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News Desk | News Story
27th November 2009
Injured electrician is forced to change career
Slipped and injured at work
An electrician who has been forced to change his career after he was left disabled following a workplace accident has received £50,000 in compensation.Paul Merrell, 50, from Wisbech in Cambridgeshire was forced to give up his 35-year-career after he slipped seriously damaging his arm while working for Premier Foods International.
Paul was fixing a machine in March 2006 and slipped on a clear residue which had accumulated underneath. He fell on his right wrist, suffering extensive nerve damage.
Paul attempted to work for several months but his condition became worse and he was diagnosed with “regional pain syndrome”. His condition means he only has limited use of his hand and can no longer work as an electrician because he is unable to grip tools.
Medically retired after accident at work
He was medically retired and will never be able to work at his trade again. He is now retraining to become a sports coach with expertise in strength and conditioning.
Paul was a sprinter and ran at high level. He is now coaching internationals in a variety of sports and has taught national medallists in athletics in recent months.
He said: “I’ve lost some use of my dominant right hand and as a result I’ve had to accept that I will never work in my trade again. At 50 I’ve had to completely rethink what I can do to earn a living and I’ve decided to focus on my coaching.
“I decided to claim compensation because I felt strongly that Premier Foods International should have had stricter health and safety procedures. The last few years since the accident have been a real struggle for me and my family. I’ve received counselling but I still feel very angry that my trade has been taken away from me in this way.”
Thompsons Solicitors made claim for compensation
Following the accident Paul contacted his union Unite which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for accident compensation.
Thompsons settled the claim out of court after Premier Foods International admitted liability.
Steve Hart from Unite said: “What looks on the face of it to be a simple slipping accident led our member to permanently change his career. Basic steps taken by the employer would have avoided this accident.”
Rachel Bayliss from Thompsons Solicitors said: “This fall has had a life-changing impact on Mr Merrell. Simple housekeeping and proper inspection would have been reasonable steps to take and would have ensured staff were safe.”
Compensation Claim Advice
If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury at work after slipping or tripping, 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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