Can only (ex) miners claim for deafness?
No, anyone who was exposed to excessive noise in any kind of work environment and has suffered from deafness/tinnitus as a result can claim for compensation.
Can I still claim if my former employers have closed down?
Yes, providing we are able to trace the insurers for the period that you worked there. It may also be possible that the company is still in existence even though the particular branch that you worked at has closed down.
How will you trace the insurers if my former employers have closed down?
If we have details of the current insurers/brokers they may have older records and we also utilise the Association of British Insurers who circulate and request the information from all insurers.
Who will pay for your (solicitors) fees?
If you are successful in pursuing your claim against your former employers, the other sides insurers will pay our costs too in addition to your compensation.
How long will it take to settle?
The time varies depending on how quickly we are able to trace the employer's insurers and how quickly they are able to complete their investigations. Cases such as these require records from the period that you worked there and are usually very difficult to obtain, this delays their investigation process. If this is the case, then it can take anything from 18 months to even 3 years unfortunately.
