Enfield man awarded £31,000 for ice slip at work
68 year-old Michael Ward from Enfield, Middlesex – who slipped on ice at his place of work – has been awarded £31,000 in damages by the High Court. Metroline of Harrow had denied liability.
He sustained injury in an accident at work which, according to his solicitor, Caroline Phelan of Pattinson and Brewer, was caused by the neglect of his employers. Metroline. failed to recognise the risks caused to their staff by the icy conditions prevailing at the time.
The Court recognised the need that employers have to ‘in so far as reasonably practicable’ keep traffic routes and pathways clear of obstacles that could cause someone to trip, slip or fall. This is not an absolute duty but in these times of ice and snow an employer must institute a system of gritting and inspecting the areas to ensure that they are safe.
Caroline Phelan added “I am also pursuing several other cases of injury caused to personnel from the same firm. I sincerely hope this case will serve as an example to employers, and help them understand that when accidents happen in the workplace, the consequences can be life changing, which is quite obviously unjust to the individuals concerned.”
In the accident – which happened on the 7th.January 2010 – Michael suffered injuries to his back and shoulder which now prevent him from standing or sitting down for more than 10 minutes at a time. He also has to take medication for pain relief, and has been told he will not be able to work again as a driver.
Michael said “I loved my job driving older people to the shops and taking kids to school but, as a result of the injuries I sustained, I have had to retire earlier than planned, which has caused me financial hardship.”
Mr.Ward has written letters to his MP, Nick Dubois, and the Justice Minister regarding the proposed changes in funding for accident claims. Because under the new scheme proposed it would not have been possible to take the case to court without incurring substantial costs.
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Editors Notes:
Pattinson & Brewer, “the claimant’s champion”, is a leading UK law firm with offices in London, Bristol and York. Since its foundation in 1891 the firm has established a proud reputation for winning compensation for ordinary working people and now acts on behalf of the public and union members in employment disputes, personal injury, accident and occupational disease actions. It also has a remarkable record in successfully handling complex medical negligence and catastrophic injury cases. All its partners are passionately committed to accessing justice and fairness for their individual clients.
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