Carrs Solicitors have recently settled a claim on behalf of Mr G a warehouse supervisor from Kent who was injured whilst attempting to de-stack a pallet when he was struck by a falling sink unit that had recently been offloaded from a shipping container.
Our client sustained head and neck injuries as a result of the accident requiring hospital treatment and time off work.
The employer knew that there had been a history of the supplier in China overloading the pallets and had denied liability saying that the employee was at fault for not making use of aircraft ladders to check whether there was anything loose on top of the pallet.
Our client initially consulted another law firm who obtained counsel’s advice against proceeding with the claim.
We advised the client that we disagreed with that advice because it had been open to the employer to work in a way that ensured that all loose items were identified and removed as part of the container offloading process.
As with all of Health and Safety Legislation the measures stipulated are in a hierarchy in which the elimination of risk at source takes precedence over precautionary measures required by the individual worker.
The Work at Height Regulations require employers to take suitable and sufficient steps to avoid so far as is reasonably practicable the fall of any material or object and capable of causing injury and to ensure that work is not carried out at height when it is reasonably practicable to carry out the work safely otherwise than at height.
In Mr G’s case the insurer’s declined to negotiate and court proceedings were served. The defendant’s legal representatives became involved and made an offer a short time before the case was due to go to trial and we were able to secure a satisfactory settlement for our client.
If you have been injured in an accident at work, get in touch with the specialists work accident solicitors at Carrs to make a compensation claim. Call 01204 496898 today or fill our online contact form.
At Carrs Solicitors, you will always have a senior solicitor who will personally handle every aspect of your personal injury claim and who will always be available to answer your questions. We are ready to listen and to offer free impartial advice in strict confidence.
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