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.
Machine operator work accident 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.
Serious injury 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.
Discuss Your Work Accident Claim Free Of Charge With A Specialist Solicitor
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.
