Insurance Companies challenge right to compensation for Mesothelioma

Clear Answers' specialist personal injury solicitors, Thompsons is fighting for the continued right of asbestos victims to claim compensation. A legal challenge to that right was brought by employers this week, and heard by the House of Lords.

Widow Mary Murray is trying to claim compensation for her husband's death from the fatal asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma, often referred to as meso.

Mrs Murray's husband John, was exposed to asbestos by more than one company during his working life. It is impossible to know where the exposure that caused his mesothelioma took place.

One of the firms that employed him later vanished and was not insured. The compensation claim was brought against those former employers that still exist, but one, British Shipbuilders, is trying to change the law to stop claimants being paid in full where a claim cannot be made against all former employers.

If the challenge is successful, thousands of mesothelioma sufferers and their families could be deprived of their full compensation. The insurance industry stands to save millions of pounds.

Clear Answers' Specialist Personal Injury Solicitors

Ian McFall who is Head of Asbestos Litigation at Clear Answers' Lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors acting for Mrs Murray said "What we will be asking the Law Lords to do is simple - uphold the law which requires negligent employers and their insurers to pay full compensation to mesothelioma sufferers and their families. Anything less will be injustice."

Mrs Murray lives in Sunderland and is now 84. She said "I have had 7 years of misery since John died from this terrible disease. I would rather have him back any day and they could keep the money. But it was the employers' fault he was taken away from me. I just think employers and insurance companies care more about the money than they do about being fair to people like me and my husband who suffered so much."

Claiming Compensation

The House of Lords is also being asked to decide whether someone exposed to employment during a period of self employment can claim compensation.

Each year in the UK 1,800 people die of mesothelioma and the numbers are rising. The majority of people diagnosed with mesothelioma were innocent employees who were exposed to asbestos without being warned of the dangers they were in.

If you have contracted mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation. You may even be able to make a claim for a relative who has died as a result of an asbestos-related illness.

Contact us now for further advice on 0800 783 9019 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.

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