Pleural Thickening & Pleural Plaques Compensation Claims
Receiving a diagnosis of pleural thickening or pleural plaques can be frightening, and often brings back difficult memories of working in environments where the dangers of asbestos were never mentioned.
We understand how unsettling that can be, especially when you are also trying to establish whether you have a right to compensation.
At Ashtons Legal, our specialist asbestos disease solicitors help people diagnosed with pleural thickening and pleural plaques to understand their legal options and, where possible, secure the compensation they deserve. We act on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, and we can visit you at home if travelling to one of our offices is difficult.
Our team is recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for expertise in asbestos-related disease claims. We are based in East Anglia, with offices across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, and we also take cases nationally.
Speak to Our Asbestos Disease Solicitors in East Anglia
If you need support with a pleural thickening or pleural plaques compensation claim, please contact our expert personal injury solicitors.
Our team offers clear, compassionate advice across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and nationally, including home or hospital visits where needed.
Call us on 0330 404 0749, email enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk, or complete our online enquiry form.
Types of Pleural Thickening & Pleural Plaques Claims We Handle
Pleural Thickening
- Scarring of the pleura (the thin membrane lining the lungs), which restricts lung expansion causing breathlessness and chest pain
- Symptoms typically appear 15–30 years after asbestos exposure
- Diffuse pleural thickening – covers a larger portion of the lung lining and is typically the most disabling form
- Bilateral pleural thickening – affects both lungs, indicating significant historical asbestos exposure
- Localised pleural thickening – affects a specific area of the pleura, often less symptomatic but still significant evidence of asbestos exposure
Pleural Plaques
- Areas of scar tissue on the pleura caused by asbestos exposure
- Benign and usually symptom-free, but confirm that asbestos fibres have lodged in the lung lining
- Some become calcified pleural plaques, visible on X-ray or CT scan
*In England and Wales, a diagnosis of pleural plaques alone does not currently support a compensation claim; the courts have held that symptom-free plaques do not constitute actionable damage. In Scotland, the law differs and claims for pleural plaques can succeed.
Provisional Damages
- Many pleural thickening compensation claims are settled on a provisional damages basis
- You accept an initial settlement now while retaining the right to return to court for additional compensation if your condition later deteriorates
- This also applies if the condition develops into a more serious disease such as mesothelioma or asbestosis
- Our team has specific experience negotiating provisional damages settlements in asbestos disease cases
Who Is at Risk of Pleural Thickening & Pleural Plaques?
Pleural thickening and pleural plaques affect people who were exposed to asbestos fibres, most commonly through work. Exposure does not have to have been prolonged, working near others who disturbed asbestos can be enough to cause disease. High-risk occupations include:
- Construction workers and building tradespeople
- Pipe fitters, plumbers and laggers
- Electricians and heating engineers
- Shipyard and dockyard workers
- Power station and factory workers
- Firefighters and demolition workers
- Those who worked in or maintained older public buildings, schools and hospitals
Compensation for pleural thickening typically falls between £10,000 and £55,000, depending on the severity of your condition, your age, the extent of breathlessness or disability, and any loss of earnings or care needs arising from the condition.
Our pleural thickening solicitors will assess your situation and advise you clearly on whether a claim is viable.
The Pleural Thickening & Pleural Plaques Claims Process
Our solicitors will guide you through every stage, ensuring you are fully informed and supported throughout.
Free Initial Consultation
We discuss your work history, asbestos exposure background and diagnosis, and give you an honest assessment of your options. Home visits are available if travelling to one of our offices is difficult. Where appropriate, we will agree a ‘no win, no fee’ funding arrangement and begin building your case.
Investigation and Evidence Gathering
We coordinate specialist medical reports, lung function tests and expert opinion on your behalf. We also gather your detailed employment history and, where possible, witness evidence from former colleagues, so you do not need to do any of this alone.
Tracing Former Employers and Insurers
If your employer no longer exists, we use the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office and specialist databases to identify and pursue the relevant insurer. Most employers were legally required to hold employers’ liability insurance, so a closed company does not prevent a claim.
Negotiation and Settlement
The majority of pleural thickening claims are resolved through negotiation without the need for court proceedings. Where liability is clear, we aim to secure a fair and comprehensive settlement efficiently, including on a provisional damages basis where appropriate.
Court Proceedings (if required)
If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we will issue court proceedings and represent you throughout. Most cases still settle before trial. We will keep you informed and supported at every stage.
If your pleural thickening was caused by occupational asbestos exposure, you may also be entitled to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB), a state benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Awards are based on a percentage disability assessment and are paid for life. Claiming IIDB does not affect your right to pursue compensation. See our asbestos-related disease benefit claims page for more detail.
Time Limits for Making a Pleural Thickening or Pleural Plaques Claim
You have three years from the date of your diagnosis, or from the date you first knew your condition was linked to asbestos exposure, to start a claim. Missing this deadline will usually prevent you from claiming, so we strongly recommend seeking advice as soon as possible.
Because pleural thickening and pleural plaques typically appear decades after the original exposure, the date your three-year period begins is not always straightforward to identify. Our solicitors will advise you clearly on the position in your specific circumstances. See our asbestos compensation time limit page for more detail.
Why Choose Ashtons Legal as Your Pleural Thickening Solicitors?
Ashtons Legal is recognised as one of the UK’s leading serious injury and asbestos disease practices. Our team combines deep specialism with genuine care for the people we represent.
We are members of APIL (the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) and are proud signatories to the Serious Injury Guide and the Rehabilitation Code. Our work is recognised by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500.
We act exclusively for claimants and never for insurers. Our holistic approach means you have access to our in-house Court of Protection team, rehabilitation and welfare advisors, and the wider expertise of our firm, including wills and trusts, employment and family law.
We understand that compensation cannot undo the harm caused by asbestos exposure, but it can provide financial security, meet care needs and acknowledge the negligence that caused your condition.
Our solicitors have handled hundreds of asbestos claims and know how to secure the best possible outcome, including through provisional damages agreements that protect your position for the future.
Our offices in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich mean we are particularly well placed to support clients across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire (we also have an office in Leeds), with home and office visits readily available. We also take cases nationally.
Case Studies
Our experience in pleural thickening and asbestos disease claims demonstrates our commitment to securing strong outcomes for clients in complex cases.
- £115,000 provisional settlement obtained for Mr N following exposure to asbestos in the 1970s – Our client was a Norwich pipe fitter who developed pleural thickening following asbestos exposure during the 1970s. We secured a provisional damages settlement of £115,000, preserving his right to return to court should his condition deteriorate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pleural Thickening & Pleural Plaques Claims
What is the average payout for pleural thickening claims?
Compensation for pleural thickening typically ranges from £10,000 to £55,000, depending on the severity of your symptoms, the impact on your daily life and your age.
Many pleural thickening claims are settled on a provisional damages basis, which preserves your right to claim more if your condition worsens.
Is pleural thickening serious, and can it get worse?
Pleural thickening is a progressive condition. In more advanced cases, pleural thickening symptoms can significantly reduce lung function, affecting everyday activities such as walking and sleeping.
The damage to the pleura is irreversible. For some people the condition remains stable; for others it worsens over time, and in some cases develops into mesothelioma or severe lung disability.
Concerns about pleural thickening life expectancy are understandable, and are one reason why securing a provisional damages settlement is often advisable.
Can I claim if my employer no longer exists?
Yes. Most employers were legally required to hold employers’ liability insurance, and claims can often be pursued against the insurer even if the company has closed. We use the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office and specialist databases to locate the right insurer on your behalf.
What are provisional damages?
Provisional damages allow you to accept an initial settlement now while retaining the right to return to court for additional compensation if your condition later worsens or develops into a more serious disease such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. This approach is particularly important in pleural thickening claims because the condition can progress over many years.
Can pleural plaques turn into mesothelioma?
Pleural plaques themselves do not become cancerous. However, their presence confirms that asbestos fibres have reached the pleura, and that same asbestos exposure carries a risk of developing other conditions including mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.
Is pleural thickening the same as asbestosis?
No. Both conditions are caused by asbestos exposure, but they affect different parts of the lung. Where asbestosis involves scarring of the lung tissue itself, pleural thickening is scarring of the pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs.
Diagnoses of asbestosis pleural plaques and pleural thickening can all occur in the same individual, as each condition results from significant asbestos exposure. More information is available on our asbestosis compensation claims page.
Speak to Our Asbestos Disease Solicitors in East Anglia
Please contact our expert personal injury solicitors today. We are based in East Anglia, with offices in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich and also in Leeds. Our team offers clear, compassionate advice across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and nationally, including home or hospital visits where needed.
Call us on 0330 404 0749, email enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk, or complete our online enquiry form.