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News Desk | News Story
13th January 2010
Broken ankle leads to life threatening condition
Accident at Work
A driver who faces the risk of developing a life-threatening blood clot has received £20,000 in provisional damages after a workplace accident.The GMB member from Kent has to take medication for the rest of his life to avoid a potentially fatal clot from occurring after he developed Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) when he broke his ankle at work.
He has already suffered three blood clots and has been told a further episode could mean he will be unable to work - or may even cause his death.
Stepped onto uneven manhole cover
The 53-year-old broke his ankle when he stepped down from a van onto an uneven manhole cover while working at West London Waste Authority’s depot in August 2004.
He worked as a driver for the waste authority for more than 11 years.
Following the accident his leg was put in plaster and four weeks later he was diagnosed with DVT and had to undergo daily injections to prevent the risk of clots. He was off work for three months.
Blood clots resulted from accident
Two years after the accident he suffered from three blood clots just months apart and was put on blood-thinning tablets which he must take every day. His condition meant he had to go on long term sick leave and eventually had to resign because he could no longer drive.
He now works as a painter for another company in Kent.
After he was told by his consultant that the blood clots resulted from his accident, he contacted his union which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.
Thompsons Solicitors recovered compensation
Thompsons was able to secure provisional damages which will allow the member to claim further compensation if his condition worsens.
The member said: “I am concerned about the serious risks DVT poses to my health and quality of life. I am always worrying about a repeat incident.
“I’ve had to adapt my life because I cannot sit still for long periods of time and I am unable to go on long haul flights. It has meant that I have not been able to visit my brother who lives in America. I’ve also had to accept that I will never be able to be a driver again.”
Richard Ascough from the GMB said: “This member must live with a serious health condition for the rest of his life all because his employer failed to maintain and inspect its forecourt. This case highlights how the most straightforward accident can have long term consequences.”
Anita Rattan from Thompsons Solicitors said: “Our client must live with the threat of another potentially fatal blood clot for the rest of his life. By securing provisional damages we have ensured that he will be able to claim further compensation if his condition worsens.”
Compensation Claim Advice
If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury at work, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any personal injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
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