If you're suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the impact on your life can be devastating. It can affect your ability to work or even do the things you love in your free time. And, if your condition is severe, it could mean your close friends and family have to make sacrifices in order to care for you.
We understand how distressing it can be to deal with such a life-changing disease. If your occupation brings you into regular close contact with dust or fumes, your employer has a responsibility to protect your health and wellbeing. If they have failed in that duty and you have been diagnosed with COPD, you could be eligible to make a claim.
Whether you've only recently been diagnosed or have been dealing with the symptoms for some time, we can put you on the path towards claiming for COPD compensation. Call us on or fill in our call back form and one of our friendly personal injury advisors will call you back.
We can help you
Our personal injury advisors are on hand to help you figure out if you are eligible to make a no win no fee COPD claim. If you do have a case, our panel of expert solicitors will listen to your story and gain a full understanding of how your condition has affected you.
For confidential, impartial advice about your COPD compensation claim, speak to one of our advisors on . Your call will be free of charge and there will be absolutely no pressure on you to make a claim if you don't feel ready. We're simply here to help you find out if you're eligible and to get things moving for you if you do want to proceed.
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What is COPD?
What is COPD?
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It refers to a number of lung conditions, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It's a relatively common condition that causes breathing difficulties that get worse over time, although many people do not realise they have it.
What are the symptoms of COPD?
What are the symptoms of COPD?
Typical symptoms of COPD are:
- Breathlessness, especially when active
- Persistent chesty cough with phlegm
- Chest infections
- Persistent wheezing
These symptoms can get steadily worse over time if not treated and can sometimes flare up dramatically.
What are the four stages of COPD?
What are the four stages of COPD?
The National Emphysema Foundation outlines the four stages of COPD as follows:
- Stage 1: Mild symptoms, where most people don't notice a difference to their health.
- Stage 2: Breathlessness and coughing worsen, with more mucus produced. This is usually where people start to seek medical help.
- Stage 3: Simple tasks become difficult as symptoms get worse and flare-ups are more common.
- Stage 4: Oxygen levels in the blood are so low that heart and lung failure become a significant risk. Flare-ups are increasingly frequent and can even prove fatal.
What causes COPD?
What causes COPD?
The main cause of COPD is smoking, but some suffer as a result of a rare genetic issue which means their lungs are more susceptible to damage.
Some cases are caused by long-term exposure to harmful fumes or dust. If your occupation means you fall into that category, it is up to your employer to do everything they can to protect you against this risk. If they fail in that responsibility, you could be entitled to claim for COPD compensation.
Work-related COPD cases
The Health and Safety Executive estimates that occupational exposure contributes to around 4,000 COPD deaths in Great Britain every year.
Can I claim for COPD?
Can I claim for COPD?
If you have been diagnosed with COPD as a result of conditions in your workplace, you could be eligible to make a claim. If your occupation exposes you to harmful dust or fumes, your employer has a responsibility to look after your welfare, for example by providing protective equipment.
If you think they have failed in that duty, you could be entitled to claim for COPD compensation. You may also be eligible to claim for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits.
What is the time limit for making a COPD claim?
What is the time limit for making a COPD claim?
For most compensation claims, you have three years from the accident or incident that caused your injury or illness. However, COPD can often take a long time to develop, so the usual three-year time limit may begin from the date on which you were first diagnosed.
Why should I claim for COPD compensation?
Why should I claim for COPD compensation?
Even mild cases of COPD can have a significant impact on your quality of life. It can affect your ability to do the things you love, and it may mean you have to stop working. This could have a hugely damaging effect on your financial situation - a position that nobody should have to be in.
We don't think you should have to suffer due to someone else's failure in their duty of care. Claiming for COPD compensation could help you ease the financial burden if you're out of work, as well as helping you pay for any treatment you've required.
Plus, making a COPD claim could ensure that lessons are learned and the same mistakes are avoided in the future. That might mean someone else does not have to suffer through a similar experience.
Making a no win no fee COPD compensation claim
We deal with most COPD claims on a no win no fee basis. This is also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) and it acts as a contract between you and your solicitor.
It's a risk-free way to claim for compensation because, as long as you have insurance in place and stick to the terms of your CFA, you will not have to pay any of the legal costs if your case is unsuccessful. And rest assured your COPD solicitor will organise this policy for you, should you decide to claim.
If you win your case, your solicitor will receive a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation for their services. If you are unsuccessful, there'll be nothing for you to pay.
In the unlikely event that you are unable to proceed with your COPD claim on a no win no fee basis, we will advise you beforehand. From there, the decision to proceed or not will be entirely up to you.
Frequently asked questions...
Every case we work with is different, which makes it hard for us to say how long your compensation claim might take.
In simpler cases, where fault is clear and undeniable the claim may be settled quickly. However, if you've suffered a serious or life-changing injury, then your compensation claim may take longer because we need to understand the full impact of your injury and make sure your costs are covered.
Our solicitors will stay in touch and keep you informed every step of the way, so that you always know what stage your claim is at.
If you've suffered an accident that wasn't your fault, you can get in touch with us to see if you have a case regardless of whether you have claimed with us in the past or not. Your Personal Injury Advisor will assess your situation honestly and objectively.
How much can I receive in COPD compensation?
How much can I receive in COPD compensation?
COPD compensation amounts vary widely depending on the unique details of each case. This means it's very difficult to offer a straightforward answer to this question. The settlement you receive is determined by a number of factors, such as the seriousness of your condition and the effect it has had on your life.
The Judicial College, which is overseen by the Ministry of Justice, regularly updates its guidelines based on historical data. As a general rule, our panel of COPD solicitors use the 15th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines when working out their estimation of how much you could receive.
Once they've listened to your story and gained a full understanding of your condition and how it's affected you, they'll be able to offer that estimation with greater accuracy. However, it's important to remember that the final decision on how much COPD compensation you receive will be made by the court overseeing your case.
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Will my COPD claim go to court?
Will my COPD claim go to court?
Most claims are settled without the need to go to court. However, if yours does need to be decided in front of a judge, rest assured your COPD solicitor will be there for you every step of the way. They'll take care of all the legal proceedings so that you don't have to worry, and they'll keep you updated with any developments.
How to claim for COPD
We know you've already been through more than enough. We're here to listen to your story, and there's absolutely no pressure for you to claim if you don't feel ready. But if you do, the process will usually follow these steps:
- When you're ready to talk about your COPD claim, get in touch. We'll let you tell your story in your own words and in your own time. Only then will we offer any advice on whether we think you have a case.
- If you decide to go ahead with your claim, we'll put you in touch with our panel of expert COPD solicitors, who have years of experience in handling these types of cases.
- To support your claim, your solicitor may ask you to provide proof of your condition, for example in the form of medical records.
- Your solicitor will then submit your claim to the courts for assessment.
- You will receive a decision. If you are successful, you should receive your COPD settlement shortly afterwards, while your solicitor will take a pre-agreed percentage as their payment. If you are unsuccessful and have claimed on a no win no fee basis, there'll be nothing for you to pay.
If you think you're ready to talk about your COPD claim, fill out the form below with a few simple details and we'll call you back free of charge, or you can call us now on .