Government figures taken from a 2009 study have confirmed that there has been a steady rise in mesothelioma resulting from exposure to asbestos
. Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive show that the asbestos epidemic which was the cause of 2156 deaths in 2007 is still on the increase. The most commonly affected occupations are joiners, heating and insulation experts, carpenters and electricians.
The amount of asbestos related deaths is expected to increase to a figure of 91000 male deaths before 2050. Since the mesthelioma register was created in 1967 the annual number of asbestos related deaths has increased each year.
Media coverage of the affects of asbestos is plentiful. 'The Mirror,' newspaper ran a 2009 campaign, 'Killer Dust,' which helped to raise awareness of the industry related asbestos sufferers around the country. There are constantly new articles appearing in leading publications such as, 'The Independent,' newspaper. In January 2010 an article was published showing sufferer Tony Webster and his plight. The financial effects of suffering form an asbestos related disease were made clear in the article. Tony Webster had discovered that when he began to receive Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit he noticed how his pension credits began to disappear and he was then left to pay full price for dental treatments and so on meaning that he was in a worse financial situation than before he received the benefit.
Figures show that more and more people are contracting disease due to exposure to asbestos. Data collected between 1981 and 2008 suggests that the mesothelioma mortality was up as was the amount of benefit claims submitted.
If you have been exposed to asbestos as a result of carrying out your job you may well be eligible to claim for damages. Choosing the right firm of lawyers who have the necessary specialist expertise to deal with asbestos related disease claims is extremely important. Asbestos claims can be quite complex so ensuring that you have a thoroughly experienced solicitor is essential.