Pleural plaques is an asbestos related disease that is caused by thickening of the pleura stimulated by asbestos exposure. Asbestos particles cling to the pleura and thicken them by stimulating inflammation and immune responses which result in fibrous tissue developing and consolidating in the lung. Pleural Plaques is the most common condition caused by exposure to asbestos, and although development is linked to the extent of exposure to asbestos and the length of such exposure, pleural plaques can occur even after a small amount of exposure to suspect materials. Over time they may themselves grow and spread, thus exposure to asbestos can have a cumulative effect: an effect that can be physically distressing and one that can cause anxiety.
Exposure to asbestos will usually have occurred over twenty years before pleural plaques develop. Therefore, you should think back to the type of work, and the materials you used at work, twenty years or more previously. Just because your work has been devoid of exposure more recently does not discount you from the fact that you may have developed an asbestos related disease.
So which workers are liable to suffer? Anyone exposed to asbestos fibres: construction workers, who dealt with concretes and the materials in roofs and floors. Those who installed insulation materials in houses or brake linings in cars may also be vulnerable. Workers in factories or other manufacturing stages of materials containing asbestos fibres will also be susceptible to suffer from the disease. Manufacturing involves the physical movement of matter which may encourage asbestos particles to float in the air and increases the chances of inhalation.
Pleural plaques has been a condition suitable for compensation for over twenty years however insurers have recently challenged the availability of damages in court on the basis that the condition is symptom free. Whilst our solicitors can usually deal with this type of case we are no longer able to deal with claims for compensation for pleural plaques. In 2006 a Court of Appeal decision reversed the previous law and precluded those suffering from this symptom free scarring of the lungs from claiming compensation notwithstanding that they have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and asbestosis both of which can have a fatal outcome.
We are however able to deal make an asbestos related disease claim for asbestosis and mesothelioma. All our compensation claims are dealt with using the no win no fee scheme and compensation is always paid in full with no deductions whatsoever. There is no need to fund or finance any legal case as it proceeds and there is nothing to pay out at any time. Our members are all qualified as specialists and in England and Wales they are all members of the Law Society panel of personal injury experts. If you would like to speak to a specialist solicitor about claims for asbestosis or mesothelioma you can either use the 24/7 helpline or complete the form or just email us. If after talking to us you decide not to take matters further then you are under no obligation to do so and you will not be charged for our advice.
