A lung cancer diagnosis is life-altering and traumatic, and finding out the illness may have been caused by your work adds another layer of shock. If you were exposed to asbestos or other harmful substances at work, you may be entitled to lung cancer compensation. Thompsons acts only for injured claimants, or families after a loved one has died, and never for employers or insurers. We handle asbestos-related lung cancer claims for people across Scotland.
Yes, in cases where the illness was caused by negligent exposure at work. Asbestos is the most common cause of lung cancer in the workplace that we see, though other occupational carcinogens such as diesel fumes, silica dust and certain chemicals are also common claims. Employers have a legal duty to protect their workers from these substances, and many have failed in doing so for decades.
Smokers can claim too. Asbestos exposure multiplies the risk that smoking already carries, therefore a history of smoking does not bar you from compensation where asbestos played a part in the disease. Insurers sometimes try to use smoking to reduce or deny a claim but we push back on that.
If the person diagnosed has passed away, the family and the estate can pursue asbestos compensation after death. Under Scots law, a surviving spouse, children and other close relatives may each have their own claim for the loss of their loved one.
Every case is valued individually, so beware of any site quoting a fixed figure. The amount depends on the severity of the illness, pain and suffering, lost earnings and pension, the cost of care and equipment, and the impact on your family.
Government support can run alongside a civil claim. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit through the DWP and statutory lump-sum schemes are worth applying for, and we can guide you through them. A civil claim against the negligent employer, however, is usually worth substantially more than any state payment.
On the question of who pays, it is almost always the former employer's insurer rather than the business itself. Even where a company closed years ago, its insurance policies can often be traced and a claim brought against them.
How to make a lung cancer claim
If you are wondering how to claim for asbestos compensation, the process is more straightforward than most people expect:
- A free initial discussion about your diagnosis and work history
- Gathering evidence, including employment records, medical reports and witness statements from former colleagues
- Tracing the employer or their insurer
- Valuing the claim and negotiating a settlement, or litigating where the insurer will not offer a fair sum
It is important to note that time limits matter in these cases. Under Scots law you generally have three years from the date of diagnosis, or from the date you first connected the illness to your work. Family claims must usually be brought within three years of the death. These deadlines are strict, so speak to us early. We handle the legal work so you can focus on treatment and the people around you.
Why choose Thompsons for your claim?
We win more than 90% of the cases we take on and recover £1 million every week for clients across Scotland. We act only for injured claimants. We have never represented an employer or an insurer, and we never will.
Our no win no fee agreement means there is nothing to pay if your claim fails. If it succeeds, the success fee is capped at no more than 20% of your damages, so the majority of your compensation stays with you and your family.
Start your lung cancer compensation claim today
Call us on 0800 0891 331 for a free, confidential, no-obligation chat about your case, or complete our enquiry form and we'll call you back. A family member can speak to us on your behalf if that's easier. Acting now protects your right to claim within the legal time limit, and it costs nothing to find out where you stand.
