Specialist Lawyers Help Leicester Man Gain Justice

A labourer from Leicester who was left with a fractured foot after a drill fell on him at work four years ago has revealed he is looking to the future after lawyers secured him a four-figure settlement from his employer regarding the incident.

Ian Stacey, 56, was working with a colleague to move a pillar drill using a sack barrow at Moorhouse Construction Ltd in October 2013 when the equipment unbalanced, toppled off the barrow and onto his left foot.

The incident left him with a fractured metatarsal and over the months that followed he suffered disturbed sleep and also needed the help of his partner, Janet Taylor, 54, to complete basic day-to-day tasks such as washing and general personal care.

Following the incident, Ian instructed specialist workplace injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his case and whether more could have been done to prevent his injury. 

Now, after the specialists helped him secure a settlement from Moorhouse Construction Ltd – without an admission of liability – in relation to the injury, he has revealed how is keen to put the issue behind him.

Katy Bailey, the legal specialist at Irwin Mitchell who represents Ian, said: “A case of this nature demonstrates the lasting impact that workplace injuries can have on victims, with Ian requiring help and support for loved ones for several months following the incident.

“We are delighted to have helped him secure a settlement regarding his incident, albeit without an admission of liability, but also hope that his case serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of always assessing risks and ensuring the safety of workers is a top priority.

“Everything possible must be done to ensure that the circumstances of this kind of incident are simply not repeated in the future.”

Ian Stacey was instructed to move the pillar drill from one side of a room to another with the help of his colleague, with the pair deciding that a sack barrow would be the best option for the task.

He recalled: “We were carefully moving the drill when the work platform on it swung around. This unbalanced the whole of the drill and it toppled to the side and off the barrow completely. It struck my foot and I was immediately in absolute agony.

“I couldn’t believe the impact that the injury ended up having on my life. I was very reliant on Janet for washing and simple day-to-day tasks, while I also had issues with crouching or bending the toes on my left foot for several months.

“The pain also affected my sleep for a number of weeks and I could not even do simple things I enjoyed like riding my motorbike. It was all just hugely frustrating and it all stemmed from that incident at work.

“While I have thankfully recovered from the problems now, gaining this settlement is the final step I required to be able to properly now move on with my life. My only hope is that employers recognise the importance of ensuring workers have the best possible equipment to do their jobs.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in workplace injury claims.