Hayward Baker are a firm of specialist Personal Injury Solicitors
Sadly, Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Southampton have some of the highest Asbestos exposure mortality rates in the country according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics. This exposure can lead to life changing asbestos related mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening.
These diseases affect many former Portsmouth and Southampton dockyard workers, factory or construction workers, engineers, tradesmen and others. They can be ex-military personnel based in the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth or civilian staff brought in to undertake contract work.
Because the inhalation of the asbestos fibres that damages the lungs might have happened many years ago, sufferers often have no idea whether they can pursue a claim or how to do so. Many believe a claim is defeated because a former employer has gone out of business or has been taken over. This is often not the case.
We are a Fareham based specialist Firm at the heart of the affected industries. Our local knowledge can be invaluable in assessing potential claims and identifying the correct Defendants, military or civil.
Working with the very experienced Barristers at 12 Kings Bench Walk, London, we can help by obtaining compensation for you and by recovering the costs and expenses you and your family may incur now and in the future. We can also refer you to agencies that provide free support at difficult and emotional times.
I appointed my solicitor before April 2013 and I have had money deducted from my compensation. Can I complain?
Prior to April 2013 most solicitors limited their fees to what the opponent were prepared to pay in addition to the compensation. So you should have received 100% of your compensation, and the solicitor should have been paid in addition. Whilst there may be circumstances where the solicitor legitimately deducted money from your compensation, this should never come as a surprise and you should have been made aware of this before the work was carried out. If this was not the case then you may be able to do something about it and we can help.
I appointed my solicitor after 1st April 2013 and I have had to pay fees from my compensation. Is this right?
Due to changes made by the government, where you appoint a solicitor after 1 April 2013 there are now restrictions on what legal fees can be recovered from your opponent. Unfortunately the government’s reforms have resulted in insurance companies maintaining large profits at the expense of the innocent victim who often now has to pay some fees from their compensation.
But your solicitor has a professional obligation to explain everything to you, and must comply with the legal profession’s code of conduct. There are many pitfalls here for solicitors, many of whom have been slow to fully understand their revised obligations in the new regime. If the solicitor has not done everything correctly, then we can help and we might be able to get you some or all of the money back that has been deducted from your compensation.
We can help
At Hayward Baker Solicitors we will review your solicitor’s file for you and give you a second opinion. If we feel that your solicitor has not complied with their professional obligations we will advise you on what you can do about it. There are normally a number of options which range from making a complaint to pursing a claim in negligence against the solicitors. If we feel that the solicitor has done everything correctly, then at least you have the peace of mind of knowing this, and it will not have cost you anything for this second opinion.
In order for us to provide you with a second opinion all we need you to do is click the image link below and provide us with the details requested. We will then send you a form for you to sign to authorise us to obtain the file.
You are not alone, we are local and we are here to help you, your dependents and loved ones.
There may be an entitlement to claim compensation.
Asbestos illness frequently asked questions and answers
Our experts can advise and assist you if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer or pleural thickening. This includes those in the armed forces who were exposed to asbestos and contracted mesothelioma, and for those contracting the other illnesses after 1987.
Asbestos related illnesses are characterised by damage to the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos fibres and they can have life-threatening or life-changing effects. Many people develop these illnesses because they were exposed to asbestos at work, particularly in the building industry or in shipyards. Asbestos was extensively used, particularly by those working with insulation. It may also be possible to claim compensation if you were exposed to asbestos while not at work. For example, you may have lived close to a factory that regularly used asbestos, or if you washed the work clothes of a family member who came into contact with asbestos as a result of their job.
You’ll normally have three years to make a claim from the date you were diagnosed with the asbestos related illness. If you want to claim on behalf of a loved one who has sadly died because of an asbestos related illness, you have three years to make a claim from the date of the death or from the point where a post-mortem revealed asbestos exposure was the cause of death. Our experts will discuss with you these time limits at the outset of the case.
Our experts will discuss with you bring a claim on a “no win, no fee” basis. This will give you and your family peace of mind about the costs of the claims process. As for how long it will take, each claim varies depending upon the illness and investigation required. However, please be assured our experts have the knowledge to progress the matter as quickly as possible for you.
If you have developed an asbestos related illness through your work, you might be able to make a compensation claim against your employer, even if you no longer work for them or they have gone out of business. Our experts will discuss with you how we go about tracking down an employer or, more importantly, their insurers at the relevant time.
Mesothelioma is a serious and often terminal illness caused by exposure to asbestos. The condition most commonly affects the lining of the lung (pleura), but mesothelioma can develop in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and the heart (pericardium). This condition will have a huge effect on your life and the lives of those close to you.
Often workers develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at work decades before. It is important we investigate your employment history and track down those responsible for exposing you to the asbestos particles and causing your illness. We can also help you make a claim through the Government’s “Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme” if we are unable to find the employer responsible for your condition.
Compensation amounts for the different asbestos related illnesses can vary and various factors are taken into account when calculating your claim. We look at the impact of the illness on your life, as well as your loss of income and any care costs. You may also be able to make a claim for ‘dependency’ if someone you were financially dependent on has passed away from mesothelioma or another asbestos related illness.
Along with understanding the illness and its implications for you and your family, we have a thorough understanding of the legal process for recovering compensation for those suffering from asbestos related illness. Also, we are local to the high-risk areas of Portsmouth, Southampton, Fareham and Gosport and have experience of claims arising from the local dockyard and building industries. You can visit our offices at any time or we will come and see you at home if it is easier.