• Expert solicitors with experience of asbestos compensation claims
• Totally independent, affordable legal advice
• Record of successfully pursuing asbestos claims in Northern Ireland
• Simple claims process — we’ll handle everything
• Free consultation to discuss your claim

Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals that form into small fibres. It is an excellent insulator and is fire-resistant, so it was widely used in buildings for most of the 20th century.

But it is now classified as a known carcinogen. When asbestos is disturbed, tiny fibres are released and may be breathed in. They get trapped in the lungs and gradually cause scarring and inflammation, which can lead to serious health conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and pleural plaques.

Asbestos was used in the UK and Northern Ireland from the early 1900s through to the 1980s. It is commonly found in fireproofing, ceiling insulation, pipe insulation, cement, and a range of other construction uses. Its use declined from the 1980s onwards as the health risks became increasingly apparent and was finally banned in the UK and Northern Ireland in 1999.

In Northern Ireland and the UK, asbestos exposure is most commonly associated with those who have worked in the building trade. However, asbestos can also be found in schools and other public buildings, putting teachers, students and maintenance staff at risk if asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are disturbed.

If you worked in the construction industry, particularly handling roofing, insulation, and concrete, you were at a higher risk of asbestos exposure. Those working between the 1930s and 1980s are especially at risk, as asbestos was widely used during this time. Since asbestos was banned, exposure may still occur if materials are disturbed during renovations or repairs in homes, schools, or public buildings.

Schools built before the 1980s are more likely to contain ACMs in insulation, flooring or ceiling tiles. Teachers, maintenance staff, and students can be exposed if these materials are not properly managed or disturbed.

People at high risk of asbestos exposure in Northern Ireland include:

• Engineers
• Carpenters and joiners
• Plumbers
• Roofers
• Painters and decorators
• Electricians
• Cable layers
• Teachers, maintenance staff and other school employees

Employees who have worked in the following businesses often experience asbestos exposure in Northern Ireland:

• Harland & Wolff, as well as subcontractors
• Coolkeeragh Power Station, West Twins Power Station and Courtland Power Station
• Dupont
• Carrington Viyella Carpets/Cyril Lord/Donaghadee Carpets LTD
• Goodyear Tyres
• Ulster Printworks
• Irish Fertiliser Industries/Richardson’s Fertilisers

Anyone who is suffering from an asbestos-related disease due to somebody else’s negligence is entitled to make a compensation claim.

Claiming for yourself. If you had direct or indirect exposure to asbestos, you can make an asbestos compensation claim.

Claiming on behalf of someone else. If a loved one is unable to make a claim or has died due to an asbestos disease, you can make a claim on their behalf.

We understand that if you’re suffering from an asbestos-related condition, you may be experiencing pain, fatigue and stress. That’s why we’ve made our asbestos compensation claims process as simple as possible — we’ll take care of everything. Here’s what you can expect.

Step 1: Contact Reid Black
Get in touch for a no-obligation consultation and free legal advice on your claim from one of our expert asbestos compensation claim solicitors.

Step 2: Rehabilitation Assessment
We’ll arrange an assessment with a medical professional to determine any rehabilitation treatments that would ease your condition.

Step 3: Gathering Information
The next step is to gather the evidence we need to support your claim. This is likely to include your medical records. We will also help you to compile evidence of when you’re likely to have been exposed to asbestos.

Step 4: Medical Assessment
We’ll arrange for an independent medical professional to assess you. We want to know the full extent of your asbestos-related illness — and how it is likely to progress or worsen over time — before agreeing to a suitable level of compensation.

Step 5: Compensation Negotiations
Based on all the evidence, we will negotiate with the negligent party or their insurer to secure the maximum amount of compensation to which you’re entitled.

Step 6: Compensation Payout
Once a payout amount is agreed, we will make sure it reaches you in a timely manner to alleviate any hardship you’re currently experiencing as a result of your condition.

You normally need to make an asbestos claim within three years of your diagnosis. There may be some leeway if there are mitigating circumstances — especially given the length of time between asbestos exposure and diagnosis.

If you are claiming on behalf of a loved one who died from an asbestos-related disease, you usually need to claim within three years of their death. If you weren’t aware they were suffering from an asbestos-related condition at the time of their death, you need to claim within three years of being informed of this.

In all cases, we would advise you to start a claim as soon as possible.

If you’re living with an asbestos-related disease, you are entitled to money to help you with medical care, living arrangements, rehabilitation and other costs.

The amount of asbestos compensation you are entitled to will depend on the seriousness of your condition, the amount of pain you’re in and the impact it is having on your life.Your asbestos compensation payout will be divided into two types of damages:

General Damages – This is compensation for the pain and suffering you’re experiencing because you were exposed to asbestos. The amount you receive will depend on the level of pain and the impact on your life.

Special Damages – This is compensation for financial hardships you’ve experienced because of your asbestos-related disease. This might include loss of earnings, medical and rehabilitation fees, and changes to your living arrangements.

The general damages you receive depends on your illness, how serious it is and how much it impacts your life. The approximate asbestos compensation figures below are only estimates. The final compensation amount will be based on your specific circumstances.

• Lung Cancer & Mesothelioma: £125,000 – £250,000
• Minimal to Mild Asbestosis: £34,000 – £60,000
• Moderate to Severe Asbestosis: £62,500 – £125,000
• Pleural Plaques: £4,500 – £22,000
• Pleural Thickening: £30,000 – £62,500

We’ve been helping people in Northern Ireland to secure the compensation that is rightfully theirs since 1993. Our experienced solicitors have successfully represented many clients who have made mesothelioma claims and claims for other asbestos-related conditions. We’re ready to help you with your asbestos claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re suffering from an asbestos-related disease after being exposed to asbestos through no fault of your own, you don’t deserve the suffering you’re now experiencing. We’ll support you every step of the way to claim the money that is rightfully yours.