If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, naturally your first priority is to take care of your health.
Asbestos related diseases include:
mesothelioma
lung cancer
Asbestosis
Asbestos-related pleural diseases
However, financial compensation may relieve some of the burden for you
and your family. Our experienced team will work with you to minimise
inconvenience and stress. We will visit you free of charge and without
obligation, at home or in hospital, to discuss your entitlements and the claims
process.
If you have mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques or gastro-intestinal cancers, you can make a claim even if:
you are no longer employed where the exposure
occurred
you were exposed to asbestos more than 50 years ago
your employer at the time has since gone out of
business
you were exposed to asbestos by many employers
you were self-employed or a contractor at the time of
exposure
your exposure to asbestos was not at work
you were exposed to asbestos during home renovations
you are not sure where you were exposed to asbestos,
and
you also smoke cigarettes.
It's important to get advice from experts
Claims for asbestos-related injuries are complicated and require careful
consideration of complex medical and legal issues. An experienced lawyer will
know what questions to ask and how to formulate the claim. They will also get
you a quicker resolution.
No matter who you are up against, Maurice Blackburn will fight to
protect you.
Five FAQs about Asbestos & Dust disease claims
How much will I get?
We can't tell how much you will get without your specific information.
However, if you have good evidence to support your claim, you are likely to win
compensation of between tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
How much will it cost?
Your first consulation is free and without obligation.
If you decide to proceed, and we believe you have a viable claim, we will act
on a 'no win - no charge' basis. That means we will fund the claim and
recover our costs, in line with the Court Scale, when the claim is settled. If
you lose, you won't be charged our professional fees.
How do I make a claim?
If you decide to make a claim you need to:
speak to a solicitor about your work and your
exposure to asbestos
give the solicitor authority to access your medical
records and reports
provide relevant documentation
visit an independent doctor for a medico-legal
opinion, and
provide instructions about any offers made.
Our asbestos experts can give you more information about the claim
process.
Freecall 1800 810 812.
How long will it take?
Claims for asbestos-related malignancy usually take between three and six
months, although claims can be resolved in a matter of weeks where there is
medical evidence to demonstrate this is warranted. Claims for non-malignant
asbestos disease usually take between 12 and 18 months to resolve.
Can my family make a claim later?
Yes, provided you have initiated a claim during your lifetime in Victoria,
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. If you die before the
claim is resolved, it will survive for your estate. If you do not initiate a
claim, any claim you family can make after your death will be limited to their
financial losses incurred as a direct result of your death, such as lost wages
and funeral expenses.
Have you registered your asbestos exposure?
If you have been exposed to asbestos, you are at risk of developing
respiratory disease or cancer. Should you receive such a tragic diagnosis in the
future, you may be entitled to compensation.
Listing the details of your asbestos exposure, whether it was recent or many
years ago, may assist your future claims for compensation. It can also help
other victims who use the database to help determine where they were
exposed.
You can register for free on the National Asbestos Register, which already
has more than 6,000 registrants. If you choose to register, you will not
automatically become a client of Maurice Blackburn and you have no obligation to
become one in the future.
Register online or freecall
1800 810 812 for a registration form.
Relevant links
The Asbestos Information and Support Service http://www.aiss.org.au