Novum Law recognised in prestigious Chambers & Partners Guide 2024
The team at Novum Law are delighted to be once again recognised as one of the best personal injury law firms in the South West by the leading, independent legal...
Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma (pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma), pleural thickening, asbestos-related lung fibrosis or asbestosis, can have a huge impact on sufferers and their families. Sadly, these diseases can be fatal, cutting short the lives of sufferers and devastating their loved ones.
No amount of compensation can truly make up for this, but it can make a real practical difference to the lives of those affected by an asbestos-related disease. From paying for the best medical and personal care to replacing lost income and more – asbestos compensation can really help.
At Novum Law, we have a large team who are specialists in asbestos compensation claims. Our expert team can:
- Advise on whether you are owed asbestos compensation
- Provide a realistic estimate of the potential damages available
- Guide you through the entire claims process
- Make getting asbestos compensation as simple and stress-free as possible
We offer No Win No Fee funding so there is no need to worry about how to fund our services and there is no financial risk involved in pursuing an asbestos claim with Novum Law.
Our asbestos solicitors have an exceptional track record of negotiating maximum settlements for our clients, avoiding the need for court proceedings in the vast majority of cases. This can make the claims process much faster and less stressful.
Even if you were exposed to asbestos many years ago and/or the employer responsible is no longer in business, it is often still possible to claim. Novum Law has extensive experience in claims like these, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more.
Book a Free Consultation With Our Asbestos Solicitors in Bristol
If you believe you or a loved one are entitled to asbestos compensation, our asbestos solicitors in Bristol are here for you.
We also have offices in Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon, allowing us to offer a convenient local service to clients further afield.
To begin your claim, contact our Bristol office on 0117 930 9599 or online for a free, no obligation chat.
Our Expertise With All Types of Asbestos claims
Our asbestos solicitors in Bristol are experts in dealing with all types of asbestos-related disease claims, including:
- Mesothelioma claims (Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma)
- Asbestosis claims (Asbestos-Related Lung Fibrosis or Asbestos-Related Pulmonary Fibrosis)
- Asbestos-related lung cancer claims
- Pleural thickening claims
Find out more about our expertise with asbestos-related diseases.
Take a look at our team to find out more about their individual areas of expertise.
Our Approach to Asbestos Compensation Claims in Bristol
Free Consultation
Every new potential client is offered a free first appointment with one of our specialist asbestos solicitors in Bristol. This will normally be by phone or via videoconferencing, but we can also work via email should this be more convenient.
In this initial chat with a member of our team, we will:
- Ask you about the nature of your illness and how you think you were exposed to asbestos
- Advise you on whether we think you may have a claim
- Discuss the level of damages potentially available
- Explain how the claims process works
- Talk you through what will happen next if you decide to pursue a claim
Please be assured, we will not try to pressure you into making a claim – it is entirely your choice.
No Win No Fee Asbestos Claims Funding
All of the asbestos compensation claims we take on are funded through Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs), also sometimes called ‘No Win No Fee’ funding.
With a No Win No Fee asbestos claim, there is no upfront cost to start a claim and no financial risk as our fees will only be applied if we secure compensation, i.e., we win your claim. In the event of a successful claim, our fees are normally paid by the defendant.
Find out more about No Win No Fee funding.
Establishing the Grounds for Claiming Asbestos Compensation
To be owed compensation, it must be shown that someone else was responsible for your asbestos exposure. This will normally be an employer and it will generally be necessary to show that:
- You were exposed to asbestos while working for them.
- They knew or should reasonably have been expected to know there was a risk of asbestos exposure.
- They failed to take appropriate precautions to minimise the risks of asbestos exposure e.g. providing proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Our asbestos solicitors in Bristol are very experienced in building these types of cases and gathering the necessary evidence, even when dealing with asbestos exposure that occurred many years ago. We can therefore give you the best chance of a successful claim.
Calculating the Value of Your Asbestos Compensation Claim
We will carefully assess the full impact of an asbestos disease on the sufferer and their loved ones to ensure we can recover the maximum possible compensation. This is referred to as ‘assessing quantum’ or ‘assessing quantum of damages’.
Damages for an asbestos-related disease can cover:
- Financial costs you have incurred (e.g. medical bills, rehabilitation costs, care and support fees, lost earnings etc.)
- The non-financial impact of injuries (e.g. pain and suffering, loss of amenity etc.)
Settling an Asbestos Claim Out of Court
Our Bristol asbestos lawyers have an excellent track record of achieving maximum compensation for our clients through negotiated settlements. This allows our clients to avoid court proceedings, which generally makes the claims process much faster and less stressful.
Pursuing an Asbestos Compensation Claim in Court
In the rare occurrence when court proceedings are required, robust representation is essential. We know this can be a worrying issue for clients, so we will take the time to explain exactly how the court process works, what to expect and the likely outcomes. We will then prepare your case and secure expert representation for you.
Transferring Your Asbestos Claim to Novum Law From Another Firm
We are often contacted by people who have started an asbestos claim with another firm and are unhappy with the results. Common complaints include that a claim is taking too long or that a settlement has been negotiated that does not meet the claimant’s needs.
Our asbestos solicitors are happy to review such cases and provide an independent second opinion. If we believe we can secure a better outcome, we will be happy to take over cases from other firms. Experience shows that we are often able to get a significantly higher settlement and/or secure compensation faster than other firms.
Find out more about transferring your asbestos claim to Novum Law.
Time Limits for Asbestos Compensation Claims
Normally, you have three years to bring an asbestos claim from the ‘date of knowledge’. This is the date on which you were first aware that:
- You were suffering from an asbestos-related disease.
- Someone else (normally an employer) was to blame for your exposure to asbestos.
In the case of asbestos-related diseases, the date of knowledge is often many years or decades after the initial exposure occurred.
In some circumstances, different time limits may apply giving you longer to claim. For asbestos claims, the most common exception is where the claim is on behalf of someone who has passed away. In such cases, their dependants or a representative of their estate will normally have three years from the date of death to bring a claim.
Find out more about time limits for compensation claims.
Claiming Asbestos Compensation if an Employer Has Gone Out of Business
A common concern is that people think they won’t be able to claim asbestos compensation because the employer responsible for their exposure has gone out of business.
This is rarely a problem, however, as the claim will usually be made against an employer’s insurer, rather than the employer themselves. This means it does not matter if the employer is no longer trading, as long as their insurer still is (and in almost all cases, they will be).
We appreciate you may not know which insurer covered your former employer, but we can find this out for you and then help you make a claim against them, giving you the best chance of securing fair compensation.
Support for Families Where a Loved One Has Died Due to an Asbestos-Related Disease
Sadly, asbestos-related diseases can be fatal and, in many cases, people only realise they are ill or that their disease is connected to asbestos exposure shortly before their death. In these cases, we can support the families of those who have died to take action.
Our asbestos solicitors regularly represent families through the process of dealing with a coroner’s inquest, helping to get answers about what happened. We can assist with preparing for the inquest and provide representation for the inquest itself where required.
We can also advise families on the process for starting a claim for fatal asbestos exposure, as well as where there is the need to carry on a claim started by a loved one before they passed away.
Have a Question About Claiming Asbestos Compensation?
If you have question about making an asbestos-related disease claim, you take a look at our FAQs. Alternatively, please get in touch and we will be happy to answer your query.
Book Your Free Consultation With Our Asbestos Solicitors in Bristol
If you believe you or a loved one are entitled to compensation, our asbestos solicitors in Bristol are here for you.
We also have offices in Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon, allowing us to offer a convenient local service to clients further afield.
To begin your claim, contact us on 0117 930 9599 or online for a free, no obligation chat.
