We investigate where and when exposure occurred, trace the relevant employers and their insurers, and obtain respiratory evidence. We will explain the process, the interaction with government schemes and the funding options that may be available.
Can I Make a Claim?
- You have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition.
- You were exposed to asbestos at work, or secondarily — for example by washing a family member's dusty work clothing.
- The employer or occupier failed to protect you from a risk that was known at the time.
- The limitation period usually runs from diagnosis or from knowledge of the link, not from the exposure.
Situations We Are Instructed On
- Lagging, insulation and boiler work in power stations and factories
- Shipyard and dockyard exposure
- Building trades disturbing asbestos insulation board and cement sheeting
- Maintenance and demolition work on older public buildings
- Secondary exposure through contaminated work clothing at home
- Exposure while working in schools, hospitals and other public estates
What Compensation Could I Claim?
- Damages for the diagnosed condition and its effect on breathing and daily life
- Provisional damages in some cases, preserving the right to return if a more serious condition develops
- Loss of earnings and pension loss where the illness has ended working life
- Care, oxygen therapy, equipment and home adaptations
- Advice on government schemes that may run alongside a civil claim
What can be recovered in any individual case depends on the medical evidence and on the losses that can be proved. We do not estimate figures before that evidence is available.
Evidence That Helps
- Detailed exposure history — sites, dates, trades and materials handled
- HMRC employment history and any surviving payslips or union records
- Insurer tracing results for each relevant employer
- Respiratory medical evidence, including lung function testing and imaging
- Statements from colleagues who worked in the same conditions
How Long Could the Claim Take?
Asbestos claims can move quickly where the diagnosis is serious and the court's specialist procedures apply, or slowly where exposure history and insurer tracing are complex. We prioritise cases where health is deteriorating.
No Win No Fee Funding for This Type of Claim
A No Win No Fee agreement — known in law as a conditional fee agreement — is a written contract between you and your solicitor. Under it, our fee for the legal work becomes payable only if your claim is successful. It is a way of funding a claim without paying our costs up front. It is not a promise about the outcome of your case, and it is not available in every matter.
How a No Win No Fee agreement works
- Assessment first. We review the facts, the likely evidence and your prospects before deciding whether we can offer this type of funding.
- If the claim succeeds. The opponent is usually ordered or agrees to pay a substantial part of your legal costs. A success fee — a percentage uplift on our charges, capped by law in personal injury work — is deducted from your compensation. The percentage will be stated in your agreement before you sign it.
- If the claim does not succeed. You would not pay our fee for the legal work covered by the agreement. You may still be responsible for certain disbursements and, in some circumstances, the opponent’s costs, which is why insurance arrangements are discussed with you at the outset.
- Deductions and other costs. Expenses such as medical reports, court fees, expert evidence and any insurance premium are dealt with separately. We will explain which of these may be deducted from your damages and how they are calculated.
- Alternatives. You may already have legal expenses cover through a household, motor or credit card policy, or through a trade union. We will ask about this because it may be a better option for you.
Who may be eligible
Eligibility depends on the individual case, including whether another party appears to be legally responsible, whether the injury and losses can be evidenced, and whether the claim is brought in time. Some claims are not suitable for this form of funding. We will tell you honestly if we cannot act on this basis, and explain the alternatives that may be open to you.
The exact terms — including the success fee percentage, the disbursements involved and what would happen if the claim were unsuccessful — are set out in writing and explained to you before you decide whether to proceed. Nothing on this page is a guarantee about the outcome of a claim or a statement that any particular funding arrangement will be available. Please take advice about your own circumstances.
Speaking to a No Win No Fee Solicitor
The first conversation is an assessment, not a commitment. A solicitor will listen to what happened, identify who may be legally responsible and consider what evidence is likely to be available. In the context of asbestos claims, that usually means looking closely at how the incident occurred, what records exist and how your injury has affected your work and daily life.
Once we understand the case, we can discuss funding. Where a conditional fee arrangement is appropriate, we will explain the terms, the deductions and the risks in writing so that you can make an informed decision. Where it is not appropriate, we will say so and set out any alternative route available to you, including existing insurance cover or union support. Either way, you will know where you stand before any work begins.
Asbestos Claims FAQs
- I was exposed in the 1970s. Is it too late?
- Generally no. Time normally runs from when you knew your illness was linked to asbestos, which may be very recent.
- What are provisional damages?
- An award that compensates you now for your current condition while preserving the right to claim again if a defined, more serious condition develops later.
- Can I claim if I was never a tradesperson?
- Yes. Secondary exposure claims, including from laundering contaminated clothing, are recognised where the risk should have been foreseen.
- Are government schemes an alternative?
- Statutory schemes exist and can operate alongside or instead of a civil claim depending on the circumstances. We will explain how they interact in your case.
Speak to our team
Tell us what happened and we will assess the claim and explain the funding options that may be available to you, in writing, before you decide how to proceed.