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Steve Fitzwalter – Senior asbestos-related compensation solicitor
Derby solicitor for asbestos-related disease claims
Although Steve qualified over 15 years ago, and has practiced all types of accident compensation and personal injury law since then, for the last five years he has specialised in handling compensation claims for asbestos-related disease claims.
Now based in our Derby office, Steve also practiced in Birmingham and Liverpool before opening the Derby office in 2005.
Steve is passionate about obtaining justice and compensation for victims of asbestos-related diseases, and has handled compensation claims for clients who were negligently exposed to asbestos working in all industry sectors and occupations. These have included factories, offices, building sites, shipyards, power stations, and railway carriage workshops.
Given that the average life expectancy for a mesothelioma victim is typically less than a year from the date of diagnosis, Steve strives to conclude these types of cases as quickly as possible, and pursues claims vigorously. He always treats every client and their family with the utmost compassion and respect. Steve has no hesitation in issuing court proceedings if the other side do not accept liability for his client’s injury, and the devastating consequences for them and their family.
Handling a claim for mesothelioma compensation from beginning to end involves not just dealing with the legal process, but Steve also handles the tracing of companies and insurers, obtaining supportive witness evidence, and instruction of the most experienced medical experts.
Steve is a member of APIL (The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) where he is recognised as a senior litigator. He is also the secretary of the East Midlands area of APIL.
Successful asbestos-related compensation claims
Here is just a small sample of the many asbestos-related compensation claims that Steve has successfully concluded.
Asbestos-related compensation claim – Mesothelioma
Steve was able to secure just over a quarter of a million pounds during the lifetime of this 60-year old mesothelioma victim who was negligently exposed to asbestos whilst working in a well-known Derby company for many years before his symptoms developed.
Whilst pursuing the claim for mesothelioma compensation, Steve also approached the Derby Primary Care Trust on behalf of his client, to try to obtain treatment with Alimta for his client. Sadly, they refused, so Steve negotiated an interim payment from the other side that allowed his client to obtain treatment with the life-enhancing drug.
The defendant’s insurers refused to admit liability for his client’s condition, until Steve issued court proceedings. At this point, they admitted liability and before trial, Steve was able to negotiate the substantial mesothelioma compensation, which gave his client the peace of mind that his wife and grown up family would be financial secure after his death.
Asbestos-related compensation claim – Asbestos-related lung cancer
Steve agreed to represent a client whose claim had previously been turned-down by another local firm of solicitors. This was a difficult case, since the client had developed lung cancer but without the presence of asbestosis.
However, Steve was able to prove that even without the presence of asbestosis, the lung cancer that killed his client, had indeed been caused by negligent exposure to asbestos many years before his symptoms developed.
The defendant had admitted early on in the claim process that they had exposed Steve’s client to asbestos, but denied that this had been the cause of his eventual development of lung-cancer. Steve issued court proceedings and was able to prove that the lung-cancer was indeed caused by asbestos exposure and secured an award of over £100,000 for his client, giving his wife financial security after his death.
Occupational disease compensation claim – Exposure to hazardous substances
This defendant, a factory owner, had negligently exposed many of his employees to metal working fluids that had become contaminated. Exposure was uncontrolled and led to many cases of occupational asthma and extrinsic allergic alveolitis (inflammation of the lung parenchyma and airways. Chronic disease can cause fibrosis, emphysema and permanent lung damage).
Following previous problems with prohibition notices on which the company had failed to act, this defendant had been successfully prosecuted by the HSE
(Health and Safety Executive) and fined in a case they claimed was “shocking” and that it represented the second largest exposure of its kind in Britain at a single company.
Steve has been asked to bring occupational disease compensation claims for 25 employees at the factory and has successfully concluded 19 with 6 still proceeding.
Making an asbestos-related compensation claim
Clear Answers' lawyers have won important decisions in the highest courts in the UK for asbestos victims and have a proven commitment to their rights.
You will receive 100% of the injury compensation awarded if you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Clear Answers to deal with the matter for you.
We will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for yourself. Telephone us now on 0800 783 9019 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms, and a representative will contact you as soon as possible.
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