About COPD

COPD is a type of obstructive lung disease that is sometimes referred to as Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COLD). It is typified by a shortness of breath. COPD can be caused by a variety of different factors, but the most common ones are smoking tobacco or long-term exposure to harmful dust at work.

Exposure to some dust can cause small airways in the lungs to narrow and there can also be a breakdown of lung tissue (emphysema). Patients with COPD often have a high level of sputum production and they will often also cough excessively. Chronic bronchitis is also another common symptom of COPD.

There is no known cure for this illness but it is preventable by removing yourself from harmful environments or stopping smoking.

Risk of Contracting COPD

Employees within certain fields are more in danger of contracting COPD than others. If you work in welding, agriculture, coal mining, textiles, quarrying or pottery, then your risk of developing the condition is greater than others.

Some of the main dusts and substances that can cause COPD are:

• Calcium dust fume
• Silica dust
• Grain and flower dust
• Coal dust 
• Welding fumes

Employer Negligence

Sometimes an employer could be to blame for an employee developing COPD. If there has been no safety equipment provided e.g. personal dust monitors or dust control equipment and/or there has been a lack of training or risk assessments undertaken, then your employer could have acted negligently. If enough evidence can be found to prove that your employer acted negligently, you could make a COPD claim against them.

Compensation will cover the pain, suffering and loss of functioning – such as the inability to complete tasks as you normally would – that has occurred due to your illness. However, compensation also covers financial damages. For example, if you have been unable to work due to your illness, then compensation could cover the financial damage this has incurred. If you have had to pay for treatment, travel or anything else associated with your illness, then you may be able to claim these financial losses back through compensation.

How Much Compensation?

All personal injury cases are unique and so the amount of compensation that is awarded in each case is also unique. Compensation is understood by looking at two specific factors: general damages and special damages.

General Damages

The pain and suffering that your injuries have caused are main factors that are used to determine how much general damage compensation you are owed. This will usually be determined by undergoing a medical examination, from which a report is created that highlights the length of time the injuries will take to heal as well as their severity. Our compensation calculator will give you an indication of how much general damage compensation you might be entitled to based upon your injuries.

Special Damages

In addition to receiving compensation for your injuries, you may be able to reclaim any financial losses that you might have suffered as a result of your injuries. Compensation for financial losses is known as special damages compensation. This can include losses such as loss of earnings due to not being able to return to work, the cost of treatment as well as travel to treatment. It is important that you keep any receipts or evidence of additional losses in order for these to be reclaimed. With the exception of children, there is a three-year time limit on making a personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the date that the accident initially occurred. Therefore, you should contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to assess your case.

Making Personal Injury Claims

You may be entitled to compensation for a range of compensation claims under accident claims. Our experts will help assess your potential claim going forwards and provide you with proficient advice. Contact First Personal Injury to discuss your potential compensation claim today by ringing 0333 358 2345 or by filling out the online claims form.