Asbestosis Sufferer Awarded £20,000

A pensioner who developed an asbestos-related disease has won compensation for his illness.

The man, who had worked for a variety of employers in the Cambridgeshire area, was exposed to asbestos at work on a daily basis. Despite this, he was neither offered protection nor given any warnings about the dangers of working with asbestos.

In 2006, he was diagnosed with asbestosis, a chronic lung condition that is normally caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. It commonly causes shortness of breath, a tight chest and an unexplained cough. As a result, sufferers are frequently unable to walk long distances.

Following his diagnosis, the man decided to bring a claim for compensation against his former employers. Because he had been exposed to asbestos in various different jobs, it was necessary to track down the appropriate insurance company in each case. Because some of the companies had by this time gone out of business, it was not possible to trace them all. However, two companies agreed to accept 79 per cent of the liability, which resulted in the man receiving £20,000 in compensation.

This case illustrates that it can sometimes be difficult to claim compensation against former employers, especially when they have gone out of business.