If you have already pursued a claim for compensation through another firm of solicitors and feel that you received less than its true value, either because not all heads of damage were recovered for you or because your solicitors improperly deducted sums from your damages then contact us to discuss making a professional negligence claim against that firm for the shortfall of monies due to you.

In particular, Quality Solicitors Jackson and Canter are interested to hear from former Miner’s and their families who received compensation from pursuing a claim under the Coal Health Agreements.

Miners’ Coal Health Agreements
In 1999 the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) set up a fast-track scheme to compensate victims of Vibration White Finger (“VWF”) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (“COPD”).

The schemes closed in October 2002 and March 2004 respectively. To date the DTI has paid out over £3.6 billion in compensation to over 750,000 miners.

Vibration White Finger (VWF)
This is caused by using vibratory equipment in mining coal. It is known medically as Reynauds phenomenon and involves damage to blood vessels and nerve endings which causes numbness and tingling. Fingertips can appear white hence the name. In its mild form VWF is temporary but can progress to loss of dexterity and in severe cases lead to amputation. VWF is irreversible and untreatable.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a respiratory disease caused by damage to lung tissue through the inhalation of coal dust. The main symptom is shortness of breath and the severity of those symptoms depends on the extent of lung damage. A mild form of COPD is chronic bronchitis while a severe form is the life-threatening emphysema.

Service Claims
Both conditions can therefore be severely debilitating rendering once active men incapable of performing daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing, gardening, decorating, maintaining a car and DIY which previously they would previously undertake themselves.

In those circumstances, Claimant’s are entitled to claim for the cost of such care and assistance, whether on a paid basis or by friends and family who do it free of charge. The claims could amount to several thousands of pounds.

Unfortunately it has since been widely reported that some of the Solicitors who pursued claims for Miners under this scheme did not claim the full extent of damages for services that those Miners required.

Contact us
Accordingly, if you believe that you or a family member has received inadequate compensation then please contact Stuart Capstick on 0151 282 1700 to discuss making a claim for the shortfall of monies owed to you.