Accident at Work Case Study: David's Story

David was a HGV driver. He was parked in a depot, checking the back of his trailer ensuring that the load was secure.

On exiting the trailer, he was not able to use the fold away steps as they were faulty and unsafe, so he put his hand down on the edge of the trailer, sat on the edge and lowered himself down to the ground (a distance of around a foot and a half). The area was poorly lit, and the ground was uneven. His right leg went from under him, causing him to land on the floor with his right leg sticking out at a 90 degree angle in the wrong direction.

As a result of the accident, David sustained an injury to his lower right knee and leg, which included torn ligaments, cartilage damage and chipped bone. He required an operation to insert pins into his knee, and extensive physiotherapy.

The case was disputed by the other side, but a settlement was agreed in which David was awarded £40,000.

David said: “I was very happy with the result – I would recommend you to anyone. I am delighted with the amount of money I received – it is a real reassurance for the future.”

David’s solicitor, Paul Morpeth of Winn Solicitors said: “We are delighted that David has received a significant amount of compensation, which will allow him to move on from this traumatic injury. However, this accident could have been avoided altogether if the correct health and safety procedures had been put in place.”

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