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By SheldonDavidsonSolicitors
Mesothelioma victims could soon receive up to £123,000 compensation for their illness after ministers announced a new fund would come into force next month.
This amount is a slight increase on what was originally agreed when the Mesothelioma Act was passed in January. Victims diagnosed after July 25th 2012 who are unable to track down a former employer or their insurance company were originally told they could receive up to 75% of the average court settlement from the new fund.
This figure was deemed unsatisfactory in many quarters, and Work and Pensions Minister Mike Penning conceded he had had to be “pragmatic” in achieving this amount. However, after further negotiation, the payouts have now risen to 80%. Previously, victims who could not find their former employer received around £20,000 in compensation.
Government estimates suggest around 3,500 victims will benefit from the fund, with claimants needing to prove their employer’s negligence in the same way as they would in a regular case, while they must also provide evidence that they have tried to find their former employer.
Those diagnosed before July 25th 2012 remain ineligible to claim under the Act.
While the fund has been welcomed in many quarters, medical organisations have been keen to point out that research into treatment for the condition also needs financial support.
Although the extra money will benefit the victims and their families in the short term, most Mesothelioma victims die within three years of receiving their diagnosis. There is currently no cure for the disease, and the government predicts that between 56,000 and 63,000 people will die as a result of Mesothelioma in the next 30 years.
Dr John Moore-Gillon of the British Lung Foundation said more investment into medical research was the best way to help future victims, adding it is “something we desperately need to prioritise”.
If you have developed a condition such as Mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure in the workplace, Sheldon Davidson Solicitors may be able to help you.
Where possible, we can assist in tracking down the relevant former employer and their insurance company in order to make your compensation claim. We will look at the circumstances of your case to decide if it is likely to be successful, and you will be kept informed throughout the process.
Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are Manchester's Personal Injury Experts with a long-standing track record of settling a broad range of Personal Injury Claims, including everything from Work Accident Claims and Industrial Disease Claims to Medical Negligence Claims, such as Hospital Negligence Claims.
