Our client had been asked to unload a lorry, but lifting equipment required to unload the lorry was not available and alternative lifting equipment was arranged to be delivered to the yard. However, the new equipment was taking a long time to arrive and so the Claimant and a colleague were instructed by their Supervisor to unload the lorry manually.
Our client climbed onto the back of the flat bed lorry where there was a wooden pallet containing approximately ten boxes of sign clips. Our client attempted to pull the side of the pallet with his hands, but as he did so the pallet came away, causing him to fall backwards, falling off the side of the lorry and onto his left hand. Because there were no safety rails to hold onto whilst he was attempting to move the pallet, he fell one and a half metres onto the tarmac car park, sustaining a very serious injury to his wrist.
When he arrived at hospital he was found to have suffered a broken wrist which was manipulated under anaesthetic and placed in a plaster cast. However, he developed severe pain in his wrist and upon further inspection he was required to undergo surgery to manipulate the wrist again and a further cast was applied for eight weeks.
Our client suffered severely reduced movement in his wrist and had to take painkillers, and undergo physiotherapy. He was unable to lift heavy objects and his grip was significantly reduced. He would often wake in the night with pain and pins and needles. The injury he sustained caused him to be absent from work for three months and although the Defendants claimed that our client was partially responsible for the fall, our client received £300,000 in an out of court settlement.
If you’ve been injured in an accident at work, our personal injury solicitors could help you make a No Win No Fee compensation claim. See our Accident at Work Claims page for more information.
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