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News Desk | News Story
19th October 2009
Delivery driver receives £22,000 for back injury
Injured in accident at work
A delivery driver who was forced to leave his job after injuring his spine at work fears he will never find alternative employment.Unite member John Atkin, 49, from Sunderland, has received £22,000 in compensation following the accident while working for Johnston Press.
John was off work for eight months before being forced to leave the company. He is looking for alternative work but is limited in the type of job he can do.
He used to run a pottery business but can no longer return to that type of work.
He was delivering newspapers and leaflets in Northumberland when the accident happened in February 2007.
Badly loaded van
Whilst he was driving the load moved around blocking the side door with pallets of newspapers and leaflets. He went into the back of the van to sort the problem but the pallets hadn’t been loaded in delivery order meaning he had to move them around. The small space and awkward position meant he damaged his back.
He suffered injuries to his cervical spine which affects his upper back and right arm and shoulder. He has been warned to avoid lifting. John had pre-existing problems with his spine although this was not causing him to suffer any symptoms. The accident brought on the appearance of the symptoms by five to ten years.
Following the accident he contacted his union, Unite, which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors.
Employers admitted Liability
Thompsons was successful in settling the claim out of court after Johnston Press admitted liability.
John said: “The union had complained about the way the vans were packed for some time. When my accident happened I decided to claim compensation because I thought it might make my employer sit up and take notice of our complaints.
“I understand that the problem has now been solved. Unfortunately it’s too late for me.”
Davey Hall regional secretary at Unite added: “Mr Atkin is now looking for alternative work in what is a difficult climate for job hunters, particularly for those who are limited in the type of work they can undertake. Hopefully this compensation will give him some breathing space until he is able to find appropriate work.”
Nicola Waugh from Thompsons Solicitors added: “This injury could have been avoided had Johnston Press had a system in place to make sure loads were secure to stop them moving around in transit.
“Mr Atkin’s damages reflect the loss of earnings he suffered while off work and also includes an element of continued loss of earnings in the future until he is able to find a new job.”
Compensation Claim Advice
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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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