Asbestos lawyers.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a dust or asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible to make a compensation claim. As recognised experts in asbestos compensation claims, our team of asbestos lawyers in Adelaide and regional SA are here to help.
Hundreds of South Australians are affected by asbestos-related health conditions every year.
Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition can be a frightening and upsetting time, especially as illness may not develop for many years after exposure.
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos or dust-related illness, you’re likely to have rights to compensation. Our team of leading asbestos lawyers based in Adelaide and throughout regional South Australia are here to support you along your journey to getting the compensation you deserve.
How our asbestos lawyers can help
It’s important to find specialist asbestos lawyers to assist with your compensation rights.
We’re recognised as one of the leading dust disease and mesothelioma law firms in South Australia, and our asbestos team is committed to supporting you and your family through the claim process to help you maximise your rights to fair compensation.Our extensive experience handling asbestos compensation claims has enabled us to develop knowledge of how and where asbestos products were used in South Australia. We can quickly identify sources of contact with asbestos and potential defendants to claims.
Our track record as asbestos lawyers in Adelaide
Thank you for taking the time to share with mum all the information she needed to take the necessary steps to accepting her legal rights. Your kindness, support and advice was extremely helpful to mum. She felt at peace in her last days thinking her financial situation was covered.
I would like to take this opportunity to reassert my gratitude for your considerable achievements on our behalf. I know that Dad would have been overwhelmed with the result.
You recently represented my father in an action for an asbestosis compensation claim. I am writing on behalf of my parents to thank you for your handling of the case. You conducted yourself with sensitivity and with little disruption to my parents. You showed concern and consideration and conducted yourself professionally at all times. My parents were delighted with the outcome you settled with the defendant.
How it works
Free initial consultation
You deserve legal help, even if you can't afford it. That’s why we offer an obligation-free initial consultation with our team of caring, compassionate asbestos lawyers. We’re here to listen, support you, and provide practical advice for your unique situation.
No Win No Fee Asbestos Attorney
Our No Win No Fee model is simple. We believe that everyone deserves to get justice if they've suffered a loss. If we decide to take on your case, we won’t charge you legal fees unless you receive a lump sum benefit.
You won’t need to pay any upfront legal fees, and our asbestos lawyers won’t seek any costs from you if your case is not successful. That’s how confident we are in our skills and experience in winning asbestos lawsuits in Australia.
*No Win No Fee is offered in most cases. Read the full T&Cs here.
What illnesses are caused by asbestos?
There are many serious health conditions that can be caused by exposure to asbestos. The most common are:
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lung or stomach. Sadly, it is a terminal condition. There is a strong link between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma, and the majority of people diagnosed with mesothelioma in South Australia have rights to asbestos compensation. If you’ve been diagnosed with asbestos mesothelioma, our expert mesothelioma lawyers can help you access this compensation.
Asbestos induced lung cancer
Lung cancer may be attributable to asbestos exposure, although there are also other significant causes of lung cancer, including, most notably, smoking. If a moderate to heavy exposure to asbestos can be established, or if a lung cancer sufferer also has asbestosis, it may be possible to claim compensation for lung cancer. Our asbestos disease lawyers can guide you through this process.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is scarring of the lungs caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. It is generally a slowly progressive, irreversible disease that restricts the lungs’ capacity to expand and makes breathing difficult. Asbestosis may develop after moderate and sustained exposure to asbestos. The severity of asbestosis can vary from mild to severe, and symptoms may include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, and chest pain and tightness. If you develop this condition, you could be eligible for asbestosis compensation, and our expert team of asbestosis lawyers can assist you in receiving the payout you deserve.
Asbestos related pleural disease
Asbestos-related pleural disease can take the form of asbestos-induced pleural effusion, which is an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (the lining of the lung). Pleural effusion can result in pleural thickening, which may restrict breathing and cause pain. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact a medical professional and our team of asbestos lawyers for advice about the claims process.
Potential entitlements
Entitlements for asbestos related diseases vary depending on the particular claim available to you and the State or Territory where your asbestos exposure happened. If you’re looking for advice on what your specific entitlements are, get in touch with one of our asbestos lawyers.
Types of claims that could be available to you include workers compensation claims and common law negligence claims. The most common type of claims in South Australia are common law asbestos negligence cases. These claims are heard in the SA Employment Tribunal, which has established procedures to expedite the resolution of claims.
Compensation may be available for:
- Pain and suffering;
- Medical expenses;
- Care needs;
- Therapeutic equipment needs;
- Loss of income; and
- Loss of financial dependency on another person.
In South Australia, asbestos litigation can also help seek damages from impairment of your ability to provide care for another person, such as a spouse, child or grandchild.
Damages could be awarded provisionally, meaning that it’s possible to resolve a claim for asbestos related pleural disease, while maintaining the right to bring another claim if you’re diagnosed with lung cancer from asbestos exposure or mesothelioma in the future.
Asbestos claims time limits in SA
In Australia, there are strict asbestos claims time limits, particularly in respect of terminal conditions such as mesothelioma.
For common law asbestos negligence claims, it’s necessary to issue court proceedings within a claimant’s lifetime in order to protect an entitlement to damages for pain and suffering, which often constitutes a significant part of an overall award of damages.
In South Australia, an asbestos claims time limit is three years from the date of diagnosis, which means a claim needs to be submitted within this time for it to be considered. If your claim is not brought within this three year period, you might be barred from pursuing any action. In certain cases, it might be possible to extend this time limit, and you should consult an asbestos disease lawyer for advice.
The bottom line: If you are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, seek advice as soon as possible from an asbestos lawyer from a reputable asbestos and mesothelioma law firm to maximise your entitlements.
Meet our team of asbestos lawyers
Frequently asked questions about Asbestos Claims
How can I claim compensation for exposure to asbestos?
Contacting an experienced asbestos lawyer is the best way to ensure that your rights are protected and your potential for compensation is maximised. Asbestos compensation claims are complex, but our team of asbestos disease lawyers has the experience to help.
How long after exposure to asbestos might I develop asbestos-related diseases?
Being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease can occur decades after your exposure to asbestos, although there are expectations. Typically, a diagnosis will occur between 20 to 40 years after exposure. It is critical to contact an asbestos lawyer from a reputable asbestos and mesothelioma law firm if you are diagnosed with any asbestos-related disease, as you may have had exposure that you were unaware of.
What if I can’t recall exposure to asbestos?
Our experience in asbestos lawsuits in South Australia means we have extensive knowledge of particular buildings, workplaces and occupations where asbestos was utilised. Our asbestos lawyers will take the time to talk through your history and help you identify any potential exposure to asbestos.
What if my exposure happened at home?
Claims involving exposure to asbestos outside of work, including those as a result of home renovations or from washing the asbestos-contaminated clothes of another person, form a significant number of the claims that our asbestos lawyers handle. We can help you identify and corroborate such exposures.
What if I am or was a smoker?
Many of our clients have been or are smokers. This usually does not preclude a claimant obtaining compensation for the asbestos-related component of a disability for people with asbestos-related pleural disease, asbestosis or lung cancer. In addition, there is no causal link between smoking and mesothelioma. Get in touch with our asbestos lawyers and mesothelioma lawyers if you have any further queries.
What if my exposure to asbestos was in another state or country?
We are able to help with claims for exposure to asbestos in other states and territories of Australia aside from South Australia. Our asbestos lawyers can also assist with making enquiries with suitably qualified and experienced lawyers in the United Kingdom for clients with exposure in the UK.
News & views from our team of expert asbestos lawyers
Browse allSilicosis Compensation in South Australia
Silicosis is a disease traditionally associated with tradespeople like quarry workers, tunnellers and ceramic workers, who were exposed to high levels of respirable silica dust.
Silicosis and Workplace Safety Regulations
Silicosis is a lung disease that results from inhalation of silica dust which causes breathing difficulty.
Time Limits for Asbestos Claims