Industrial Disease Compensation

Timescales

How long do I have to make a claim?

If you are considering making a claim it is important to contact us as soon as possible. There are time limits for starting a personal injury claim, depending on the type of injury involved.

If your injury was caused by someone’s negligence you must start court proceedings within 3 years of when you were injured. If you were not aware of the injury initially (for example, if you are suffering from a disease caused by exposure to asbestos and did not become ill for years after) you have to start proceedings within 3 years of finding out about the injury.

You should obtain legal advice as soon as you believe you may be suffering from an industrial disease caused by your employment. We will advise you on how the time limits affect your particular case.

How long will it take to settle my claim?

Various factors affect how long it will take to settle a claim.

An important factor is whether or not an admission is obtained from the party at fault early in the process. If the person or company you are claiming from deny liability then this can prolong the claim until we prove that they are responsible. Witnesses can be helpful in this respect as they can add to the strength of your claim.

Identifying the defendant can also be an issue in some claims. For example, your employer may no longer be trading or may have been taken over. We will make enquiries to identify the firm and check there is an insurer on cover for the period you worked there.

Contact us for a consultation or follow the links for more information.