Asbestosis Compensation Claims
If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis after being exposed to asbestos at work, you may be able to make an asbestosis compensation claim.
At Tylers Solicitors, we help people across England and Wales pursue compensation for asbestos-related lung disease caused by unsafe working conditions, poor protection or negligent exposure over many years.
What Is Asbestosis?
Asbestosis is a serious lung condition caused by breathing in asbestos fibres. It often develops decades after the exposure happened, which means many people are only diagnosed long after they have left the job where the damage was done.
If you have recently been diagnosed, or you are supporting a family member who has, it is important to get legal advice as early as possible. We offer No Win No Fee support and can help you understand whether you may have a claim. Call us today on 0800 699 0079.
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibres. Over time, those fibres can scar the lungs and make it harder for them to work properly. This scarring can lead to breathlessness, a persistent cough, chest tightness and reduced lung function.
Unlike an illness caused by a one-off accident, asbestosis usually develops after repeated or prolonged exposure to asbestos dust, often in the workplace. It is also a progressive condition, which means symptoms can worsen over time. Although treatment may help manage symptoms, the lung damage itself cannot be reversed.
If you have symptoms and think you may have been exposed to asbestos through work, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. A formal diagnosis is an important part of any asbestosis claim.
Can I Make An Asbestosis Claim?
You may be able to make an asbestosis compensation claim if your illness was caused by negligent asbestos exposure at work or in another setting where someone else had a duty to protect you.
That may include cases where an employer failed to control asbestos dust, failed to provide suitable protective equipment, failed to warn workers about the risks, or allowed people to work in unsafe environments where asbestos-containing materials were disturbed.
Asbestosis claims often involve historic exposure. Many people were exposed in the 1960s, 70s, 80s or 90s and only received a diagnosis years later.
That does not automatically prevent a claim. In industrial disease cases, the time limit often depends on when you knew, or could reasonably have known, that your illness was linked to asbestos exposure rather than the date you first came into contact with asbestos.
You may still have a claim if:
- You were exposed to asbestos at work many years ago
- The company you worked for has since closed
- You only recently received an asbestosis diagnosis
- You were not warned about the risks of asbestos
- You were not given proper protection or training
- Your work involved repeated contact with insulation, lagging, roofing materials, ceiling tiles, boiler rooms or other asbestos-containing materials
We can assess the circumstances of your diagnosis and work history and advise whether you may have grounds to bring a claim.
Jobs & Workplaces Linked To Asbestosis
Asbestosis is strongly linked to industries where asbestos was widely used before it was banned. In many cases, the exposure happened during everyday work rather than through one obvious incident.
Jobs and workplaces commonly linked to asbestosis claims include:
- Construction and demolition
- Plumbing and heating work
- Electrical work
- Roofing and insulation work
- Shipbuilding and dockyard work
- Boiler rooms, engine rooms and plant rooms
- Maintenance and caretaker roles in older buildings
- Factory and industrial work involving lagging, pipework or machinery
- Refurbishment and renovation work in buildings built before 2000
People who worked in schools, hospitals, warehouses, local authority buildings and large commercial sites may also have been exposed if asbestos-containing materials were damaged or disturbed.
Asbestosis is different from some other workplace illnesses because exposure often happened gradually over a long period. Someone may have worked around asbestos for years without realising the long-term damage it could cause.
How Long Do I Have To Claim For Asbestosis?
In most cases, you have three years to start an asbestosis claim. For industrial disease cases, that time limit will often run from the date of knowledge rather than the date of exposure.
In practice, that usually means three years from the date you were diagnosed, or from the date you first became aware that your lung condition was linked to asbestos exposure.
This matters because asbestosis can take decades to develop. Someone exposed in the 1980s may only receive a diagnosis in recent years. The legal time limit does not usually start running from the 1980s in that situation.
Time limit issues in asbestos claims can be complicated, especially where:
- The diagnosis has only recently been confirmed
- There is more than one possible asbestos-related condition
- A person has passed away and the family needs advice about the estate or dependency claim
- Historic employers and insurers need to be traced
Because of that, it is always worth seeking advice as soon as possible rather than assuming too much time has passed.
Find Out If You May Have An Asbestosis Claim
What Evidence Is Needed For An Asbestosis Claim?
The aim in an asbestosis claim is to show both that you have the condition and that it was caused by negligent asbestos exposure. That usually means building up a clear picture of your diagnosis, your work history and the conditions you were exposed to.
Evidence may include:
- Medical records and hospital letters confirming the diagnosis
- Respiratory consultant reports, scans and test results
- A detailed employment history showing where and when you worked
- Information about the buildings, sites or materials you worked with
- Witness evidence from former colleagues who can confirm exposure conditions
- Documents showing the lack of protective equipment, warnings or training
- Records of previous employers, contractors or site operators
- Evidence to help trace historic liability insurers where an employer no longer exists
- Documents showing financial losses, such as lost earnings or travel costs
In some cases, the most difficult part of the claim is not proving the diagnosis but tracing the employer or insurer responsible for the exposure. That is something an experienced industrial disease solicitor can help with. A company closing down does not necessarily mean the claim ends there.
How Tylers Can Help With Your Asbestosis Claim
Asbestosis claims are rarely straightforward. They often involve historic employment, medical evidence, insurer tracing and careful investigation of where the exposure happened. Our role is to make that process clearer and more manageable.
When you contact us, we can talk through your work history, diagnosis and the circumstances of your exposure. If we believe you may have a claim, we can begin gathering the evidence needed to move the case forward.
A typical asbestosis claim may involve:
1. A Free Initial Conversation
We listen to what has happened, ask about your diagnosis and work history, and give you an early view on whether you may be able to claim.
2. Looking At How The Exposure Happened
We build a picture of the jobs you carried out, the sites you worked on, the asbestos-containing materials involved and the protection, if any, that was provided.
3. Obtaining Medical Evidence
We review your diagnosis and may obtain independent medical evidence to understand the extent of the disease and the impact it has had on your health and future.
4. Tracing Employers & Insurers
Where necessary, we make enquiries to identify the company responsible and the relevant insurers, even if the exposure happened many years ago.
5. Valuing The Claim
We assess the claim based on the severity of the illness and any financial losses linked to it, including lost earnings, care, treatment and travel costs.
6. Negotiating Settlement
If liability is accepted, we pursue settlement on your behalf. If liability is disputed, we can advise on the next steps and continue building the evidence.
Throughout the claim, our focus is on keeping things clear and practical. Industrial disease claims can feel daunting enough without having to chase every step yourself.
Asbestosis Compensation Amounts
Every claim is different. These figures are broad guidance, not a guarantee.
Contact us on 0800 699 0079 or use our online contact form for advice based on your circumstances.
How Asbestosis Compensation Is Calculated
Compensation in asbestosis claims depends on the severity of the condition, the effect it has had on your breathing and daily life, and any financial losses linked to it.
The figures below are broad examples of asbestos-related compensation brackets and should only be treated as guidance. The value of any claim will depend on the medical evidence, your work and exposure history, and the overall impact of the illness.
Minor Asbestos-Related Disease
Guideline compensation: £12,500 to £28,500.
The medical evidence and effect on breathing, work and daily life will influence the value of a claim.
Moderate Asbestos-Related Disease
Guideline compensation: £29,000 to £75,500.
The value will depend on the diagnosis, symptoms and wider financial losses.
Serious Asbestos-Related Disease
Guideline compensation: £53,500 to £73,000.
These are broad examples only and should not be treated as a prediction of an individual award.
Severe Asbestos-Related Disease
Guideline compensation: up to £95,700.
The level of compensation may also be affected by the wider impact of the disease. An asbestosis claim can include compensation for the illness itself as well as financial losses caused by it.
Depending on the circumstances, that may include lost earnings, travel expenses, care and assistance, treatment costs and the cost of ongoing support.
If you have been diagnosed with another asbestos-related condition, you may also find it helpful to read our mesothelioma claims page.
On This Page
Asbestosis Claims FAQs
Can I claim compensation for asbestosis?
Yes, if your asbestosis was caused by negligent asbestos exposure at work or in another setting where someone else failed to protect you, you may be able to claim compensation. The key issues are usually diagnosis, exposure history and whether the responsible employer or insurer can be identified.
How long do I have to make an asbestosis claim?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of knowledge. That is often the date of diagnosis, or the date you first became aware that your lung disease was linked to asbestos exposure.
Can I claim if I was exposed to asbestos decades ago?
Yes, potentially. Asbestosis often develops many years after exposure, so claims frequently involve work carried out decades earlier. Historic exposure does not stop a claim on its own.
What evidence is needed for an asbestosis claim?
Useful evidence includes medical records, diagnosis letters, employment history, witness evidence from colleagues, details of the workplaces where exposure happened and documents that help trace former employers or insurers.
Which jobs are most at risk of asbestosis?
Construction workers, demolition workers, plumbers, electricians, roofers, shipyard workers, maintenance staff, insulation workers and people working in older industrial or commercial buildings are among those most commonly linked to asbestos exposure claims.
How is asbestosis different from mesothelioma?
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by scarring in the lungs after asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Both are serious asbestos-related conditions, but they are different diagnoses and are dealt with separately.
Can I claim if my former employer has closed?
You may still be able to claim. In some cases, it is possible to trace the employer’s historic liability insurer even if the business no longer exists.
How much compensation could an asbestosis claim be worth?
That depends on the severity of the disease, the impact on your breathing and daily life, and any financial losses caused by it. A solicitor can give more meaningful advice once the medical evidence and work history have been reviewed.
Related Asbestos Disease Claims
Mesothelioma is a rare & aggressive type of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells. It is commonly associated with Asbestos in which the cancer is brought on by inhalation of dangerous asbestos fibres that cover the outer surfaces of our body organs.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term used to describe a series of lung conditions that cause difficulty when breathing.
Start Your Asbestosis Claim
If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis and believe it may be linked to asbestos exposure at work, we can help you understand your options.
Whether the exposure happened recently or many years ago, it is worth getting advice before assuming you are out of time or that nothing can be done.
To speak to Tylers Solicitors about an asbestosis compensation claim, call us on 0800 699 0079, email us at info@tylerssolicitors.co.uk, or fill in our online contact form to arrange a free initial conversation. We can talk through your diagnosis, your work history and whether you may be able to bring a No Win No Fee claim.