Compensation secured for an employee mechanic following serious head injury

We successfully recovered substantial damages for an employee mechanic who sustained a serious head injury following an accident at work.

Our client had been asked by his employer to help move substantial heavy metal hydraulic work equipment to new garage premises. He was not given any instructions, personal protective equipment or any other adequate information in relation to this task.

Large pieces of equipment used within the employer’s garage were dismantled and transferred unsecured onto the back of a trailer by using a forklift truck as a makeshift vehicle which was then to be driven to the new premises.

In the course of moving one of these pieces of equipment, an unsecured hydraulic arm swung down and hit our client heavily on the back of his head. He was immediately knocked unconscious and subsequently had two seizures while on the ground.

An ambulance was called and our client was immediately transferred to hospital where he continued to suffer from further seizures. He sustained a head injury, concussion with vestibular impairment and resulting mobility/balance difficulties. He also reported neurological difficulties and had his driving licence revoked for 12 months.

Our specialist personal injury team investigated and pursued a civil claim against our client’s employer for breaching its duty of care towards him, causing his injuries.

Liability was formally admitted, subject to causation, shortly after the claim commenced. A co-operative approach was taken by the defendant’s representatives. Expert evidence in the fields of neurology and neuropsychology was obtained.

Following receipt of the expert evidence and further investigations, the settlement negotiations resulted in the parties managing to reach a settlement that reflected the seriousness of our client’s injuries and their impact on his daily life.

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