Injury Claim Case Studies
Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our clients. First Personal Injury is a trading name of Jefferies LLP.
Accidents caused by faulty equipment
Mr Norris, aged 68, purchased two stools to use at the breakfast bar in his kitchen. Some time later, he sat on one of the stools and it gave way beneath him. One of the legs of the stool had broken and Mr Norris fell heavily onto the kitchen floor. He injured his coccyx as a result. The injury caused severe swelling and then bruising that took three months to subside. It also exacerbated a back condition that Mr Norris already had. He was in pain for over six months. The team at First Personal Injury pursued an accident claim for Mr Norris. He was awarded £1,563.
Accidents involving children
Adam, aged 14, was travelling with his father in a car being driven by his father's friend. It was a normal journey across town in the daylight. All of a sudden a car crossed their path leaving no time for the driver of Adam's car to take any avoiding action. The two cars collided and Adam was seriously injured in the crash. He was off school for four weeks and unable to do any of his sports for six weeks. Adam's father called First Personal Injury to make a claim for accident compensation. The personal injury team compiled a case on Adam's behalf and won him £1,850 in compensation.
Care assistant wins claim for compensation
A Care Assistant from Tyneside who was hurt whilst lifting a resident at The Grange Residential Care Home in Darlington has won £8,000 compensation from her former employer after injuring her back and subsequently losing her job. The case was brought with the assistance of her trade union the GMB.
In August 2005, Mrs Yates, now aged 58, of Darlington was required to help dress an elderly lady who was immobile. Together with a colleague, Mrs Yates had to drag the lady up off the bed whilst reaching around to pull undergarments up resulting in an injury to her back.
The resulting case found that the employer had not given sufficient training to Mrs Yates nor was any suitbale equipment available to help.
The GMB said: “Mrs Yates’ case highlights certain deficiencies in the private sector in terms of providing training and instruction of staff in safe handling techniques when assisting residents in care homes. This not only puts the staff at risk but there are also issues as to the safety and dignity of the residents.”
Catastrophic accidents
Mrs Shaw was walking home one evening when she was knocked down by a car as she crossed the street. She hit her head on the pavement and sustained a severe brain injury. She was in hospital for many months. After a long rehabilitation, she was left with weakness in her right arm and leg and speech and memory problems. Mrs Shaw had previously worked in a busy hospital but was unable to return to her job. First Personal Injury took on her accident claim case and secured her interim payments before she was awarded over £1,000,000 in compensation.
Industrial accident or disease
Mr Baines, aged 36 sustained a severe crush fracture to his left foot as a result of an industrial accident. At the time of the accident Mr Baines was working in a steel factory assisting a crane operator moving long sheets of steel. Mr Baines and a colleague placed the sheets of steel on a machine and as the machine started to lift the steel, the steel titled up at an angle, and fell on Mr Baines, trapping his foot. Mr Baines remained in Hospital for four and a half weeks and his foot was immobilised in a below-knee plaster, for approximately 4 months. He was off work for a period of 8 months, when he returned on lighter duties, and eventually resumed to full time employment 4 months later. The Claimant was left with limitation in his left ankle and foot, his range of movement was restricted by 30%. It was envisaged that he would experience considerable pain and discomfort for at least 3 years after his accident. He was unable to return to vigorous sporting activities such as football and running. Mr Baines was awarded the sum of twenty five thousand pounds in settlement of his claim.
Road traffic accidents
Twenty year old John Bentley was driving along a main road when a police car pulled out of a bus lane in front of him and crashed into his vehicle. John's car was a write-off and John suffered whiplash injuries to his neck, shoulders and lower back. He was unable to do his job as a sales assistant and was off work for five weeks. The First Personal Injury team were able to help and pursued his claim for accident compensation. John was provided with a hire car at no cost and was awarded the full pre-accident value of his vehicle as well as £2,700 in compensation.
Slips, trips and falls
Mrs Dennis, aged 36, popped into a local fast food outlet to pick up a snack. She was unaware that some liquid had been spilled on the floor. She slipped on the spillage and sustained injuries to the ligaments in her left shoulder and arm. The discomfort from these injuries lasted for nine weeks. First Personal Injury helped Mrs Dennis win the compensation she was entitled to and she was awarded £1,500.
Whiplash accidents
Matthew, aged 12, was travelling in the rear passenger seat of his parent's car. His father was driving. Their vehicle was stationary at a junction when another vehicle ran into the back of it. Matthew sustained a whiplash injury to his back. His parents asked First Personal Injury to make a claim. The team was able to win Matthew £1,500 in compensation.
Work related accidents
Kevin Draper, aged 39, was at work when he had his accident. He was loading glass off the back of his lorry when he tripped on a warped floorboard sticking up inside the vehicle. He hurt himself on the glass sustaining soft tissue injuries to his neck and arm. His movement was restricted and he was off work for a long period of time. The team at First Personal Injury took on Mr Draper's accident claim case and won him nearly £30,000 in compensation.