One of our clients (aged 26) was involved in an accident at work during October 2008. At the time, he was employed by Laing O’Rourke’s, working on a construction site in Berkshire. At one point, he was working alongside a hedgerow, operating a remote-controlled compaction vehicle. As he did so, a heavily laden bucket of an excavator suddenly slewed through the hedgerow, striking him on his back and throwing him approximately 6ft from his original position. The excavator was being driven by an employee of Options Utility Services Limited. Our client sustained soft tissue injuries to his back and, even now, continues to experience mild back and shoulder pain. He tries to avoid any heavy physical work.
Unfortunately, and notwithstanding the circumstances of his accident, the insurers of both companies denied liability, and proceedings had to be issued on behalf of our client at Swindon County Court. Once proceedings had been served, inexplicably there was still an argument on liability (the Defendants maintained that our client had contributed to his accident) but they also disputed causation i.e. they were not convinced that his continuing ongoing symptoms were all attributable to his accident. Shortly before this matter was listed for trial, the parties were able to agree upon a settlement figure for our client.
S. J. Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £55,000 for this client in 2013