Fabricator popped into our Glasgow office “on the off-chance” – then got £10,000 for his workplace injury claim

For more than 40 years Brian Martin worked hard without ever imagining he would need the help of a solicitor.

But after a major accident at work the 63-year-old from Glasgow was unable to work for months.

Brian, who worked as a burner and fabricator, was helping to move a one-and-a-half tonne steel plate when it fell from the crane straps and caused damage to his spine in multiple places. 

Recalling the terrifying incident, the grandfather said: “At the moment it fell I managed to jump quickly to the side.

“If I didn’t do that then I genuinely think I would have been cut in half.”

Brian was treated at New Victoria Hospital where scans confirmed three wedge fractures to his vertebrae.

His injuries left him bed bound for a long period of time. 

He couldn’t work, do his hobbies or even spend time with his wife and grandchildren.

When Brian did eventually get back to work he found he no longer had the physical mobility he used to and couldn’t quite perform the same tasks. 

He added: “I could barely move at first. I was just laid up in bed for the first month or so.

“I’ve worked all my life and just being laid up for that length of time was driving me crazy.

“When it’s forced upon you, it’s completely different.

“Going back to work was quite hard to start with.

“Seeing bits of metal getting moved about and the cranes going round about you was quite daunting.

“You get a wee bit more wary of what’s going on around you.”

Brian was initially reluctant to pursue a workplace accident claim but encouragement from his wife and colleagues who also previously used Digby Brown convinced him to seek advice.

In early 2025 he happened to be passing the firm’s Glasgow office on West Regent Street in the city centre and decided to just pop in and see if there was someone he could speak to.

There he met solicitor, Christopher King, who immediately spoke to Brian about what happened and walked him through the process, his options and the likely next steps. 

Brian said: “I like to do things face to face rather than on a computer or over the phone so thought I’d pop into the office on the off-chance seen as I was there - and when I met Christopher he made me feel at ease straight away.

“He explained everything to me, what the process would be, how long it could take and what to expect.

“He kept me up to date with everything all the time. It was phone calls and emails.

“He made the whole process easy for me to deal with.”

Christopher investigated the circumstances of the accident and gathered medical evidence detailing the extent of Brian’s injuries and the impact they had on his daily life.

An initial offer of £6,000 was made by the insurers for his employer but Christopher successfully negotiated a settlement of £10,000 - almost double the original amount.

For Brian, the outcome represented more than financial compensation.

He said: “It’s more the principle of the thing rather than any kind of monetary value.

“I’m happy with the outcome and I don’t know why I was hesitant in the first place.”