Thursday, April 04, 2013

4x initial offer achieved in West of Scotland Industrial Disease case

We represented a man who had developed Vibration White Finger,  a condition affecting the nerves and blood vessels supplying the fingers, through prolonged use of stihl saws and other equipment. His use of this equipment at work was often well in excess of the amount of time generally considered safe.

Our client continued to work after his diagnosis, even though he did not receive any assistance or changes to his working conditions.  With his employers unwilling to take responsibility or clarify his employment position or entitlements, Digby Brown raised proceedings in the Court of Session to progress the case.

A settlement of £40,000 was achieved, four times an initial offer of £10,000 made by insurers on behalf clients’ employers.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Accident at work aboard tanker vehicle in Lanarkshire

As part of his duties at work, Mr X was required to transport waste material in a tanker vehicle to a landfill site in Lanarkshire.  Mr X was required to clean the inside of the tanker. The only way to do this was to climb over the back of the tanker and then climb inside it

While trying to clean out a tanker in September 2011, Mr X slipped and landed on a sharp metal handle attached to a valve on the tanker. The handle penetrated his scrotum. Mr X was taken to hospital in an ambulance and received stitches.   Following the accident, Mr X experienced difficulty driving as the vibrations from a vehicle caused him pain and discomfort.

His employers repeatedly ignored Mr X's request for compensation. Thankfully, because of the help he received from Digby Brown, Mr X was able to obtain £1,500 in compensation, with his case concluding in August 2012.

Industrial accident in East Lothian

Mr N was working for a firm manufacturing aircraft parts in East Lothian in July 2011 when he was struck in the face by a metal rod he was using. The rod burst through the guard of the drill he was using to protect his face.  Mr N had been told to use a makeshift tool as the original drill he was supposed to use for the job was broken.

Mr N suffered from painful swelling and bruising to the right side of his jaw, which required him to take anti-inflammatory medication for two weeks.  A dental bridge over his upper incisor also fell out and had to be replaced at Mr N’s expense. He was also advised he may require further dental treatment in the future.

His employers denied liability for the accident and said the accident was Mr N’s fault. With the help of the specialist advice he received from Digby Brown, Mr N sued his employers and the case settled outside of court for £2,500 in August 2012.