COPD & Lung Disease compensation claim lawyers

Prolonged exposure to and inhalation of dust, fumes and other substances are the leading causes of COPD and lung diseasein the workplace. Employees in the following industries are usually the most vulnerable:

• Industry
• Construction
• Trades
• Mining
• Farming and agriculture
• Food processing
• Textiles

You can develop COPD and other lung diseases in any industry, depending on your work environment. Your employer should take the necessary precautions to prevent it, but we can help you claim for COPD compensation if they didn't.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as COPD, refers to a group of lung diseases that make it more difficult to breathe. The main two types are emphysema, where the air sacs in your lungs are damaged, and chronic bronchitis, which results in inflammation and phlegm in your airways. A recent Asthma + Lung UK report suggests 1.4 million people live with diagnosed COPD in the UK.

There are many causes, with smoking and air pollution being the most common non-work-related ones. However, prolonged inhalation of dust, chemicals and fumes in your workplace can damage your lungs and increase the likelihood that you'll develop COPD. It's important to note these causes can compound as well. For example, if you smoke and breathe in harmful substances, the risk is even higher.

All types of COPD cause similar symptoms, including:

• Breathlessness, particularly when active
• A persistent chesty cough and phlegm
• Repeated chest infections
• Chronic wheezing

Besides the basic symptoms, COPD sufferers are also more vulnerable to developing other health conditions such as pneumonia, lung cancer and heart problems, as well as psychological issues because of the impacts on their quality of life.

COPD symptoms tend to get progressively worse as you age, but the appropriate treatments can help keep any deterioration under control. Patients can also experience sudden episodes or flare-ups where symptoms become severe and often debilitating.

Some people don't know they have COPD until long after they start experiencing the first symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to managing the condition and protecting your wider health and wellbeing for as long as possible.

If you're suffering from the chronic effects of lung disease caused by your job, we may be able to help you get the COPD compensation needed to support you and your family. Talk to us today to discuss a claim.

If you've developed COPD or any other lung disease because of your line of work and your employer failed to take the necessary steps to prevent it, you could be eligible to make a COPD compensation claim. 

Your employer has a legal duty to protect your health and wellbeing in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Failure to provide sufficient training and proper personal protective equipment or making you operate in an unsafe work environment can expose you to harmful substances and increase the risk of lung disease.

COPD can have a significant impact on your life. Compensation can't cure lung disease, but it can support you and your family through its many complications and in making lifestyle changes to help manage the condition. 

Most compensation claims have to be started within three years of an injury or illness caused by an accident at work or in public, but COPD claims are slightly different. The symptoms of COPD can take a long time to emerge and develop, so this three-year rule could start from the date of first diagnosis, which could be years after exposure.

The COPD industrial claim process with ClaimsPeople will usually consist of the following steps:

1. We'll listen to your side of the story and assess the impacts your lung disease diagnosis and symptoms have had on your life. After this, we'll let you know if we think you have a viable claim for COPD compensation.
2. If you want to proceed with legal action, we'll connect you with an expert UK COPD lawyer who has extensive experience with cases like yours.
3. Your lawyer will discuss the process with you and may ask for proof of your conditions and other evidence to support a claim. This is usually in the form of medical records, employment history and expense receipts.
4. Once everything is in place, your COPD lawyer will submit your claim for assessment.
5. You'll receive a decision from the courts and a successful claim will result in you receiving your COPD settlement not long afterwards.

There's no standard COPD compensation amount. Each case is different, and this is usually reflected in any settlement that's awarded. Damages are determined by a few core factors, including:

• The severity of your COPD or lung disease condition
• The impacts COPD has had on your physical health and wellbeing
• The impacts COPD has had on your emotional and mental wellbeing
• The financial consequences of your condition, such as lost income and medical bills

For a rough idea of what your COPD settlement could be worth, enter your details into our compensation calculator. All damages are based on the most recent edition of the Judicial College Guidelines, as instructed by the Ministry of Justice.

When you make a no win no fee claim with us your personal injury lawyer will take out insurance on your behalf that will cover all your claim costs and expenses including medical report fees, court fees and any barrister fees; so long as you comply with their terms and conditions, you won't have to pay any costs upfront, and there are no hidden surprises.