Asbestos exposure and related illnesses

Lavelle Partners act  for those who have been affected by asbestos disease.

Asbestos-related diseases affect thousands of people and their loved ones every year. Diagnoses often occur decades after the initial exposure but you might still be able to make a claim.

There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic “fibrils” that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. Before the realisation that asbestos is extremely harmful, it was used in many products, such as roofing, pipe lagging, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, and insulating boards, to name just a few.

You can no longer buy or use asbestos in Ireland, as it has been banned throughout the EU.

Injuries caused by asbestos

Exposure to asbestos can lead to several very serious conditions, such as:

• Lung cancer
• Asbestosis, which causes permanent lung damage
• Scarring of the lung lining (pleural thickening)
• Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body’s organs. It is often linked to asbestos exposure. In most cases, this disease has been the consequence of exposure to asbestos in the workplace such as in shipyards, building sites, power stations, factories and workshops; however, mesothelioma can be caused by extremely low levels of exposure to asbestos.

There is no cure for mesothelioma and by the time of its diagnosis, there will often only be a short life expectancy.

Asbestos Claims Overseas

Asbestos is a dangerous fibre and it’s effects are also silent – with most asbestos-related illnesses and symptoms starting to show decades after any exposure.

Because of this, many of those affected may have moved overseas and started a new life away from Ireland, unaware of the impact asbestos can have. At Lavelle Partners, our expert asbestos team specialise in helping Irish ex-pats and other people living abroad who were exposed to asbestos in Ireland bring claims against those responsible.

Taking a claim

If you have contracted any of the above as a result of being exposed to asbestos, which is the result of the negligence of a third party, such as an employer or a public body, you may have a claim for personal injuries.

Like all personal injury claims, you will need to submit an application to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB).

What can you claim for?

As part of your claim, you can seek compensation for the following:

• General Damages – this will include your physical and psychiatric injury as set out in the personal injury guidelines.
• Loss of Earnings – this will include lost wages, and wages you would have received if you were still at work, including bonuses and promotion.
• Future Care – this includes any equipment you might require, such as stair lifts, shower-seats and their delivery and installation.
• Fatal Claims – We also act for families of those who have died from exposure to asbestos. In addition to the above elements, we can attempt to recover funeral costs.

How Lavelle Partners can assist you in bringing a claim

• Lavelle Partners has over 35 years’ experience dealing with personal injury claims
• We place client care at the centre of everything we do
• We will take a detailed account of your work history
• We will obtain a medical report on your asbestos disease
• Upon receipt of the required reports, we will submit your application to PIAB
• If you were exposed to asbestos abroad, we work closely with lawyers in other countries including the UK and Australia, to make sure our clients receive the best service and that any asbestos claims are dealt with efficiently and in the correct place

What our clients say

“I could not have had a more positive experience in using the services of Lavelle Partners. A top class and personable company that comes highly recommended!”

Mr O’Ceallachain, personal injury client, 2022.

For further information on making a claim for personal injury due to exposure to asbestos in Ireland, please contact Lavelle Partners in confidence on (01) 644 5800 or email Avril Scally at ascally@lavellepartners.ie

*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. This statement is made in compliance with RE.8 of SI 518 of 2002.