Asbestos Claims & Compensation

Asbestos claims

029 2039 1100

029 2039 1100

Asbestos compensation claims

Our specialist asbestos solicitors represent victims and their families from all over the UK and are highly experienced in investigating asbestos claims to track down the responsible parties.

We offer free advice and guidance while we initially investigate your claim without obligation to proceed. We have offices in Cardiff, London and Southampton and with further coverage in Cambridge, Plymouth and Bristol. We can arrange home visits and can help you access, where appropriate, early interim compensation payments and benefit entitlements. All ongoing work is carried out on a no win, no fee basis.

We understand that you are currently going through a difficult time and are here to help and make the process as easy and stress free as possible. If you have any questions, big or small, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Organisations we support and that can help you

Mesothelioma UK

Mavis Nye

HASAG

SWASAG

AASC

MESSY

Find out more

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Hugh James have been exceptional at a very difficult time. From the onset the procedure was clearly explained and if I had a query it was answered straight away. My case has been handled with great sensitivity. I can’t thank Hugh James enough and would recommend them to all my friends and family.

Eileen Inman

I am really pleased with the way Hugh James is dealing with my claim. They are most helpful and take the time to explain in detail anything I ask; nothing is too much trouble. I am treated with respect. I would like to thank the team; I would not hesitate in recommending Hugh James.

Peter Ruggles

The service I have received from Hugh James has been fantastic. I cannot fault anything. The team at Hugh James have always been there for me. I cannot emphasise enough the help they have given me; always on hand to give me advice. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

Raymond Parr

Attentive and tactful at a time that is distressing given the palliative nature of their asbestos-related malignancy.

The Legal 500

Richard Green is a gentleman when in contact with patients/clients and attentive to their individual circumstance.

The Legal 500

I would advise anybody to do business with Hugh James. Their service, their speed in dealing, their communication. From start to finish they have been outstanding in everything. They have dealt with my claim brilliantly.”

Mr H.

From the first contact and throughout the processing of my asbestos claim, I found the staff very helpful, lucid, clear and considerate. The communication was prompt and precise. Hugh James presented my case in a legible way. I would highly recommend them.

Eric Michael Greenham

Having very little to do with solicitors in the past, I was very grateful for Lauren's relaxed and helpful way of guiding myself and family through the whole process of claiming compensation. Lauren was very respectful and sensitive when my husband passed away and kept us up to date with things as they progressed. Very good service from start to end. I would recommend Hugh James services.

Mrs L

From start to finish I had excellent communication with my appointed solicitor, they never left any stone unturned, I was always kept up to date all the way through my case and was given excellent advice, nothing was to much trouble.

Mr Huw Lawrence

I would like to express my appreciation to solicitors Hugh James, in particular Ceri Clark for the way she handled my compensation claim. Everything was explained in ways that I could understand. I would be happy to use their services again should the need arise.

Client testimonial

I would like to say thank you for the wonderful work Chris has done. The level of communication was excellent. I would be very willing and happy to recommend your services.

Client testimonial

I would just like to thank you for all your efforts in obtaining compensation on behalf of my late husband. I have had notification and am more than pleased with the amount being given. This would never have happened if I hadn't seen your advert in the South Wales Echo. Once again, I can't thank you enough.

Client testimonial

During the past one and a half years, you have been with your professional experience and knowledge, able to represent me regarding my asbestos related disease claim that goes back to my employment of 70 years ago with my company. The opportunity came to us when you left the last firm that you had worked for to join Hugh James. I had no hesitation asking you to continue to represent me for all the progress you had made in my claim. Thank you for everything we have achieved to reach a mutual satisfaction to my claim.

Alan Grossman

I would like to thank everyone at Hugh James especially Chris Griffiths for their excellent work, professionalism, kindness and understanding, in what became a difficult situation. As a very dear friend of mine, Ralph passed away in the midst of an Asbestos claim of which I promised to carry it through for him.

Mrs K

Key contact

Richard Green

Partner

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Richard is a Partner and heads a team of solicitors who specialise in asbestos related disease compensation claims. His team assist those who suffer from mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer and pleural thickening. Richard continues to build strong relationships with hospitals and their nurses, and often is referred work because of this. The team is also a supporter of Mesothelioma UK and has paired up with them to host joint events. In the independent legal directory ‘The Legal 500’, Richard has been named as a next generation lawyer and is described as 'fantastic' and 'excellent at asbestos-related disease work'.

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Featured previous settlements

Below are some featured settlements:

Previous settlements

Compensation and indemnity for future treatment secured for former electrician with mesothelioma

Asbestosis case settled despite blue water shipping argument

Asbestosis settlement against L Slack & Son Ltd

Case Study: 2021 settlement reached for gas worker

Videos

Your questions answered

How much compensation will I receive?

This is personal to you and will depend upon the asbestos condition you suffer from. Many mesothelioma claims settle for sums between £100,000 and £400,000.

Our specialist team is experienced in ensuring that you and your family receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

Compensation will include an award for the pain and suffering caused by your illness. In addition compensation can also be claimed in respect of care needs, financial losses, medical care and treatment.

How much does it cost me to make a claim?

All of our claims are run on a no-win, no fee basis. There will be no charge or financial risk to you by making a claim. If the claim is not successful, there will be nothing for you to pay.

Speak to our specialist team to find out more about the no-win, no fee agreements.

How long does a claim take?

The time it takes to pursue a claim depends on the complexity of the claim, how the defendants respond to the claim and whether we need to issue court proceedings.

Most claims are resolved within 6 months - 3 years.

What if my former employer is no longer trading?

We will endeavour to trace the employers’ liability insurers of your former employers who will be responsible for paying the compensation you are entitled to.

If your former employer did not have insurance, it may be possible to pursue a claim under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme if you suffer with mesothelioma.

I don’t know how I was exposed to asbestos – what should I do?

If you are unsure how you were exposed to asbestos, please speak to one of our specialist asbestos team who will speak to you about your work history to identify areas in which you might have come into contact with asbestos.

It is a good idea to speak to former work colleagues to see whether they know how you might have come into contact with asbestos. We can considering running witness appeals on Facebook and in local newspapers to find former colleagues if necessary.

It might also be useful to speak to family members to see whether they came into contact with asbestos and whether they might have brought asbestos fibres home on their clothes.

You should also consider whether you lived near a site which manufactured asbestos.

I was exposed to asbestos but don’t have a condition – can I claim?

You can only pursue a civil compensation in England and Wales if you have been diagnosed with one of the following asbestos conditions:

Mesothelioma
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestosis
Diffuse pleural thickening

If you have been exposed to asbestos, we would recommend documenting how and when with your GP if you do go on to develop an asbestos condition in due course. Unfortunately, it is not possible to claim compensation for the anxiety about developing a condition in the future.

I was diagnosed with a condition over 3 years ago, can you still help?

Generally, you have 3 years within which to make a claim, from the date on which you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition or the date from which you realised that your chest problems might be related to asbestos.

If you were diagnosed over 3 years ago, please speak to one of our specialist solicitors to explain why you have not made a claim previously. There may be some discretion to bring a claim out of time if there is good reason.

I know someone who passed away from asbestos condition before making a claim - can you still help?

You have 3 years from the date of death of someone who passed away to bring a claim. The personal representative of their estate can bring a claim on behalf of their estate.

The difficulty with this is that we will be unable to take any evidence from your loved one about how they were exposed. Instead, we will need to try and take some evidence from their former work colleagues to see whether they know how you might have come into contact with asbestos. We can also considering running witness appeals on Facebook and in local newspapers to find former colleagues if necessary.