Silicosis is a serious and irreversible lung condition affecting thousands of people who were exposed to silica dust at work. Slater and Gordon is one of the UK's leading silicosis compensation specialists, with dedicated solicitors who could help you on a No Win No Fee basis.
Silicosis is a serious industrial disease which affects the lungs and is usually caused by prolonged inhalation of silica dust, a common mineral naturally found in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay.
Over time, inhaling silica dust can cause inflammation within the lungs, which can lead to irreversible scarring of the lung tissue.
What are the symptoms of silicosis?
It can take many years for the first symptoms of silicosis to develop but this is not always the case. Some experience symptoms whilst still working with silica dust. For others, symptoms don’t begin until after their exposure to silica dust has ended. This can make it difficult to diagnose silicosis, which can be misdiagnosed as sarcoidosis, infection or asthma.
Common symptoms of silicosis include:
A persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Fever
Weakness
Tiredness
It's important to seek urgent medical advice if you have been exposed to silica dust and suffer any of these symptoms. Symptoms of silicosis can worsen as time progresses, even if you’re no longer being exposed to the dust particles.
What are the long-term effects of silicosis?
Unfortunately, silicosis often has serious long-term effects on the health of sufferers, especially as it is an irreversible condition for which there is no known treatment. In some cases, respiratory failure can occur, and silicosis also increases the risk of other related conditions developing, including:
Tuberculosis
Lung cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Arthritis
Kidney disease
As well as seeking medical advice, you should also speak to a specialist silicosis solicitor as soon as possible, as you may be eligible to make a claim for silicosis compensation.
The law says that every employer has a duty of care to protect employees from suffering harm in the workplace.
Silicosis develops as a result of inhaling silica dust, which is released into the air through various industrial processes, including crushing, cutting, grinding, sanding, polishing, shaping and drilling of materials containing silica.
If an employer fails to comply with their legal duties to protect your health and safety in the workplace, resulting in your exposure you to silica dust, you may be able to pursue claim against that employer in connection with your development of silicosis.
I highly recommend Jordan Bell and his team. They dealt with our claim for mesothelioma compensation with expertise and care.
Client testimonial for Jordan Bell
Madelene reassured, helped and kept me up to date with all aspects of the case. Madelene was courteous and handled my extremely difficult case with such professionalism that I can’t recommended Slater and Gordon, and Madelene enough.
Client testimonial (for Madelene Holdsworth)
We would highly recommend Slater and Gordon solicitors especially Pauline Chandler and her team. After my husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma Pauline and her team took over his claim for compensation. They dealt with us with compassion and empathy at a very difficult time. Nothing was too much trouble and any emails or phone calls were dealt with promptly, from start to finish they kept us informed. The outcome was beyond our expectations and was proof of the hard work that had been put in.
Client testimonial (for Pauline Chandler)
If you’ve been made ill due to exposure to silica dust in the workplace, you could be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
Your employer has a responsibility to protect you from the risks associated with working with silica dust, and where an employer fails to comply with the relevant laws, rules and regulations and you’ve been made ill, you are entitled to compensation.
To start a claim, simply give our team a call on 0330 041 5869 or request a call back using our online form. We’ll ask you a few questions to establish what has happened and will be able to tell you if you have a claim straight away.
If we think you have a claim, we’ll get started straight away. We’ll explain the claims process in detail, so you always know what is happening and what is required at each stage, and we will work with you to start collecting all the evidence relevant to your case.
Throughout your claim, your solicitor will be on hand to answer any questions and provide compassionate support – from expertly handing the legal process to helping you access any rehabilitation or treatment you may require for your injury.
Silicosis litigation is a specialised and complex area of the law, so you should use a solicitor who has extensive experience and a track record of successful silicosis claims.
Our specialist industrial disease lawyers have extensive experience of claiming for individuals who have developed silicosis and understand the impact that a diagnosis of silicosis can have on sufferers and their families
We will be as considerate and supportive as possible throughout the claims process, and will fight for the justice you deserve.
We will also ensure that where possible compensation is secured to help with medical fees, care costs, the cost of managing symptoms, and any loss of earnings including where your diagnosis prevents you from returning to work.
We are immensely proud to have a team of highly acclaimed industrial disease solicitors here at Slater and Gordon. With many decades of experience across the team, many of our solicitors are accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), and are highly ranked in prestigious independent legal guides, including Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500.
We are an award winning law firm and have a dedicated team of industrial disease solicitors to advise and guide you – no matter how complex your situation may be.
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Speak to one of our industrial disease experts today
Silicosis is caused by exposure to silica dust usually over several years, and is most commonly associated with occupations where exposure to silica occurs on a frequent basis, including:
Mining
Quarrying
Construction
Demolition
Manufacture of engineered stone products, including kitchen worktops
How much could I receive silicosis compensation?
It can be difficult to determine how much compensation you could be entitled to without reviewing the facts of your case. This is because the level of compensation awarded will be largely dependent upon a range of different factors, including the costs of any care required or any financial losses you and your loved ones have suffered because of your illness.
To find out more about how much compensation you could be awarded, speak to our specialist silicosis solicitors; they’ll ask a few questions, and will be able to tell you if they think you have a case and what the next steps will be.
Is there a time limit for making a silicosis claim?
Under UK law, in most cases you have three years from the date you were first diagnosed with silicosis to make a claim for compensation. In some cases however, it may be that the three years begins before your formal diagnosis.
As time limits for claiming are strictly applied by the courts, we strongly recommend you do not delay in contacting our expert silicosis solicitors. We know it may be difficult to talk about your diagnosis, but our compassionate solicitors are here to support you every step of the way. When you are ready, we’ll be here to listen.
Can I make a No Win No Fee silicosis claim?
We know that many people are concerned about the cost of seeking legal support in pursuing compensation claims, which is why we act for our clients under No Win No Fee agreements, including in connection with claims for silicosis. This means that there are no upfront costs to making a claim, and you won’t have to pay any fees if your case is not successful, so there is no financial risk to you.
I highly recommend Jordan Bell and his team. They dealt with our claim for mesothelioma compensation with expertise and care. Client testimonial for Jordan Bell
Madelene reassured, helped and kept me up to date with all aspects of the case. Madelene was courteous and handled my extremely difficult case with such professionalism that I can’t recommended Slater and Gordon, and Madelene enough. Client testimonial (for Madelene Holdsworth)
We would highly recommend Slater and Gordon solicitors especially Pauline Chandler and her team. After my husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma Pauline and her team took over his claim for compensation. They dealt with us with compassion and empathy at a very difficult time. Nothing was too much trouble and any emails or phone calls were dealt with promptly, from start to finish they kept us informed. The outcome was beyond our expectations and was proof of the hard work that had been put in. Client testimonial (for Pauline Chandler)