New measures to improve procedures for handling mesothelioma and other disease compensation claims have come into effect.
The revised Disease and Illness Pre Action Protocol came into force with the 55th update of the Civil Procedure Rules on 6 April, and includes a new mesothelioma annex to identify relevant exposure to asbestos during individual periods of employment. A working party of specialist claimant and defendant disease claim lawyers, insurers and unions revised the pre action protocol.
Forum of Insurance Lawyers’ committee member, Michelle Penn, who chaired the working group, said identifying all interested insurers was a “key problem”.
“There is a certain amount of information which needs to be obtained early on to enable a claim to be progressed. This new development now ensures that all solicitors involved must work to accepted timeframes which should mean the wheels turn faster for such claims.”
Foil says it has asked the Ministry of Justice to go further and introduce a mesothelioma pre action protocol.
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