Contaminated soil poisoning
compensation claims

If a soil contamination poisoning injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Exposure to toxic substances in contaminated soil can cause a variety of symptoms like skin lesions, headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Treatment involves removing exposure and addressing specific contamination effects with medical care and detoxification.

If your life, or the life of a loved one, has been affected by soil contamination poisoning, we can help. You can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the help and support of a specialist solicitor.

With 300,000 hectares of contaminated land in the UK, you are not alone

An estimated 300,000 hectares of UK land are contaminated, according to the Environment Agency, with 4 million hectares at risk of contamination (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk).

People are most commonly exposed to contaminated soil through their work. Industrial workers or agricultural workers could come in to contact with contaminated soil if they are not provided with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE).

The public can also come in to contact with contaminated soil if harmful chemicals are not disposed of or treated correctly and leak into the soil.

If you decide to make a contaminated soil poisoning claim, your work injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

Read more:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) injury claims

Am I eligible for contaminated soil poisoning compensation?

You will be able to claim compensation if you've been injured or diagnosed with an illness in the last three years and it wasn't your fault.

Use our injury claim calculator to find out if you can claim. Or you can call 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor. Find out in minutes if you have a claim.

How long after a contaminated soil poisoning injury do I have to claim compensation?

In most cases, you have up to 3 years from the date of your accident or injury to start a claim.

If your injury or illness is not immediately apparent, the 3-year time limit starts from the date that you injury or illness was diagnosed and your were informed of the likely caused.

How much compensation can I claim for a soil contamination injury?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying for loss of earnings, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as diagnostic blood tests, medication and pain management treatments.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Soil contamination and illness

Disused industrial sites, for example, are associated with chemical and asbestos soil contamination. Agricultural soils can become contaminated with pesticides. Exposure to soil contaminants can lead to illness or injury.

In some cases, it can be difficult to identify the cause of historic contamination, making it difficult to establish liability. In cases of more recent contamination, establishing liability can be more straightforward, but can still require investigation.

Common symptoms of conditions associated with soil contamination include:

• Abdominal pain
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Skin and eye irritation

Long-term effects of soil contamination can include:

• Cancer
• Neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease
• Reproductive problems including infertility

See also:

Pesticides compensation claims

Asbestos compensation claims

What happened?

The claims process will vary depending on how your contaminated soil poisoning happened. Click the icons below to learn more:

Work accidents Public places Other accidents

Author:
Howard Willis, Personal injury solicitor

About the author

Howard Willis qualified as a solicitor in 1984 and has specialised in personal injury for over 25 years. He is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and is a recognised Law Society Personal Injury Panel expert.