Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Compensation for Victim’s Family After Fatal Factory Accident
26th November 2008
In a recent case, our specialist personal injury lawyers acted for the widow and children of a man tragically killed in an accident at work.
Workplace Accident
In the course of his work for a manufacturing company, the deceased was operating a paper reeling and slitting machine with a colleague. He was inside an enclosure that formed part of the machine, setting up for a job, when there was a misunderstanding and his colleague started the machine, not realising that he was still inside.
This caused a hydraulic table to be raised and he was trapped and crushed. Sadly he was fatally injured as a result of this factory accident.
There were insufficient measures in place to ensure that the machine would not operate when a person was inside the enclosure, and the management were aware that employees would routinely need to enter it to keep up with productivity targets.
Claim Against Employer
The devastated widow of the victim appointed our lawyers, who are experts in cases involving fatal or very serious injuries, to assist in recovering compensation for this horrific incident.
The employer of the deceased admitted liability but initially alleged that he was partially responsible for what happened and only offered to pay a reduced amount of damages. This was an upsetting blow for his family, who were determined to prove that he did not contribute to his own death.
Court proceedings were therefore issued and the case was heard at the High Court. After considering the evidence, the Judge ruled that the deceased could not have known his colleague was about to start the machine and was not negligent.
A settlement of £335,000 compensation was awarded to the victim’s family and, although this will not ease the pain of losing a loving husband and father, it will provide financial security and they were afforded some peace of mind by the Judge’s decision.
Claiming Compensation for Accidents at Work
If you have been injured in an accident at work due to the negligence of an employer, or you have suffered the loss of a loved one, you may be in a position to make a compensation claim.
Our lawyers are experts in all areas of personal injury and can provide advice on whether or not a claim may be possible and how best to pursue your case. Contact The Legal Line on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online.
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