Case HistoriesScaffolderWe acted for a scaffolder who fell from scaffolding as he began to dismantle it. It had been erected by co-workers who had left too much of the boarding protruding over the end of the poles. He stood close to the end of the boarding expecting that it would be secure but it tipped up and he fell 20 feet to the ground below. He landed flat on both feet, severely fracturing both heels. He was partly to blame for not checking the underside of the scaffolding first to make sure it was safe. However, he still recovered a substantial 6 figure sum as he was not able to continue as a scaffolder because he could no longer walk on uneven ground or climb ladders and was in constant pain.
| Burst TyreAnother client was thrown out of his employer's van when a tyre burst and he lost control of the vehicle. The employer argued that the vehicle had been properly serviced and denied the tyre was defective. However we interviewed the police officer who attended the accident scene and he confirmed that the tyre had burst. We argued that the fact that the tyre burst was in itself evidence that the vehicle was defective. As employers have a strict duty to maintain equipment (including vehicles) in a safe condition, they cannot escape liability by trying to show that they did everything they reasonably could to maintain it. In other words, if there was a defect, it means they didn’t maintain it properly and are therefore liable for the injuries which resulted.
| LeadworkerIn a similar case to the scaffolder, we acted for a leadworker who fell from a ladder while carrying tools up to the roof, because his employer had not provided a hoist or scaffolding. He also broke his heels after landing flat on his feet. He accepted a small share of the blame because he went up the ladder one handed (as he was carrying tools in the other hand), but he still recovered a large sum for his pain and suffering, future loss of earnings and other losses.
| DriverA client injured his back while attaching a trailer to his employers' van. He claimed that he had to lift the trailer arm manually because its jockey wheel was missing and had not been replaced. The employers alleged that the wheel was not missing and that the accident had not happened as alleged because they had no record of it in their accident book. However, we found a reference to the accident in the note made by the GP on the day of the accident and the judge believed our client’s account. We took on the case just before the 3 year time limit for issuing proceedings and after solicitors appointed by the Accident Group said that he had no case – if we hadn’t taken it on under a conditional fee agreement, he would not have been able to pursue the case at all.
| Lift EngineerWe acted for a lift engineer who had a significant electric shock while working on a lift because live wires had been left exposed by another engineer. He was thrown backwards and fractured his shoulder. He went to hospital and his shoulder was manipulated under general anaesthetic. However, the hospital failed to take further x-rays after surgery with the result that the effects of the injury were made more severe. He was left with only limited use of his arm and could not return to work as a lift engineer. The employer and the hospital argued about how much blame they should each bear but a substantial settlement was agreed by all parties.
| Road AccidentWe acted for a newly qualified solicitor who suffered a multiple injuries including a serious head injury in a road traffic accident. A van failed to stop on the A21 where it narrows to single carriageway and our client’s hatchback car ended up underneath the van. The accident was so horrific that it was featured on BBC1’s 999 programme. Fortunately liability was agreed early on and the insurers paid for a residential rehabilitation programme. Within 2 years, the solicitor was able to get back to work and her career.
| Train Accident ClaimWe successfully pursued a large railway company on behalf of three clients who were injured in separate incidents while getting off a train. All three were elderly or disabled, and were injured when they weren’t able to get off the train quickly enough and the train doors closed on them without warning. We argued that the train company’s staff had not followed their own procedure to ensure that all passengers had alighted from the train before closing the doors and that they had to be more careful when carrying passengers who were elderly or disabled. We issued proceedings on all 3 claims at once and the train company settled them soon afterwards.
| Airline compensationWe successfully acted for a client who, whilst flying with a well known airline operator, had scalding hot coffee spilt on his arm by a steward whilst he was asleep, mid flight. The airline took months to respond to the allegations but settled soon after we issued proceedings.
| Mechanical Digger accident claimA client in his 60's was badly injured when the bucket from a mechanical digger fell off and crushed him when he was working on a building site. The claim was accepted by the main contractors. This case illustrated the fact that often people who are working to “normal” retirement age had intentions to work beyond 65 not just for financial reasons but because they enjoyed their work. We were able to recover a substantial award for him including the earnings that he could no longer earn beyond 65.
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more case studies
Nightclub goers personal injury claim
Pensioners road accident compensation
Dockers work accident claim
Teachers Road accident claim
Paving slabs work accident claim
HIAB factory accident compensation
Dermatitis accident compensation
Office worker accident claim
Underground work accident claim
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