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...
The impact of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma can be devastating for sufferers and their loved ones. Sadly, life expectancy post-diagnosis is sometimes short and quality of life is usually significantly affected, while the consequences for those who experience the death of a loved one due to an asbestos-related disease can be substantial and long-lasting.
Claiming compensation can never make things right, but it can make a real difference to those living with the impact of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Compensation can allow you to pay for the best medical and personal care, replace lost income and give you much needed financial security at this difficult time.
At Novum Law, we have a large team of specialist asbestos claims experts who can assist with:
- Finding out whether you are owed compensation for mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease
- A realistic estimate of the potential damages available
- Navigating every step of making a mesothelioma or asbestos claim
- Removing unnecessary stress and worry from the claims process
- Accessing specialist support for you and your loved ones
We offer No Win No Fee funding which means you do not need to worry about how to fund our legal services or put yourself at any financial risk in order to pursue an asbestos compensation claim.
Our asbestos and mesothelioma solicitors are highly skilled in negotiation, with an excellent track record of securing maximum settlements for our clients without court proceedings in the most cases. This enables our clients to get compensation faster and with less stress.
If you are concerned because your asbestos exposure happened many years ago and/or the employer responsible is no longer in business, do not worry – a claim is normally still possible. Our team has strong experience with claims like these, so can offer clear advice on your situation and options.
Book a Free Consultation with Our Asbestos & Mesothelioma Solicitors in Cardiff
If you believe you or a loved one are entitled to compensation for mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, our asbestos solicitors in Cardiff are here for you.
We also have offices in Bristol, 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 Cardiff office on 02920 972 070 or online for a free, no obligation chat.
Our Expertise with All Types of Asbestos claims
Our asbestos solicitors in Cardiff are experts in claims related to several types of asbestos-related illnesses including:
- Mesothelioma compensation claims (Pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma)
- Asbestos-related lung cancer claims
- Asbestosis compensation claims
- Pleural thickening claims
We work with clients who have been exposed to asbestos in many different environments, including dockyards, power stations, shipyards, construction sites, railways, engineering sites, offices, houses, public buildings, hospitals, schools and colleges.
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.
What our clients say about us:
“Once again, Phillip, thank you immensely for your warm and human approach. I know it has been quite a while since my brother died but his loss remains huge within our family and some days are still a challenge. It has helped me that any dealings with you have been kind and I cannot express adequately how much I have appreciated your kindness. Thank you.”
“Having contracted mesothelioma, I contacted Novum Law. Novum Law took on my case and successfully secured not only the cost of my treatment and ongoing future payments, but a court settlement, which was fantastic news. I am indebted to them for all their help and support during the process in which the team was compassionate and supportive. Thank you!”
Our Approach to Asbestos & Mesothelioma Compensation Claims in Cardiff
Free Consultation with Our Asbestos Solicitors
To help you find out more about how asbestos claims work and whether you may be owed compensation, we offer a free first appointment with one of our specialist asbestos and mesothelioma solicitors in Cardiff. This will normally be by phone or via videoconferencing, but we can also work via email if you prefer.
This first consultation will be your chance to discuss:
- The nature of your illness and its impact on your life
- How you think you were exposed to asbestos
- Whether you may have grounds for an asbestos claim
- The level of asbestos compensation you may be entitled to
- Exactly how the claims process works
- What will happen next if you decide to pursue a claim
Please be assured, this consultation is for your benefit and we will never put you under any pressure to pursue a claim – this is something that must be your choice.
No Win No Fee Asbestos Claims Funding
Every asbestos compensation claim our team deals with is funded through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). You may have heard this referred to as ‘No Win No Fee’ funding.
With a No Win No Fee asbestos claim, you do not have to pay anything upfront to start a claim and there is no financial risk to you. This is because our fees are only applied if and when we secure compensation. If your claim does not result in compensation, there would be no fees for you to pay.
Find out more about No Win No Fee funding.
Establishing the Grounds for an Asbestos Compensation Claim
To get asbestos compensation for you, we need to be able to show that someone else (normally an employer) was responsible for your exposure to asbestos. The key facts we will need to establish are that:
- You were exposed to asbestos while working for a particular employer.
- Your employer knew or should reasonably have been expected to know there was a risk of asbestos exposure.
- Your employer did not take appropriate precautions to minimise the risks of asbestos exposure e.g. providing proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Our asbestos and mesothelioma solicitors in Cardiff can draw on their years of experience with these complex claims to make sure all of the right evidence is gathered so you have the best chance of a successful claim, even where asbestos exposure happened decades ago.
Calculating the Value of Your Mesothelioma or Other Asbestos-related Disease Claim
A key part of the claims process is working out exactly how much compensation you are owed. We do this by a careful assessment of all the ways in which mesothelioma or another asbestos disease has impacted you and your loved ones. This is referred to as ‘assessing quantum’ or ‘assessing quantum of damages’.
Damages for a mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases 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 a Mesothelioma or other Asbestos-related Disease Claim Out of Court
Our asbestos claims team in Cardiff regularly secure maximum compensation for our clients through negotiated settlements. As well as allowing you to avoid the need to go to court (which can be stressful). This can also result in you receiving compensation much faster.
Taking an Asbestos Compensation Claim to Court
In the unlikely event that court proceedings are required, we can ensure you have the robust representation you need to give your claim the best chance of success. Our team will work closely with you, clearly explaining exactly how the court process works and what to expect. Our asbestos and mesothelioma solicitors will prepare your case and be by your side every step of the way.
Transferring Your Mesothelioma or other Asbestos-related Disease Claim to Novum Law from Another Firm
There are many different law firms and claims companies who offer assistance with asbestos compensation claims, but few of them are specialists meaning the level of expertise and service they provide does not always meet expectations.
At Novum Law, we often hear from people who have started an asbestos claim with another firm only to feel badly let down by the results. Frequent concerns include that the claims process is taking too long, communication is poor and that settlements have been negotiated that fail to meet claimants’ needs.
Our asbestos solicitors in Cardiff are happy to review your case and give an independent second opinion.
Where we think we can provide a better service, our team will be happy to take over your claim – we will always be honest and if we think your current team is doing a good job, we will tell you so. However, 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 & Mesothelioma Compensation Claims
You may have heard that there is a three-year time limit to bring a personal injury claim. While this is generally true, even if your asbestos exposure happened decades ago, you will normally still be able to make a claim.
This is because the three-year time limit is not counted from when the exposure occurred, but rather 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.
So, as long as you act promptly when you find out about your asbestos exposure, you should not have any difficulty with your eligibility to claim.
It is worth noting that in some circumstances, different time limits may apply which can give you longer to claim. For example, where someone has died due to mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, 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 & Mesothelioma Compensation where an Employer is No Longer Trading
Because asbestos exposure normally happens many years before symptoms of any related disease appear, it is not uncommon for the business responsible for that exposure to have ceased trading in the intervening years.
Where this is the case, it is understandable to worry that you may not be able to claim compensation. However, typically this won’t be a problem as a claim will normally be made against the insurer your former employer used, rather than the employer themselves. As insurers are much less likely to have ceased trading, you should still therefore be able to make a claim in most cases.
If you are not sure which insurer covered your former employer, our asbestos solicitors can find this out for you.
Support for Families Where a Loved One Has Died Due to Mesothelioma or another Asbestos-related Disease
The sad reality is that many cases of mesothelioma and some other asbestos-related diseases are fatal. Often diagnosis only comes a short time before the affected person passes away and this can be particularly devastating for their loved ones.
Our asbestos solicitors work closely with families who have suffered a death due to asbestos. We can provide support for coroners’ inquests, helping families to prepare for an inquest and with representation for the inquest itself.
We can also advise on making a claim for fatal asbestos exposure, as well as assisting with continuing a claim started by a loved one before their death.
Additional Support for People Living with Mesothelioma & Asbestos-related Diseases
We can provide information and advice on government compensation schemes such as the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Schemes 2008 and 2014, the Pneumoconiosis Workers Compensation Act 1979, as well as help with other state benefits for asbestos disease patients.
Please view our short video on benefits here.
We can also help to connect you with various support groups for people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases and their loved ones including Mesothelioma UK, ActionMeso and SWASAG.
Have a Question About Claiming Asbestos & Mesothelioma Compensation?
If you have a question about making a mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease claim, 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 & Mesothelioma Solicitors in Cardiff
If you believe you or a loved one are entitled to compensation for mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, our asbestos solicitors in Cardiff are here for you.
We also have offices in Bristol, 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, call our Cardiff office on 02920 972 070 or contact us online for a free, no obligation chat.
