An Asbestos expert at Irwin Mitchell solicitors has urged the
Government to rethink 'potentially devastating' changes to no win,
no fee funding after the latest statistics revealed that asbestos
related deaths in the East Midlands have risen yet again.
Adrian Budgen, a partner specialising in asbestos-related
diseases at the firm which has a Leicester consulting office, said
the year on year increase was indicative of a 'worrying trend', and
again demonstrated the need for vital funding to be made available
for victims, and the families of victims, who are negligently
exposed to the deadly dust through no fault of their own.
The latest East Midlands mesothelioma death statistics, released
by the Health and Safety Executive, found that in 2007-2009 the
death rate per million for men was 55.7, up from 51.2 in 2004-2006.
For women, the rate was 8.6 per million in 2007-2009, up from 8.0
in 2004-2006.
Mr Budgen said: "These statistics reveal worrying trends. The
numbers of females diagnosed with mesothelioma are increasing at a
greater rate than men, a pattern which causes us great concern.
"Irwin Mitchell has handled hundreds of mesothelioma cases and
continues to the see the terrible impact of asbestos on people's
lives all over the country - and unfortunately we know there is
worse still to come."
The statistics have been released in the same week that the
controversial Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders
Bill was passed by the Commons despite fierce opposition from
campaigners who argued that changes to no win-no fee agreements
would prevent some people from accessing justice and defending
themselves in court.
Mr Budgen said: "No win no fee funding, also known as a
Conditional Fee Agreement, often enables people whose lives have
been torn apart by asbestos disease to pursue their battle for
justice.
"Losing a loved one to an asbestos-related disease, like
mesothelioma, is devastating for families and often the thought of
pursuing a legal case is a daunting prospect. Families have enough
to worry about at a time of receiving news of a loved one's
terminal illness without the additional worry of potentially paying
their own legal costs when they have been the victim of an
employer's negligence.
"With this in mind, it is likely that more families than ever
will need access to no win no fee funding to progress their cases.
The current system works for the injured party, not against, and
I'd urge the coalition Government to seriously rethink its plans
for the benefit of asbestos victims, and their families."