review
- No Win No Fee available
- SRA-regulated solicitors
Check if you can make a claim
Takes less than 60 seconds
Other claims we handle
Don't leave it too late to claim
Asbestos compensation claims usually must be started within three years of when you knew your condition was linked to asbestos. The sooner you begin, the easier it is to trace records and gather the evidence.
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