Asbestosis Claims — Compensation
Last reviewed: June 2026 · EA Personal Injury Solicitors
You can claim for asbestosis if your lungs were scarred by heavy asbestos exposure while working for an employer who failed to protect you. The three-year time limit runs from when you knew of the asbestos link, not from the exposure, so claims decades later are common. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit can be claimed as well.
TL;DR — Quick Summary
Key Points
- Asbestosis is a prescribed industrial disease caused by cumulative asbestos fibre inhalation
- Three-year limitation period runs from date of knowledge of the asbestos link
- Asbestosis increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma — medical monitoring is essential
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) may also be available
- No win, no fee — if the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation
Understanding Asbestosis
Asbestosis is caused by the accumulation of asbestos fibres in the lung parenchyma (the functional tissue of the lung). Once inhaled, these fibres are engulfed by macrophages — the immune cells that patrol the lungs — which die in the process, releasing inflammatory mediators. Over years and decades of repeated exposure, this inflammatory process drives the development of progressive fibrosis: the replacement of healthy lung tissue with scar tissue.
Asbestosis typically requires prolonged, heavy exposure. It is most commonly seen in workers from high-exposure industries: shipbuilders, laggers and insulation workers, boilermakers, pipe-fitters, construction workers in the era before asbestos restrictions, and workers in asbestos manufacturing or processing plants.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The main symptoms of asbestosis are progressive exertional breathlessness (initially only on exertion, later also at rest), a dry persistent cough, finger clubbing and, in severe cases, cyanosis (blue discolouration of the lips and fingertips). The diagnosis is confirmed by high-resolution CT scanning of the chest, which shows the characteristic lower zone basal fibrosis, and lung function testing, which demonstrates a restrictive pattern with reduced lung volumes and impaired gas transfer.
Severity is assessed on the extent of fibrosis demonstrated on CT and the degree of functional impairment. Both are relevant to the quantum of compensation.
Industries Where Asbestosis Claims Arise
- Shipbuilding and ship repair — lagger and insulation work
- Construction — insulation installation, boiler lagging, sprayed asbestos coating
- Asbestos manufacturing — asbestos cement, textiles, roofing materials
- Power generation — asbestos lagging of pipework and boilers
- Plumbing and heating — working with asbestos pipe insulation
- Engineering and manufacturing — asbestos gaskets, seals and friction materials
What Compensation Covers in an Asbestosis Claim
General damages reflect the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by the condition — breathlessness, fatigue, reduced activity levels, psychological consequences and the awareness of increased cancer risk. Special damages cover financial losses including lost earnings if the condition has restricted your working ability, private medical costs, care and assistance at home, and travel to medical appointments. Severe asbestosis causing significant disability can attract substantial general damages awards.
No Win, No Fee Asbestosis Claims
We act under a Conditional Fee Agreement. You pay nothing if the claim fails. If the claim succeeds, a success fee may be deducted from your compensation.