Accidents At Work
Case studies

accident at work- unsafe system, Accidents At Work

£240,000

Bus engineer suffered serious permanent injury when his leg was run over.

The Claimant, an engineer working for Go-Ahead London Transport, had his tibia and fibula broken when a bus driver reversed over his leg whilst he was repairing the bus. The individual was left with permanent mobility problems and was unable to return to work as an engineer but the medical experts deemed him fit enough to carry out sedentary work. Much of the Claimant’s claim for compensation comprised of the earnings he lost as a result of being unable to return to work along with care he required from his wife in respect of daily chores, many of which he could no longer do.

– Matthew Trusch

Accidents At Work

£45,000

Claimant injured as a result of a collapsing table in the work place.

I represented the Claimant who was employed as a chef. He was working in a kitchen when a table holding kitchen machinery collapsed onto the Claimant forcing him into holding the table steady to avoid further injury of the machinery falling on top of him. Another member of staff rescued him.

Liability was admitted by the Defendant due to the unsafe place of work and unsafe equipment provided to the Claimant, but causation and quantum remained in dispute. Proceedings were therefore issued. The Claimant suffered physical and psychological injuries and various medical investigations were required to ensure that all aspects of the injuries were dealt with appropriately.

The case settled prior to the listings appointment by way of a Part 36 offer made by the Defendant.

The claim settled for £45,000.00 and consisted of compensation for injuries sustained, past treatment, loss of earnings, travelling expenses and care and assistance.

– Suzanne Mason

Accidents At Work

£20,232

Claimant suffered a lower back pain injury

I represented the Claimant who was working in the course of her employment at a service station. Pre-accident the Claimant was suffering from back pains and her employers were fully aware of this. Management continued to ask her to complete physically demanding jobs and her protests were ignored, which led to the worsening of her low back pains, causing her to suffer a lower back injury. The claimant experienced high levels of back pain whilst undertaking these manual handling activities and was absent from work for 4 months.

Liability was fiercely denied, the Defendant relied upon manual training which had be completed and a health assessment which stated that the Claimant confirmed that she did not have any back complaints. The Claimant maintained that they were fully aware and they would force her to carry out such manual tasks, which at times she physically could not do and would cry with the pain. Proceedings were issued. The case went to trial and the Judge found in favour of the Claimant.

The claim settled for £20,232.00 and consisted of compensation for injuries sustained and loss of earnings, medication and travel expenses.

Accidents At Work, Accidents in public premises

£12,000

Claimant injured whilst delivering a sofa successfully challenged medical evidence increasing value of claim by £10,000.00

I represented a Claimant who sustained a complicated knee injury whilst delivering a sofa.

The Defendant admitted liability and the Claimant was examined by a Consultant Orthopaedic expert who reviewed the Claimant’s medical records.

The Claimant had a history of knee problems which included undergoing knee surgery. However the Claimant had been symptom free for 4 years before the accident.

Initially the expert suggested the accident caused a minor injury that resolved within a few months and any ongoing symptom were not accident related. However upon further consideration of the Claimant’s medical records and the Claimant’s testimony regarding his pre and post- accident capacity, the expert extended this prognosis to 3 – 5 years.

The claim settled without the need to issue proceedings and includes an award for personal injury, care and assistance, travel and medical expenses.

– Jenny Campbell