Call back for new
personal injury claims only
Leave your details to request a call back.
You are in: Home Page |
News Desk | News Story
27th September 2010
Beer delivery man wins compensation for crushed finger
Finger Crushed in Accident at Work
A beer delivery man from South Shields has received £3500 compensation from his employer after his finger was crushed and left deformed in an easily preventable work accident.Paul Anderson, 42, sustained the injury in May 2008 while attempting to unload a delivery of beer kegs at a pub in Newcastle for his employer, Tradeteam Ltd.
His delivery wagon had been overloaded with stock and there was not enough space between the kegs to allow access to remove them from the wagon safely.
The kegs were stored on the wagon using locator boards, however some of these were incorrect as they were not suitable for use on delivery wagons.
This meant he had to struggle to remove the kegs from the locator boards. As Mr Anderson pulled on one keg that refused to budge, it popped into the air without warning and threw him off balance. The keg then landed on his finger, crushing it under its 50 kilogram weight.
Injury resulted in eight weeks off work
The crush injury forced Mr Anderson to take eight weeks off work on reduced pay and rely on his family for personal and domestic care.
His finger is now permanently deformed and in cold weather and in the evenings after work he is often left with a sharp stinging pain. The general discomfort has also forced him to restrict his active outdoor lifestyle.
“Prior to the accident I used to do a lot of shooting and fishing,” he says, “but I just don’t have the same grip after the accident. The loss of grip and discomfort means I can’t cast a line or feel confident using a gun.”
Backed by his union, the GMB, Mr Anderson took a claim against his employer through personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors.
Thompsons argued that Tradeteam Ltd had failed in its duty to ensure that the warehouse operatives who loaded the wagon did so correctly, including making sure there was sufficient working space and that the correct locator boards were in place.
The company also failed to allocate sufficient time for staff to perform their morning checks before leaving the depot in the mornings.
This accident should never have happened
David Burn from Thompsons Solicitors said: “We’re pleased to have secured Paul the compensation he deserves, but the fact is this accident should never have happened. If Tradeteam had ensured its wagons were loaded with safe levels of stock as well as suitable locator boards then Paul would still have the full use of his finger today.”
GMB Northern Regional Organiser Val Scott added: “This should be a warning to employers who have a duty of care to their workforce. Without proper GMB trade union representation, hard workers like Mr. Anderson would be left to fend for themselves. I hope this settlement gives Mr. Anderson some comfort to deal with a trauma that should never have happened”.
Paul Anderson continues to work as a delivery driver for Tradeteam Ltd.
Compensation Claim Advice
If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury, illness or disease at work due to dangerous practices or dangerous procedures, 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.
Contact us about your accident or injury
Call us for free on 08000 224 224 Call us from your mobile on 0330 123 123 0 (charged at local number and free when covered by inclusive minutes) Request a call back Text CLAIM to 82010 (standard network rates apply)
