Our client was a HGV driver who was unloading a trailer for his employer.  The load consisted of two armchairs in boxes stacked on top of each other, with the base of another chair wrapped in plastic on top of the boxes.  The base was at a height above our clients head and much heavier than he realised, so as he attempted to reach it and lift it down his left leg buckled beneath him.  He sustained injuries to his left knee, ankle and foot.  He suffered symptoms from his injuries for nearly 6 weeks following the accident, leaving him unable to work.  We were able to recover personal injury compensation for him of £4,500.

A brief summary of events is set out below.

Date of Accident:  October 2014

Time between formal instruction and successful conclusion: We took on the case in April 2016 and managed to settle it just five months later.

How the claim proceeded: Our client did not contact us for nearly 18 months following the accident.  Having taken on his case, we wasted no time in submitting a claim to his employers.  It was just 4 weeks later that their insurers responded with an admission of liability for the accident.  We then arranged for our client to be examined by an Orthopaedic Specialist.  In August 2016 we received a written report from the medical expert, which detailed our client’s injuries, the symptoms he had suffered and the anticipated recovery period.  His opinion was that it had been reasonable for our client to need 3-4 months to fully recover from his injuries.

We were then able to compile a schedule of our client’s financial losses following the accident and fully value his claim for compensation.  With his approval, we then submitted a settlement proposal to the insurers and awaited their response.  After a very brief period of negotiation, we were able to agree a settlement figure with them that our client was happy to accept.

Were Court proceedings necessary?: No.

Outcome:   The client secured £3,000 for his injuries and £1,500 for his financial losses, including his loss of earnings following the accident, when he was unable to work.

Comment: Like many accidents, it could have been avoided if there had been better manual handling and health and safety procedures in place.  The employer had clearly allowed the vehicle to be loaded in a manner that was not safe for our client to unload, causing him injury.  Fortunately, the employer’s insurers were realistic in negotiating a settlement and we were able to bring things to a close within a very short time.

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM SOLICITORS:-

If you have suffered any form of accident or contracted an industrial disease contact personal injury claims specialists Hinchliffes Solicitors for immediate legal advice, to find out if you are entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation.  All cases are conducted on a No Win No Fee and No Risk basis.

Call now on 01684 580900 to speak direct to one of our specialist claims lawyers or go to our Start Your Claim  page to submit details of your accident compensation claim online.

If you would like to know what your injury claim may be worth, please go to our Value Your Injury page.

Confused by the claims process?  Please look at our extensive FAQs.

The post Lorry Driver Injured UNLOADING HGV Receives Financial Compensation appeared first on Hinchliffes Solicitors.