Good news on injury claim rules for mesothelioma sufferers

Posted 02/10/2014

Lawyers who handle injury claims for mesothelioma sufferers are delighted by the news that future claims will be run on the basis that the asbestos-disease sufferer receives 100% of any compensation obtained. This follows a High Court decision this week in favour of the Asbestos Victims’ Support Groups Forum UK and against Justice Secretary Chris Grayling. The Justice Secretary had intended that 25% of damages awarded to mesothelioma sufferers would be used to pay legal insurance premiums and costs but this has now been deemed to be unlawful.

Richard Foyster, who heads the personal injury team at Ashtons Legal and specialises in asbestos-related disease work, says:

“This is exceptionally good news. Sadly, most people who contract mesothelioma have a very short life expectancy after diagnosis. Many who start an injury claim to try to help provide for their family in the future are no longer with us by the time a settlement is obtained. At least now they will all have the reassurance that starting a claim is the right thing to do, safe in the knowledge that whatever compensation is obtained will go to their loved ones with no legal fees to pay. Our fees, as their lawyers, will be paid by the defendants which is exactly as it should be.”

Ashtons Legal has an excellent track record of helping the families of mesothelioma sufferers in East Anglia and strongly believes that clients with a terminal illness of this sort are best served by specialist local lawyers rather than by those many miles away. For individual advice please contact Richard Foyster on richard.foyster@ashtonslegal.co.uk or Michael Wangermann on michael.wangermann@ashtonslegal.co.uk or call us on 0330 404 0773.