Cancer Claims - When Should You Be Compensated For Developing Cancer?

According to the latest figures from Cancer Research UK, 1 in 3 of us in the UK will at some point develop a type of cancer. The latest count reveals that nearly 300,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK. For each of us there is a very strong possibility that at some point in our lives we, or someone very close to us, will develop cancer of some sort.

There are currently 200 known cancers. By far the most common are cancer of the breast, lung, bowel and prostate. Combined, these 4 cancers amount to over 50% of the diagnosed cancer cases in the UK. Cancer is becoming part of our lives. It's something few of us are likely to escape. So why do some cancer claims make it to court? Why do some people get compensated for developing cancer and others have to bear the burden themselves?

Cancer claims

For a person to be able to make a cancer claim, they need to have developed cancer as a result of someone else's negligence. It needs to be at least partly someone else's fault. In almost all cases cancer claims stem from cancer that has been developed as a result of someone's work. If an employer has failed to protect their employees from dangers by not following health and safety regulations, then they are seen to be negligent. If this negligence results in an employee developing cancer then the employer is liable.

The two most common types of cancer that often crop up in work related cancer claims are mesothelioma and cancer of the bladder.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. When someone inhales a considerable amount of asbestos fibres the fibres often get lodged in the lining of the internal organs. Anything from 15 to 40 years after exposure the victim can begin showing signs of mesothelioma. The long period between exposure and symptoms beginning to show has meant that the industries using asbestos were slow to realise its effects. Though it is now very tightly controlled, there are still a large number of people who worked in the construction industry 40 years ago who are only now showing symptoms.

Bladder Cancer

Cancer of the bladder can often be caused by chemicals in the manufacturing industry. Though it can also be caused by smoking, there are still a large number of cases where employers have failed to manage the risk that these chemicals present to their employees health.

Those that develop either mesothelioma or bladder cancer as a result of exposure in the workplace are entitled to make cancer claims. Cancer claims are designed to compensate you for the pain, suffering, medical treatment and after care that you will suffer as a result of someone else's negligence. If you are suffering with either of these then don't waste time, contact a specialist cancer claims solicitor and find out whether you have a case for compensation.