Elizabeth Duncan has recently concluded a claim for a glazier who was injured in a fall from a ladder at work
Elizabeth’s client, who we will call Mr K, was employed by a glass company that was working under contract for a site manager on the restoration of a large residential property.
On the day of the accident Mr K was sent to work on the site to finish some cosmetic work on a large window in the apex of the roof above a galleried landing. The landing was incomplete and there was as yet no handrail around the gallery. New expensive wooden flooring had been installed and therefore the site manager placed a large sheet of plywood on top of it to protect it from any damage caused by Mr K’s ladder.
Unfortunately this protective covering was placed in such a way that it obscured the void down to ground level. As Mr K was working the protective covering collapsed under his weight and he fell through to the floor below.
Mercifully Mr K lived to tell the tale but he suffered a fractured heel as well as soft tissue injuries to other parts of his body. He had to have his foot immobilised in a plaster cast and then had to use a walking boot. He needed time off work and then on his eventual return was unable to work his full hours. Although he made a good recovery he continued to suffer pain and swelling after a day on his feet.
Mr K contacted us to see if we could help him obtain compensation for his lost earnings, as well as damages for the injury he had suffered in the fall from a ladder at work.
We specialise in work injury claims and after considering what had happened along with the Regulations on working at height, we agreed to take the case on and to work on a No Win – No Fee basis.
Formal notification of the accident claim was duly sent to both Mr K’s employer and the main site contractor. They could not agree between themselves who was to blame and also both tried to argue that Mr K himself was responsible for his accident. We therefore issued court proceedings against both companies.
The two defendants remained very stubborn and the case was listed for trial. Fortunately this seemed to bring them to their senses and they agreed to share responsibility for the claim between them, each covering 50% of the compensation Mr K was awarded.
If you have been injured in a fall from a ladder at work then call 0333 888 0408 or send an email to us at info@sleeblackwell.co.uk
