Asbestos: we may be several decades on from the legal importation and use of the substance, but, each year, more than 5,000 people in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Island still die from mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses; this amounts to around 20 former shipbuilders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and construction workers each week.
And, although many people in Scotland choose to make compensation claims for asbestos illnesses, for a long time there have been problems with the size of some payouts, with most insurance companies committed to using the problematic standard framework for determining compensation levels.
However, this could be about to change with a recent Court of Session ruling making it possible for all victims of asbestos in Scotland to receive fuller and fairer compensation.
The ruling came in the case of an electrician who developed pleural plaques as a result of a decade of exposure to asbestos in the shipbuilding industry, starting in 1963.
The payout is important because the claimant's personal injury lawyer managed to convince the judge hearing the case at the Court of Session that rather being compensated in line with the pre-agreed framework, the claimant should be paid a sum commensurate with the impact on his physical and mental health – as a result his payout of £8,500 was more than double the sum typically awarded in such cases.
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos illness contact Thompsons Scotland personal injury lawyers today for help and information regarding the best ways for you to ensure your legal rights. click here for more information.
