Published in CV Driver June 2017.

Continuing his series of articles, solicitor Steven Hinchliffe (owner of the truckers’ “go to” Personal Injury specialists HINCHLIFFES SOLICITORS) highlights another type of accident suffered by professional drivers and their colleagues, where his firm has successfully secured compensation for the injured victim.  See the “Latest News” blog link on the homepage of the firm’s website at www.hinchliffes.co.uk for all of his previous articles.

You do not need to be a professional driver to seek our help – anyone hurt in an accident (eg your family or friends) can contact us for advice.

CASE HISTORY

How the Accident Happened

In June 2006, a lorry driver was delivering to business premises for his employer.  Having been told where to park up and unload, he got out of his cab and began opening the curtain sides of his trailer.  To open them fully, he had to walk beyond the rear of the trailer and as he did so he was struck by a fork lift truck, which knocked him to the ground.

The Injuries

The driver sustained a deep cut to his ear requiring stitches and a blow to his head, resulting in an overnight stay in hospital.

How the Claim Progressed

The driver contacted us a few weeks after his accident and once our contractual documents were completed, we sent a formal letter to the company we believed were responsible for his accident, setting out the basis of the claim. Their insurers acknowledged the claim relatively quickly, but would not make a decision on whether responsibility for the accident was accepted, requesting medical evidence to substantiate the driver’s injuries.  Having already arranged for him to be examined by an A&E consultant, by November 2006 we were in receipt of his written report.

The A&E consultant reported that the driver had sustained a blow to the head and a deep cut to his ear, resulting in him being taken to hospital by ambulance, admitted for 24 hours under observation and requiring several stitches to his ear.  Due to the concussion suffered, the medical expert felt it reasonable that the driver did not work for 10 days and when he did return, it was on light duties for two weeks.  He commented that the driver was still suffering with tenderness to the ear and had a ½ cm scar, but otherwise had made a full recovery.  The report enabled us to value the driver’s claim, and with his authority, we copied this to the insurers, along with details of the financial losses he had suffered and invited them to put forward settlement proposals.

This was in November 2006 and we spent several weeks chasing for a response.  Finally, at the beginning of February 2007, they accepted responsibility and made a sensible offer to settle the claim, which the driver was happy to accept.

The Compensation Recovered

The driver accepted total compensation of £2,350.

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 HGV DRIVER STRUCK BY FLT WHILE UNLOADING SECURES PERSONAL INJURY COMPENSATION appeared first on Hinchliffes Solicitors.