Silicosis Claims

Silicosis is a serious industrial disease that can cause a number of life-threatening conditions, including tuberculosis, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and lung cancer. It often affects individuals who work, or have previously worked, with certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with silicosis and it is the result of your employer or former work environment, you may be able to make a silicosis claim. This is something our specialist solicitors at Wolferstans will be able to help you with.

Securing silicosis compensation will help to ensure that you have all the support you need moving forward. This includes having access to the highest standard of medical care and rehabilitation services, as well as replacing any lost income.

Book your free initial consultation with our silicosis solicitors

If you have been diagnosed with silicosis, our solicitors will be happy to hold a free initial conversation about how we can help. Contact our specialist silicosis claims solicitors today by calling 01752 648870 or filling in our enquiry form on the right-hand side of the page.

Navigating this page:

How our silicosis claims solicitors can help
Our expertise with silicosis claims
How to claim silicosis compensation
Common questions about silicosis compensation claims

How our silicosis claims solicitors can help

Our solicitors will work to build the strongest possible case on your behalf that supports your claim for silicosis compensation. This will often include compiling evidence that highlights your condition, and proves your employer’s negligence was a contributing factor.

We understand that the prospect of bringing forward a claim for silicosis compensation can be a daunting one. Rest assured, we will be on hand to carefully guide you through every stage of the process, offering clear, straightforward advice that helps you to understand exactly what steps need to be taken.

We offer a free initial consultation for anyone seeking to make a silicosis claim, whether for themselves or on behalf of a loved one, so please get in touch to find out more about how we can help you with your claim.

Our expertise with silicosis claims

Our silicosis claims solicitors can support clients with all types of silicosis claims, including where it has caused conditions such as:

Tuberculosis (TB) and other chest infections
Pulmonary hypertension
Heart failure
Arthritis
Kidney disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Lung cancer

While exposure to a substance that has caused silicosis may have occurred many years ago, or an employer may not be trading, this is not necessarily a problem. We have the skills and resources to trace and restore companies to enable these claims to proceed.

At Wolferstans, we act as a local firm, providing a local touch. Even so, we have experience in working with clients across the country and have contact with experts in all regions.

Our expertise is reflected by our team being on the Law Society’s Personal Injury Panel and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) Panel.

How to claim silicosis compensation

Establishing whether you can make a silicosis claim

Before you can consider the process for claiming silicosis compensation, you must be able to demonstrate that you are entitled to make a claim. Our specialist silicosis solicitors can help you with this process.

Using our many years of experience, we know exactly what is required to make a strong claim for silicosis compensation. We can make sure that all of the relevant evidence is collected to support your claim and that no detail is overlooked.

Making sure that you get the maximum available compensation

We understand how important it is that you are able to secure the maximum possible compensation so that you and your family are properly supported.

Our team will work to ensure that all of your needs are fully considered and the ways silicosis has affected your life, and the lives of your family are taken into consideration.

We can assist with claiming compensation for matters including:

The financial impact of silicosis – e.g. lost income, paying for medical fees, nursing fees, etc.
The personal impact – e.g. pain and suffering, no longer being able to carry out activities you were previously able to (known as ‘loss of amenity’) and the time it takes your family to care for you.

The compensation available can cover both the impact to date and the expected future impact of silicosis.

Claiming silicosis compensation where an employer has ceased trading

Claiming silicosis compensation when your employer has ceased trading is still possible. Wolferstans’ specialist silicosis team can trace the relevant insurer for the time of your exposure which will be the basis for your claim.

This can be a complex process, which highlights the importance of having a suitable legal specialist by your side.

Securing early payments to cover medical costs, hospice fees and more

At Wolferstans, we work with specialist medical and nursing experts together with hospices to provide our clients with the best possible service.

We will seek early payments in order to fund any care, equipment or home adaptations that may be required due to your silicosis diagnosis.

Claiming compensation where silicosis has caused the death of a loved one

The specialist silicosis team at Wolferstans has years of experience assisting silicosis sufferers and helping their families when the disease has sadly been fatal.

If you have lost a relative or loved one due to a silicosis disease, you may understandably be feeling confused about what your potential options are moving forward. We appreciate this can be an incredibly emotional time, so if you have any questions about making a silicosis claim after death, please feel free to contact us.

Common questions about silicosis compensation claims

Silicosis is a long-term lung disease that can develop after breathing in large amounts of crystalline silica dust over extended periods of time.

Silica or silicon dioxide is a substance that is naturally found in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay. Working with these types of substances can create a fine dust that can be inhaled into the lungs. Once in the lungs, this can cause inflammation and result in lung tissue becoming hardened and scarred.

This means that you could be susceptible to silicosis if you worked in industries such as:

Stone masonry and stone cutting
Mining
Quarrying
Construction and demolition
Worktop manufacturing and fitting
Pottery and ceramics
Sandblasting
Glass manufacturing
Paving

It is possible that one intense bout of exposure to silica could result in silicosis, though it is often the case that symptoms will take years to develop.

Silicosis often develops 10-20 years after the exposure. In some cases, it can take just 5-10 years to develop and, after extremely heavy exposure, it could take just a few months.

Unfortunately, silicosis can be a fatal disease. There is currently no cure and it can lead to a range of life-threatening conditions that cause the lungs to stop working properly.

There are certain treatments to silicosis that can help to relieve the symptoms and improve quality of life, though the condition will continue to progress over many years.

If you are experiencing any of the potential symptoms of silicosis, such as:

A persistent cough
Persistent shortness of breath
Weakness and tiredness

If you previously worked in an industry that exposed you to silica dust, it is important that you speak to a medical professional. They will discuss your symptoms and work history with you and, if silicosis is suspected, they will refer you to a specialist for further tests to confirm the diagnosis. This is likely to include chest X-rays, CT scans and lung functioning tests. Separate TB tests may also be recommended.

It is difficult to estimate exactly how much compensation you could receive for silicosis, as there are various factors at play.

Our silicosis solicitors will work alongside you to review the circumstances of your case, ensuring that your claim reflects the impact the silica exposure has had on you and your loved ones.

The process of working out how much compensation you are entitled to is known as ‘assessing quantum of damages’ or ‘assessing quantum’.