Mesothelioma Compensation Claims Solicitors
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we want you to know that specialist legal support is available, and that making a compensation claim can make a real, practical difference to you and your family.
Mesothelioma is a devastating illness, almost always caused by exposure to asbestos at work. At Ashtons Legal, every mesothelioma solicitor in our team has specialist experience in asbestos disease litigation, and we have been guiding clients and families through the mesothelioma claims process for over 20 years. We handle cases on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, so there are no upfront costs and no financial risk to you.
Recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500, we act for clients across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and beyond. We offer home visits and can travel to you if you are unable to come to us. We also offer virtual consultations.
Contact Our Mesothelioma Claim Solicitors
Our mesothelioma solicitors are based across East Anglia, with offices in Norwich, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge, and also in Leeds. You can also reach us via our personal injury enquiry form online.
Types of Mesothelioma Compensation
A mesothelioma claim can include two main categories of compensation. ‘General damages’ cover pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life, assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines. ‘Special damages’ cover your financial losses, both past and future, and may include:
- Loss of earnings and future income
- Pension losses
- Care and assistance provided by family members
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs
- Travel expenses
- Funeral expenses and bereavement awards (in fatal claims)
It is also often possible to secure an interim payment (often around £50,000) relatively early in the process, providing financial support while the claim proceeds. If no employer or insurer can be traced, you may be eligible for a lump sum under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme, covered in the section below.
The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme
The Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS) is a form of government mesothelioma compensation providing a mesothelioma lump sum payment to sufferers who are unable to bring a civil claim because their former employer has ceased to exist and the relevant employer’s liability insurer cannot be traced. Payments under the DMPS are calculated as a percentage of average civil damages for mesothelioma.
We can advise you on whether you qualify for the DMPS and help you make an application, alongside a civil claim where that is also possible.
Our Mesothelioma Claims Service
Building Your Mesothelioma Claim
To succeed in a mesothelioma claim, we need to establish that you were exposed to asbestos, that this resulted from a failure of duty of care by an employer or occupier, and that the exposure caused your illness.
We conduct a detailed occupational history to identify all potential sources of exposure, including direct workplace contact, secondary household exposure, and environmental exposure near asbestos sites. Our team works with medical experts to obtain the reports needed to support your diagnosis and causation, and we can seek interim payments to fund urgent treatment and support through our dedicated Client Rehabilitation Service.
Negotiation and Settlement
Many mesothelioma claims are resolved through negotiation once liability is admitted and medical evidence is in place. We engage in structured discussions to ensure that any settlement properly reflects the full extent of your illness and your long-term financial needs.
We do not advise accepting early settlement offers where the medical position remains unclear or the full financial impact of your illness has not yet been assessed.
Court Proceedings
Mesothelioma cases proceed through the Royal Courts of Justice’s specialist asbestos list, which uses an expedited procedure designed to resolve claims as quickly as possible. Issuing proceedings triggers this fast-track process and often enables an early interim payment and liability admission within the first few months.
The vast majority of mesothelioma claims settle before a full trial. We prepare every case as thoroughly as if it were going to trial, which puts us in the strongest possible negotiating position.
Rehabilitation and Early Support
Following a mesothelioma diagnosis, practical and emotional support is often needed immediately. Clients and their families have direct access to our dedicated Client Support and Rehabilitation team from the outset, who can coordinate care, liaise with NHS teams, arrange private therapies, and support benefit applications.
Time Limits for Making a Claim
You have three years from the date of your diagnosis to bring a mesothelioma claim. Where a person has died, the three-year period runs from the date of death, or from the date the family first became aware that mesothelioma caused the death. These deadlines are strictly enforced.
We strongly recommend seeking advice as soon as possible after diagnosis. For full details, visit our asbestos compensation time limits page.
No Win No Fee Mesothelioma Claims
We handle all mesothelioma claims under a Conditional Fee Agreement, commonly known as ‘no win, no fee’. This means there are no upfront costs and no financial risk to you. If your claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing. Full details are explained clearly before you proceed.
Case Studies
Our track record in mesothelioma claims demonstrates our ability to secure strong outcomes for clients across a range of complex and serious cases.
Recent examples of our work include:
- £310,000 for a Norfolk man still in employment at diagnosis, covering loss of earnings, future care, and future treatment costs
- £300,000 for an East Anglian mesothelioma sufferer, secured shortly before the final hearing
- Over £240,000 for a Norwich carpenter, despite the defendant business having no surviving owners
- A six-figure settlement for the family of a Lowestoft fitter who died within months of his diagnosis
Why Choose Ashtons Legal?
We combine genuine specialist expertise with a deep commitment to the communities most affected by asbestos disease. We co-founded the Anglia Asbestos Disease Support Group and supported fundraising for a specialist asbestos nurse at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500, our solicitors are APIL members who pursue only the strongest, best-evidenced claims on behalf of our clients.
We offer home visits across East Anglia and virtual consultations nationwide. Our personal injury team includes in-house rehabilitation and welfare advisors, and we are signatories to the Serious Injury Guide and the Rehabilitation Code. We also handle related asbestos conditions including asbestosis and pleural thickening. Find out more about our Client Support and Rehabilitation Service.
FAQs
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), or heart. It is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos fibres, which are inhaled or ingested and become lodged in the body’s lining tissue. The disease typically develops 15 to 40 years after exposure, which is why many sufferers today were first exposed at work decades ago.
The Health and Safety Executive reports approximately 2,500 mesothelioma deaths in the UK each year. Mesothelioma UK provides information and specialist nursing support if you need wider help alongside your legal claim.
How much compensation will I receive for mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma compensation amounts vary depending on your individual circumstances, including the severity of your illness, your age, and your financial losses. Under the Judicial College Guidelines, general damages typically range from approximately £77,000 to over £130,000.
The average mesothelioma settlement UK claimants receive is often considerably higher once special damages for lost earnings, care costs, and other losses are included. We provide a realistic assessment of your claim’s value at the very first meeting.
Can I claim mesothelioma compensation if my employer no longer exists?
Yes. Employers were legally required to hold employers’ liability insurance, and we can trace historic insurers even where the business closed long ago. If no insurer can be traced, you may be eligible for a payment under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme.
Who can make a mesothelioma claim?
A claim can be brought by someone diagnosed with mesothelioma following workplace asbestos exposure, or by a family member exposed through secondary contact (such as asbestos dust brought home on a partner’s or parent’s clothing). Mesothelioma compensation for family members is also available where a loved one has died and mesothelioma caused or contributed to their death. For more detail on fatal claims, visit our asbestos claims after death page.
Can family members claim compensation after a mesothelioma death?
Yes. Family members can bring a claim under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 and the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 on behalf of the estate, covering bereavement, financial dependency losses, and the pain and suffering experienced before death. Visit our asbestos claims after death page for more detail.
How long does a mesothelioma compensation claim take?
Many mesothelioma claims settle within six to twelve months, often without a full trial. Courts give mesothelioma cases expedited (priority) treatment, and it is often possible to secure an early interim payment and a liability admission within the first few months of issuing proceedings.
Do I have to go to court for a mesothelioma claim?
The vast majority of mesothelioma claims settle before a full trial. Court proceedings are issued to trigger the expedited process, but most cases resolve through negotiation. We prepare every case as thoroughly as if it were going to trial, which puts us in the strongest possible negotiating position.
What evidence do I need for a mesothelioma claim?
The most important evidence is your medical diagnosis and a detailed account of your work history, including where you worked, what your role involved, and when you may have encountered asbestos. We guide you through the evidence-gathering process and instruct medical experts on your behalf. You do not need all the evidence before contacting us.
What benefits can I claim for mesothelioma?
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) is available to people with mesothelioma caused by workplace exposure. You may also be entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Attendance Allowance, depending on your circumstances. We will signpost you to the appropriate support, and any state benefits received will be taken into account in the calculation of your compensation.
Contact Our Mesothelioma Solicitors
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our mesothelioma claim solicitors are here to help. We are based across East Anglia with offices in Norwich, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge, and also in Leeds. You can also reach us via our personal injury enquiry form.
We offer home visits across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, and virtual consultations nationwide. No upfront costs, and we will explain your options clearly from the very first conversation.