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Asbestos Cancer Sufferers Entitled To Immediate Lump Sum Payments

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A new government scheme, introduced to help people suffering from the asbestos related disease mesothelioma, has now come into force.

The legislation, which was introduced on 1st October 2008, will give sufferers of mesothelioma the opportunity to claim a lump sum payment from the government. The quantity of this depends on the age the sufferer was when they were diagnosed with the disease, or if this is not known the age of the person on the date of making the claim. The aim of the scheme is to pay 95% of claims within six weeks of receiving the claim form.

Ciaran McCabe, a solicitor with specialist mesothelioma claims law firm, Moore Blatch Resolve LLP, says: “What’s important to remember regarding this new legislation is that even if you receive this lump sum payment you are still able to contact a firm of solicitors and bring a civil claim in relation to your exposure to asbestos.

“On average, in the UK alone, 13 people are dying every day due to exposure to asbestos and that number is unfortunately expected to double by 2010 and to keep rising until at least 2015. To put that into context it is twice the number of road accident deaths each day in the UK.

“This response from the government is welcome but long overdue. It will provide much needed assistance for care, medical treatment and the other financial needs of sufferers and their families, who through no fault of their own are left to face the devastating effects of this disease.”

Damian Horan, head of legal practice at the firm, comments: “Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which affects the chest or the linings of the abdomen and is an awful disease with no known cure. It can take up to 50 years for someone to develop mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos, which is why so many more cases are expected. We act for people not only in the UK but for people who were exposed to asbestos in the UK and have since emigrated.”

Moore Blatch Resolve LLP is a specialist personal injury and clinical negligence law firm. The dedicated team of specialist lawyers deal exclusively with personal injury claims and their experience covers a wide range of accidents, injuries, illnesses and diseases. The highly successful team has recently been ranked number one in Legal 500’s guide of personal injury solicitors in the South East.

Please see our asbestos compensation claims section for more information.

• Asbestos-Cancer-Sufferers-Entitled-To-Immediate-Lump-Sum-Payments.pdf