Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims
By Marianne Herondale. Last Updated 5th April 2022. Welcome to our guide on bladder cancer compensation claims. If you have developed cancer of the bladder due to the negligence of someone else, then you could be entitled to compensation. In this article, we will be explaining the process of making a claim as simply as we can.
How To Seek Damages For Bladder Cancer
We endeavour to avoid legal jargon whenever possible, so you can understand precisely what is being explained. In addition, we’ll also answer questions such as:
- How is bladder cancer diagnosed and treated?
- What causes bladder cancer?
- What does bladder cancer look like?
Bladder cancer compensation claims guide
There are a number of ways in which cancer can develop, with the risk being present in various working environments. This article will also mention some of the employment roles that could result in the development of bladder cancer.
Symptoms are also an important thing to know how to spot, so we’ll be touching on those too. However, we are not medical professionals. If you suspect that you could have bladder cancer, then please see a doctor for advice.
The value of bladder cancer compensation claims could also be a matter on your mind. There is an entire section of this article dedicated to giving you a better understanding of how much you could be awarded.
Every claim is different. The most accurate initial valuation you can receive will be from our advisors. The more we know about your claim, the more likely the advice we give to you will be as accurate as it can be.
So, read on for more information about bladder cancer compensation claims. You’ll also find our contact information below.
Get In Touch With Our Team
Our advisors are available 24/7 to speak with you over the phone. If once we’ve spoken to you, we believe you could have a valid No Win No Fee claim, then we could connect you with one of our lawyers. If you prefer not to speak over the phone, there are other means of reaching us.
- You can call us on 0800 073 8804
- Alternatively, you can begin the process of your claim online
- There’s also the option of using the pop-up window in the corner to chat with us in real-time
Services And Information
- Everything You Need To Know About Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims
- What Is Bladder Cancer?
- Rates Of Incidence In Bladder Cancer
- Causes And Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer
- What Workers Are More At Risk?
- Calculating Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims
- Who Could Be At Risk?
- What Forms Of Bladder Cancer Are There?
- Does Bladder Cancer Come In Stages?
- Treatment For Bladder Cancer
- Does Smoking Complicate Your Ability To Claim?
- What Are The Time Limits For Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims?
- I Developed Bladder Cancer, What Should I Do?
- Claim For A Bladder Cancer On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Learn More About Workplace Illness Claims
- FAQs About Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims
Everything You Need To Know About Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims
As mentioned above, there are certain roles within various industries that can increase the risk of bladder cancer. This can be due to working with certain chemicals on a regular basis. In some of these instances, the dangers would seem to be much more apparent. This is because there is specialist protective equipment that can be provided to employees to decrease these risks.
In some employment roles, whilst the risks are known, safety equipment can sometimes not be seen as a necessity. If you work in one of these industries and are not supplied with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), then the risk of you developing bladder cancer could be increased.
Not being supplied with PPE is an example of employer negligence. This is when many claims for personal injury are made, including some bladder cancer compensation claims.
All employers have a legal duty of care to their employees. This is stated in section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. In simple terms, this means that employers must make sure the workplace is as safe as reasonably possible. The likelihood of those who work for them becoming ill or injured must be kept to a minimum.
If this duty is not carried out properly and an employee’s health suffers as a direct result, this is known as a breach of the employer’s duty of care.
To find out more about potentially claiming against your employer in bladder cancer compensation claims, get in touch with our legal advisors today.
What Is Bladder Cancer?
The NHS describes bladder cancer as a growth of abnormal tissue. This growth is known as a tumour, and will more commonly develop in the lining of the bladder rather than the bladder muscle. However, the tumour can spread to the muscle in the later stages. If the tumour does spread to the bladder muscle, it can then continue to spread to other parts of the body.
Each year, around 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bladder cancer. This makes it the 11th most common form of cancer in the country.
Rates Of Incidence In Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer statistics from Cancer Research UK tell us that between 2016-2018, there were around 10,292 new cases of bladder cancer each year. Within the same period, there were 5,485 deaths as a result of bladder cancer.
Statistics from 2015 also show that 49% of bladder cancer cases could have been prevented. If your bladder cancer was caused by the negligent actions of another, get in touch with us today to find out how you could claim compensation.
Causes And Symptoms Of Bladder Cancer
According to the NHS guide on the symptoms of bladder cancer, one of the main symptoms of bladder cancer is having blood in your urine. This symptom is not usually accompanied by pain. It could appear as red streaks, or it could turn your urine brown. There may not always be blood present in your urine either, but even 1 or 2 appearances could be a sign of bladder cancer.
Whilst it could be a sign of other conditions such as kidney stones or a urinary tract infection (UTI), these conditions can also affect your health. It’s best to visit a GP for further investigation.
Some other symptoms of early-stage bladder cancer can involve a change in your urination pattern. This can manifest itself in urinating more frequently or having the sudden urge to visit the bathroom. A burning sensation whilst urinating can also be a sign.
A later stage bladder tumour can also cause symptoms such as:
- Pelvis/bone pain
- Unintended weight loss
- Swollen legs
So, what causes bladder cancer? The cause of bladder cancer is not always necessarily known. However, we know that it is the result of changes to the cells in the bladder. This can be caused by smoking, or even exposure to certain chemicals such as some dyes, fumes, paints, or even plastics.
Some treatments for other conditions such as type 2 diabetes or long-term bladder stones can also increase your risk of cancer developing.
What Workers Are More At Risk?
Those that work with certain chemicals/materials on a regular basis are more at risk of developing bladder carcinoma. A few that are known to increase this risk include:
- Aniline dyes – used to colour certain fabrics such as silk and wool
- Benzidine – another form of dye used in paper, leather, etc.
- o-Toluidine – dye
Because of the prevalence of these dyes in industries such as hairdressing, printing, painting and decorating, and the leather industry, workers in these roles could be more at risk of developing bladder carcinoma.
However, you could potentially suffer bladder cancer caused by negligence in another industry. If you get in touch with our advisors, they can tell you if you’re eligible to claim for bladder cancer.
Calculating Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims
You probably want an idea of how much bladder cancer compensation claims can be worth. However, all claims are different. Because of this, there is no specific figure we can offer in this article that we can guarantee will be accurate to your specific circumstances.
As an alternative, what we can do is break down the figures associated with compensation and give a rough estimate of how much these could be worth and how they are calculated.
General Damages
This amount is awarded to you to account for the injuries caused by your accident. In the context of this particular kind of claim, it would be related to the damage caused to your bladder, and/or the effect this would have on your lifespan/quality of life.
Psychological injuries can also be included in this bracket. For example, your diagnosis may cause anxiety or other mental health disorders. You deserve to be compensated for these conditions just as much as you do for physical injuries.
General damages are calculated based on legal professionals’ interpretation of a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). These guidelines are essentially a very detailed list of injuries and what they could be worth in compensation.
More serious injuries tend to be worth more, due to things like recovery time and the overall impact on the injured party’s life. We have included a table below that is made up of a small excerpt from the entries in the JCG. This should give you a rough idea of what you could be owed in general damages.
| Injury | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bladder | (a) complete loss of function and other medical complications | Up to £184,200 |
| Bladder | (b) function and control will be completely lost | Up to £140,660 |
| Bladder | (c) control will be seriously impaired and there will be pain | £63,980 to £79,930 |
| Bladder | (d) an almost complete recovery will have been made, but natural function will stiff suffer from some fairly long-term interference | £23,410 to £31,310 |
| Moderate hip and pelvic injuries (ii) | In this bracket, the claimant might need a hip replacement or other surgery. | £12,590 to £26,590 |
| Male reproductive organs | The claimant had a orchidectomy with some psychological consequences. However, there is no loss of sexual functioning or impotence. | £20,070 to £22,580 |
| Female reproductive organs | The claimant suffers with infertility, but wouldn’t have had children in any event. | £6,610 to £18,680 |
| Psychiatric Damage | (d) Less Severe – amount will depend on how badly affected daily activities such as sleeping and eating | £1,440 to £5,550 |
| Mental Anguish | When you fear your imminent death and/or reduction of life expectancy | £4,380 |
You can also use our free compensation calculator tool which, after a few quick clicks, will provide you with a detailed report on your potential compensation payout.
Special Damages
This is the other sum that can factor into your final compensation amount. It is made up of expenses and financial losses that can take place as a direct result of your injuries. Some examples of this can include:
- Loss of earnings – your health may be affected in such a way that you cannot work, and so you could be unable to earn money
- Medical bills – there could be things like prescription costs and other factors that you need to pay for
- Adaptation to property – your home may need certain equipment to make it more liveable due to your injuries
For more examples of what can be claimed back via special damages, get in touch with our advisors today.
Who Could Be At Risk?
As mentioned earlier, bladder cancer compensation claims can arise from people developing the condition due to prolonged exposure to certain chemicals such as a number of dyes. However, it is not only those in creative manufacturing industries who are at risk.
Employees in the petrochemical industry, rubber industry, construction, or even haulage could all be at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. This being said, smoking tobacco is still the leading cause of the condition.
What Forms Of Bladder Cancer Are There?
There are a few different kinds of bladder cancer. One of the main things that separate them from one another is invasiveness. Cancer Research UK statistics tell us that around 90% of cases in the UK are the least invasive kind. This is known as urothelial bladder cancer.
There is also squamous cell and adenocarcinoma cell bladder cancer. Although, these make up only 5% and 1-2% of cases respectively in the UK.
Whilst the lining of the bladder is the most common place for cancer to initially develop, it can start off in the muscle first. These kinds of cancers are called sarcomas.
Does Bladder Cancer Come In Stages?
Stages of bladder cancer can be graded using a system navigated by tumours, nodes, and metastases (TNM). Below, you’ll find how different stages are notated, and at what stage the cancer is.
- CIS – very early stage, confined to the lining of the bladder
- Ta – still confined to the lining, hasn’t spread any further
- T1 – this is when cancer spreads through the lining but has not yet reached the muscle
- T2 – cancer reaches the bladder muscle
- T3 – it has spread through the muscle and reaches the fatty tissue
- T4 – cancer will have spread to other tissues and organs such as the abdominal wall and the rectum
The severity of the cancer is also measured by how slowly it is likely to grow and/or spread.
Treatment For Bladder Cancer
So, how is bladder cancer diagnosed and treated? Initially, you may be experiencing symptoms such as blood in your urine. At this stage, you should pay a visit to your GP. The process of diagnosis can begin with a urine test. This will be sent to a laboratory and checked for signs of cancer like blood or abnormal cells.
Your GP may also carry out a physical examination of your rectum or vagina. This is because they may be able to feel certain lumps that can form as a result of the potential tumour(s). If it’s suspected that you have bladder cancer, you’ll be referred to hospital for further investigation.
Part of these investigations may consist of a cystoscopy. This is when a thin camera goes up the urethra so that the doctor can see inside your bladder. A CT scan or MRI scan may also be carried out to give a more accurate picture ahead of biopsies being taken.
More Serious Cases
For some more severe forms of bladder cancer, treatment could consist of surgery. Sometimes, some chemotherapy may be administered too, so that the risk of cancer returning is reduced. However, if the cancer is more aggressive, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment can be more thorough and numerous treatments administered.
The bladder can also be completely removed if your medical team thinks your chances of recovery would be greatly increased by this course of action. However, all of these treatments should be discussed with you before they are carried out.
If your bladder cancer is misdiagnosed during examinations and you’re told you don’t have it, this could be an example of medical negligence if it does turn out you did in fact have cancer at the time of your incorrect diagnosis. This is true even if the initial cause of your bladder cancer was not the negligence of your employer.
Does Smoking Complicate Your Ability To Claim?
It can complicate matters if you are a smoker. This does not mean that if you smoke, you are ineligible to make a claim. What it does mean is that you may have to work harder to prove that the cancer developed due to your working environment and was not caused by the fact that you smoke. This can be done by providing specialist evidence.
As part of the service we provide, we can help acquire this evidence. So, as smoking is the most common cause of bladder cancer, your claim could be made slightly more difficult if you do smoke.
For more information on how smoking could affect your bladder cancer compensation claim, call our advisors today.
What Are The Time Limits For Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims?
General Accident Claims
We know from the Limitation Act 1980 that you have 3 years to begin a personal injury claim from the date of the accident that caused your injury. Whilst this rule is also relevant to bladder cancer compensation claims, in this instance it would function slightly differently. Because of the unlikeliness of illnesses such as these being traced back to one particular date, the time limit can begin from the date that you obtained knowledge that you were suffering from cancer and at least suspected it was down to your employer’s negligence.
For example, you may not know that you have cancer until you have an MRI scan or CT scan to confirm it. The date you find out is known as the “date of knowledge”. This can be used as the start of your 3-year time limit to issue court proceedings to the defendant. You must have sufficient medical evidence to back up your date of knowledge.
Child Accident Claims
If the injured party is under 18, they cannot make a claim themselves. Instead, they must act through a third party known as a litigation friend. This is an adult such as a parent, guardian, or family friend. Even a legal professional can fulfil this role. The litigation friend must be over 18 and have the child’s best interests at heart. If successful, the money is paid into a legally secured bank account that the child can only access on their 18th birthday.
Until the claimant turns 18, their time limit is suspended. It will only begin on their 18th birthday; then they can make their own claim within the next 3 years. This is only if their claim has not been made for them beforehand.
For more information on bladder cancer compensation claims involving minors, get in touch today.
Claims On Behalf Of Those With A Reduced Mental Capacity
Similarly to child claims, those with a reduced mental capacity cannot make their own claim. As such, the time limit is suspended indefinitely. They would also require the services of a litigation friend to make decisions on their behalf. If the claimant ever recovers, this is when their 3-year time limit begins.
I Developed Bladder Cancer, What Should I Do?
If your illness was caused by negligence, you could have a claim. However, what are the steps that you should take if you suspect that you have developed bladder cancer?
Seek medical care – if you exhibit any symptoms, you could make an appointment to see your GP. Catching this kind of illness early can give you a much better chance of recovery. Not only this, but the medical records generated from your treatment can serve as vital evidence during the process of your claim.
Gather evidence – you will need to back up your version of events with proof. For example, medical records would be very useful. In addition to this, you could gather written statements from other employees who shared your working environment.
Seek specialist legal advice – approaching a personal injury solicitor should be your next move. The process of making a claim can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. We are here to guide you through the process and to offer you helpful guidance and advice along the way.
If you get in touch with our expert advisors, they can give you further, personalised advice on how to start your bladder cancer compensation claim.
Claim For A Bladder Cancer On A No Win No Fee Basis
All of our lawyers work with every client on a No Win No Fee basis. As the name suggests, this means that unless you are awarded compensation, you will not be required to pay your lawyer’s legal fees.
If your claim is successful and you are awarded compensation, then your specialist solicitor’s fees will be covered by taking a small, pre-arranged figure from your settlement amount. Arrangements such as this are in place so that everyone has access to the legal help they require to make a claim. There is no upfront fee, so don’t worry.
If making a claim in this way would suit you, then get in touch today.
- You can call us on 0800 073 8804
- You can begin the process of your claim online
- Use the pop-up window in the corner to chat with us in real-time
Learn More About Workplace Illness Claims
You’ll find more information at the links below that could help you whilst researching your claim.
- Learn more about making a personal injury claim against your employer
- What to do if your condition has become worse due to misdiagnosis.
- Read our general guide on personal injury compensation.
- NHS information regarding bladder cancer.
- Cancer Research Uk has more information on bladder cancer.
Further Helpful Articles
- Blackpool Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Brent Medical Negligence Solicitors
- Different Types Of Medical Negligence Claims
- How Much Compensation For Medical Negligence Resulting In Death?
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Misdiagnosis?
- Medical Negligence Solicitors For Leicester
- Medical Negligence Delay In Treatment Compensation Claims
- Birth Injury to Mother Claims
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim For MRSA?
- Hospital Negligence Claims Guide
- NHS Negligence Claims Guide
FAQs About Bladder Cancer Compensation Claims
What is the number one cause of bladder cancer?
Smoking is the most common reason that people develop cancer of the bladder. Other causes can include exposure to certain dyes and fumes.
Do you feel ill with bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer can present only minor symptoms whilst leaving you feeling otherwise fine. If you suspect that you do have this condition then it’s important to visit your GP for further investigation. The earlier any cancer is diagnosed, the better.
How do you rule out bladder cancer?
Urine analysis is one of the tests carried out to help diagnose cancer of the bladder. Other things like scans and investigative procedures can also be used.
Thank you for reading our guide to bladder cancer compensation claims.
Guide by Bibby
Edited by Billing
