UK industrial disease solicitor explains how to claim compensation if you have worked in various mining jobs with exposure to coal dust causing coal miners black lung or coal miners’ pneumoconiosis
Coal miners black lung victim question
I’ve worked in coal mines for approximately 20 years. I started in Highgate drift mine close to Doncaster where I worked for approximately five years and then moved to Eppleton colliery in County Durham where I worked for 7 years moving finally to Murton colliery in County Durham.
I worked at the coalface and was exposed to a large amount of coal dust every day in all three of the mines. I was not provided with any breathing protection and at the end of the day I would often cough up black residue
I left the mining industry approximately 10 years ago and I have noticed that I have had a shortness of breath which has been progressively becoming worse. I went to see my GP earlier this year and was sent to see specialist who took a scan of my lungs, which showed dark areas. This was described to me as fibrosis or scarring of the lungs caused by coal dust – the condition being known as coal miners’ pneumoconiosis which I also understand is called coal miners’ black lung.
It has been 10 years since I have worked in the coal mining industry, but as I have only been diagnosed this year with a condition relating to dust exposure, am I still in time to make a claim for compensation?
Coal miners industrial disease solicitor response
It seems that you have been exposed to coal dust in large amounts over many years. I presume that your employer was the same in all of the collieries, such as the National Coal Board or British Coal, but even if you had various employers a claim can be made against each.
Coal miners’ pneumoconiosis is a progressive condition and liability for each employer would be calculated depending on the time period of your exposure at each respective mine.
If you had one employer in all of the collieries – that employer would be responsible for the whole of your claim.
The fact that you ceased employment 10 years ago will not debar you from making a claim for compensation, which is the case even if your former employer is no longer in business.
In the UK you have three years from the date of injury or date of knowledge of injury to commence a claim for compensation at court before it is too late. As you were diagnosed earlier this year it is quite possible that the clock will start ticking from this date so you would seem to be well within time to make a claim.
Compensation Amounts For Coal Miners Black Lung / Pneumoconiosis
The amount of compensation you can claim for coal miner pneumoconiosis can be quite substantial. To see examples of compensation amounts click coal miners black lung disease claims or click coal miners’ pnemoconiosis compensation to start your claim online.
