The son of a deceased rail worker in Swindon has been paid £120,000 in compensation after it was found that exposure to asbestos whilst at work caused his death.
Daniel Neale pursued the claim against BRB (Residuary) – formerly called British Rail – on behalf of his family, claiming that the company’s negligence resulted in the death of his father Raymond Neale. Mr Neale (senior) was 76 when he died of mesothelioma in 2008, after being exposed to asbestos whilst working at a British Rail plant in Rodbourne between 1947 and 1952.
BRB were ordered by the court to pay the Neale family £120,000 in damages to the family for Mr Neale’s pain and suffering and the medical and funeral costs incurred by his family as a result of his illness. Presumably with professional insurance in place to cover the compensation payment plus costs, BRB have accepted liability for Mr Neale’s death.
The family’s lawyer, Brigitte Chandler, has however warned that there may be many more asbestos-related compensation claims to come. She said:
“Overall, we anticipate the number of people developing asbestos disease over the next few years will increase due to the import of asbestos into this country in the 50s, 60s and 70s.”