Accident compensation claim lawyer uk, no win no fee injury specialist - Kevin Bolton solicitor

UK work accident solicitor explains how to claim compensation if you have had an accident in a building site including a slip on a wet plywood walkway causing knee, ankle and wrist injuries

Building site accident at work victim question

I work on a building site in Birmingham and in May 2011 a new walkway area had been put down made from plywood. I had all the requisite personal protection equipment necessary for a building site including the appropriate boots / footwear.

My site manager requested that I collect some items from an area of the site with the only access being the plywood walkway. I was walking along the plywood, which was wet from heavy rain earlier in the day, and after a few metres my feet went from under me and I landed heavily on my left leg and left arm. The plywood seemed very slippery.

I was immediately assisted by colleagues and the accident was put in to my work accident book.

Immediately following the accident an anti-slip material was put down on to the plywood, which I understand should have been always present when plywood is used as a walkway in building sites.

A colleague took me to hospital and I was diagnosed with torn ligaments in my knee and ankle and a swollen wrist.

I have been off work since the accident and I have had an arthroscopy and understand that an operation is necessary for my knee and ankle injuries. I have been told that even with this operation there is a risk that I may not be able to work as a builder in the future.

I am deeply concerned about my ability to provide for my wife and two children who are dependent on me and I would like to know whether I can make a claim and if so how much compensation I can claim?

Work accident solicitor response

I believe your employer is legally at fault for requiring you to walk on wet plywood walkway without proper anti-slip material being laid, especially given that the plywood surface is exposed to the outdoors and can be extremely slippery even when correct footwear is used.

Your employer will be responsible for the negligence of the site manager and a claim could be made directly against your employer.

Injuries to knee and ankle ligaments can be quite serious and attract compensation levels as large as bony injuries including fractures. Albeit you have given a reasonably detailed description of the nature of your injuries the only way to accurately determine how much compensation you can claim is to have an independent medical expert complete a report on your behalf setting out the exact nature of your injuries with a prognosis of how long it is likely to take you to recover. A specialist work accident solicitor should instruct the medical expert on your behalf.

You have indicated that the treating doctors have suggested that you may have long term problems, which might affect your ability to continue in your employ as a builder. Should the independent medical expert verify this – in addition to pain and suffering for the knee and ankle ligament injuries and swollen wrist, you would likely have a large lost income claim and possible claim for the cost of retraining if the building trade is no longer available to you.

The amount of compensation you can claim is certainly worth several thousands of pounds and if future lost income becomes an issue – could be worth tens of thousands of pounds.

If you would like to go ahead with your claim for your knee, ankle and wrist injuries or to speak to me in person about your accident click building site work accident claim.

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UK work accident solicitor explains how to claim compensation for injuries at work in a factory including a bang to the head resulting in concussion

Work accident victim question

I work in a factory manufacturing cars and I was walking through the factory area when I badly banged my head. I was initially extremely dazed and was assisted by some colleagues.

It turns out that a pallet had been incorrectly loaded such that a long solid metal part was sticking out from the top of the pallet at around head height. It was clearly a danger to workers using the walkway.

The accident was entered into the accident book and I was taken to hospital by a colleague.

I was diagnosed with concussion symptoms and a large lump on my head. Both the concussion symptoms and the lump resolved after two months.

Would I be entitled to claim compensation for concussion injuries and the lump on my head?

Work accident solicitor response

It seems that the pallet was incorrectly loaded and presented a danger to workers using the walkway as an access route as it was designed for. There was no warning of the danger and it was reasonable to presume that the head space would be clear when walking on the factory floor.

I therefore believe that your employer will be found negligent for causing the accident and consequently will be responsible for paying compensation for your injuries.

The injuries you have suffered resulted in symptoms of two months. Although you have described that your symptoms have totally resolved within this time period – as you suffered a bang to the head it would be wise to have this monitored for future problems.

To show the exact nature of your injuries, including any risks of future complications, a medical expert would need to examine your GP and hospital notes, your head and possibly take a scan so as to fully describe your injuries.

Based upon this description a specialist work accident solicitor will be able to determine how much compensation you could claim.

As your injuries would be worth over a threshold limit of £1,000 – the legal costs in pursuing your claim would also be paid by your employer in addition to your compensation.

Should you wish to commence a claim for a work injury in a factory or other work environment or to arrange for a free call back from me in person to discuss your claim click accident at work compensation claim.

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UK work accident solicitor explains the importance of a barrister’s opinion in high value serious injury claims – including spiral fractures of wrist, forearm, elbow injuries

Work accident victim question

I am a machine operator at my work place and I was asked to operate a press machine in a factory in Coventry that I am not familiar with.

The press machine should have a guard on to prevent a worker’s arm from being trapped in the machine. I was unaware of this and whilst I was operating the machine my arm became trapped breaking my wrist, forearm and elbow.

I suffered a spiral fracture and I’ve had I rod inserted in to my arm and may never regain the normal function.

I have been off work for over a year and have only been in receipt of statutory sick pay.

I have a work accident solicitor acting in my claim and an offer has been made for a few thousand pounds. My solicitor is not telling me how much my claim should be worth and is putting me under pressure to give instructions on this offer.

I am uncertain as to what to do as I do wish to settle my claim but an offer of a few thousand pounds clearly seems too little.

Please can you explain how I will know how much my claim is worth.

Work accident solicitor response

It is difficult for me to quantify how much compensation you should receive, but clearly for a spiral fracture injury to the wrist, elbow and forearm you have described plus the potential future lost income – your claim would be worth substantially more than a few thousand pounds.

Nonetheless I do not think it would be a good idea at this early stage to attempt to change solicitors as your current solicitor has the advantage of your full file of papers which may shed some light as to why there is a conservative estimate for the amount of compensation you could receive for your wrist, forearm and elbow injuries.

I suggest the best approach is to speak to the lawyer who is acting on your behalf and have that solicitor request a barrister’s opinion on quantum (on how much your claim is worth).

Albeit the barrister is instructed by your solicitor – this barrister is a specialist lawyer who will provide an independent assessment as to how much your claim is worth and any additional evidence your solicitor should obtain to support claiming more compensation on your behalf.

Click the compensation claim advice to see the page I have written explaining the assistance a barrister can provide:

Please note the page I have provided relates to a road traffic accident but is equally applicable to your work accident.

Should you wish to discuss your claim with me directly or consider instructing another specialist work accident solicitor to correctly quantify your wrist, forearm and elbow spiral fracture injury – click work accident claims solicitor.

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