Call back for new
personal injury claims only
Leave your details to request a call back.
Pleural Plaques Compensation Claims
About Asbestos
Information about Asbestos
Asbestos Related Illnesses
Information about Asbestos Related Diseases
What are Pleural Plaques?
Information about Pleural Plaques
Pleural Plaques Compensation
Compensation for Pleural Plaques
News Stories about Pleural Plaques Compensation
Campaign to Restore Pleural Plaques Compensation
Asbestos Compensation Claim Advice
How to start a claim for asbestos compensation
About Asbestos
Information about Asbestos
Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals which were manufactured into insulation materials frequently used in power stations, construction, shipbuilding and various other industries. Asbestos products were used widely throughout most of the last century because it was non-flammable, flexible, virtually indestructible and low heat-conducting. It was perfect for use as insulation, brake linings, cement and fire-proofing.
Although asbestos was very useful, it was also known to cause lung disease. Asbestos is made up of microscopic fibres which can be inhaled into the lungs. Diseases caused by inhaling asbestos fibres can take between 15 to 50 years or more to occur.
Asbestos Related Illnesses
Information about Asbestos Related Diseases
There are different types of asbestos related conditions and they each vary in severity. The conditions include pleural plaques, pleural thickening, mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Regardless of which of these conditions you have contracted (with the exception of pleural plaques), if it can be proven that you were exposed to the asbestos negligently then you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation.
What are Pleural Plaques?
Information about Pleural Plaques
Pleural plaques are a form of scarring of the outer lining of the lung. Although pleural plaques do not normally cause any symptoms they are an indication of previous exposure to asbestos.
People diagnosed with pleural plaques, often become anxious about whether they will develop a fatal asbestos related illness in the future, such as mesothelioma.
Pleural Plaques Compensation
Compensation for Pleural Plaques
In the past it was possible for people suffering from pleural plaques to recover compensation; however in October 2007 the House of Lords ruled that compensation would no longer be payable to anyone suffering from pleural plaques. Despite a campaign led by trade unions the last Government decided not to overturn the decision.
The Government did however, decide to make one-off payments of up to 5,000 to anyone who had been diagnosed with pleural plaques and who had started a claim which was not resolved by the time the House of Lords ended the right to compensation. The deadline for applying to the scheme was 1st August 2011.
If you have been diagnosed with pleural plaques we can still offer you free legal advice about your rights so please contact us. Thompsons Solicitors also offer a service where we can record the details of anyone who has been exposed to asbestos on an asbestos register we have compiled that could be used to assist you in the event that you ever develop a different asbestos related disease. It will also enable us to inform you about any change in the law that may affect your entitlement to compensation for asbestos related illness.
News Stories about Pleural Plaques Compensation
Campaign to Restore Pleural Plaques Compensation
Thompsons Solicitors were involved in fighting the test cases to retain the right to compensation for pleural plaques sufferers. After the House of Lords decision Thompsons Solicitors supported the Trade Union led campaign to restore the right to compensation for pleural plaques.
We have published information on our News Desk about developments in the campaign. You can read a selection of these by following the links below.
- 14th December 2011 - NI assembly reverses asbestos compensation law
- 12th October 2011 - Ruling recognises rights of asbestos victims above insurers interests
- 1st August 2011 - Unite members in North West recover £1.5m asbestos compensation
- 14th June 2011 - Time is running out to apply for plaques compensation
- 15th April 2011 - Asbestos compensation victory for pleural plaques sufferers exposed North of the border
- 30th March 2011 - Thompsons McClure welcomes asbestos Bill
- 20th September 2010 - Pleural Plaques Compensation Scheme
- 25th February 2010 - Government proposals for asbestos victims receives mixed reaction from Thompsons
- 8th January 2010 - Pleural Plaques Claims in Scotland
- 22nd September 2009 - Asbestos victim’s fight for justice
- 18th September 2009 - Lung cancer widow tells of plaques fear
- 21st July 2009 - Cautious welcome for asbestos claims announcement
- 17th June 2009 - Settlement for asbestos lung cancer widow
- 7th May 2009 - Pleural Plaques announcement delayed again
- 23rd April 2009 - Thompsons criticise insurers’ judicial review in Scotland
- 23rd April 2009 - Asbestos victim’s fight for justice
- 8th April 2009 - Pleural Plaques announcement due after Easter
- 16th March 2009 - Pleural plaques postcode lottery
- 13th February 2009 - South Shields MP visits Thompsons Offices
- 6th February 2009 - UK’s MPs support plaques campaign
- 28th January 2009 - Fight for pleural plaques compensation continues
- 23rd January 2009 - Postcode lottery over pleural plaques
- 22nd January 2009 - Unions back pleural plaques campaign
- 20th January 2009 - Pleural Plaques Campaign is launched
- 8th December 2008 - Joiner with Pleural Plaques Develops Mesothelioma
- 1st October 2008 - UK’s most experienced trade union law firm calls on Government to take bold steps to restore pleural plaques compensation
- 6th June 2008 - Pleural Plaques Debate
- 1st February 2008 - Government called to reverse a House of Lords decision which ended the right to compensation for pleural plaques
- 17th October 2007 - Asbestos Victims Let Down By House of Lords Decision
- 22nd June 2007 - Asbestos-Related Pleural Plaques Appeal in the House of Lords
- 16 October 2006 - Appeal to the Law Lords to reinstate compensation for pleural plaques sufferers
- 26 January 2006 - Pleural plaques test case ruling will deprive thousands of people of their right to compensation
- 14 November 2005 - Insurers try to overturn 20 years of case law to halt asbestos payouts
- 15 February 2005 - Insurers fail in bid to stop compensation for thousands of asbestos victims
Asbestos Compensation Claim Advice
How to start a claim for asbestos compensation
If you or someone you know has developed an asbestos related disease, telephone us now for free and sympathetic expert legal advice.
Thompsons Solicitors have also written an information page with advice for people who have recently been exposed to asbestos but have not been diagnosed with a related illness.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid compensation claim. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

