Injured driver, unable to work again, gets £70,000
Leeds, England – A lorry driver received a £70,000 settlement for injuries suffered when a textile bale fell on him while he was securing the container doors during a delivery.
The driver, a member of Unite the Union, waited while the consignee opened the sealed container, and used a chain to fasten the right hand door in place. While walking around the rear of the container to fasten the left hand door, a textile bale fell out, knocking him to the ground and damaging his right knee and ending his driving career.
The driver alleged that employers Newell and Wright had given him no training in their safety procedures. \”There was no driver assessment, no induction. Basically all they showed me to do was how to stretch a trailer,\” said the driver. He had discovered some company practices, such as never entering a container, from casual conversations with the other drivers.
Jason London of Morrish Solicitors, representing the driver, today said \”Newell & Wright contested this claim all the way through, and they settled while denying liability. My client is a genuinely nice bloke who worked for over 40 years with barely a day off. This accident forced him to lose the last 3 years of his working life and he and his wife had to get by on benefits and the savings he\’d put aside for his retirement. The accident could have so easily been prevented. With this successful outcome, my client and his wife have a war chest for a well earned retirement.\”
The driver had been a member of Unite since 1998, and praised the Union\’s support of his injury claim. \”Unite did well by me, helping me find a solicitor and getting this result. I\’d advise other drivers to be in a Union. I must say Jason London was brilliant.\”
Tas Sangha, Unite Regional Coordinating officer says \”This is an excellent example where Unite has supported a member who was poorly treated by a company who cut corners and failed to provide a safe work environment by not implementing correct training in health & safety procedures, which employees could reasonably expect. Without the support of Unite and the sheer professionalism of Morrish Solicitors in Leeds, this member would not have received the financial payout he deserved and may otherwise have had a miserable retirement.\”
Ends.
For further information, please contact Vanessa Charters on 07595564764.
