Pleural plaques are small areas of scarring on the outside of the lining of the lung, (the pleura). Up until September 2006, it was possible to recover compensation for people with pleural plaques, notwithstanding the fact that these do not ordinarily cause any symptoms. The insurance industry, however, successfully challenged this by bringing a test case in which it was held that, unlike other asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or pleural thickening, compensation should not be payable for this condition.
The decision was extremely disappointing and a bitter blow for asbestos victims. It represents a radical change in policy on the part of the Courts as compensation had previously been payable for this condition for more than 20 years.
The Government subsequently introduced a scheme to pay £5000 to people who had pleural plaques, but this was only payable where the claim process had been started prior to October 2007. The Scheme only lasted for one year and has now been withdrawn, which means that asbestos victims with pleural plaques cannot now make a claim for compensation.
This only applies to people who have no symptoms from their pleural plaques. In rare cases, the plaques can cause symptoms and these people can still make a claim for compensation. Such a claim can only be brought if your chest specialist believes that you have symptoms from your pleural plaques.
Contact us to make a claim for compensation for symptomatic pleural plaques.
