Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Mechanic Suffers Back Injury in Manual Handling Accident
6th April 2010
A man injured at work as the result of unsafe manual handling procedures received compensation recently, in a personal injury claim handled by our specialist lawyers.
Accident at Work
Our client and a colleague were removing a large, heavy battery from a bus. It weighed in excess of 55kg, however there was no lifting equipment provided. They therefore completed the task using straps to lift the item and had to pull and tilt it towards them, then lower it manually to the floor, turning as they did so.
Whilst lowering the battery, our client sustained a back injury. He was unable to attend work for several weeks and required medical treatment and assistance with daily tasks during his recovery. His personal injury also affected his ability to continue with hobbies and exercise and he continued to suffer some problems with his back after returning to work.
Injury Claim
The injured employee appointed our expert personal injury lawyers to assist him in making a compensation claim. His employer denied that they were responsible for his accident at work, so we pursued the case to Court.
Evidence showed that there was no specific risk assessment for the task of removing the bus battery, even though it involved manually moving a sizeable load and it was something the client did on a fairly regular basis. The Judge found that there was a breach of the Manual Handling Regulations and that, if a proper risk assessment had been carried out, it would have shown the need for equipment to assist with the task.
Our client’s employer therefore had not reduced the risk of injury as far as reasonably possible and the Judge found in our favour, awarding damages in respect of the claimant’s injuries.
Expert Legal Advice
If you have suffered a personal injury as the result of a workplace accident, you may be entitled to make an injury claim.
At The Legal Line, our lawyers have extensive experience in all areas of personal injury and can provide you with the best possible accident claim advice on a cost-free, confidential basis. Contact us on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online.
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