UCATT to campaign for asbestos accident claimsRSS Feed

A construction union is backing asbestos victims' accident claims, after the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of insurers.

UCATT is campaigning to overturn the decision, which will stop people who have suffered the ill effects of asbestos from claiming compensation.

The court ruled that an accident claim can only be triggered when the symptoms show, which can be up to 30 years after being exposed to the substance.

Most concerning of all, the union warns that if the decision is left to stand, the insurance industry could use it as the basis to block almost all forms of personal injury and accident at work compensation claims.

Alan Ritchie, general secretary of UCATT, said: "This decision is disgraceful and perverse. This is not justice. Victims who were needlessly exposed to asbestos, will be prevented from claiming compensation, leaving the victim and their family destitute."

The Health and Safety Executive estimates that asbestos causes around 4,000 deaths a year.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by M Heap

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