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27th May 2010
Driver left with permanent eye damage receives compensation
Accident at Work
A driver has received £13,000 in compensation after he suffered permanent damage to his eye in a workplace accident.The 57-year-old from Redcar needed surgery to correct a detached retina and then another operation to remove a cataract after he was hit in the eye while working for Coast and Country Housing Limited.
He was clearing out an empty property and had loaded a stainless steel bath onto the back of his lorry. As he attempted to cover the load with a net, the net caught on a loose bath leg, swung round and hit him in the eye.
No safety goggles provided
The GMB member was wearing prescription plastic glasses but the company failed to provide safety goggles.
The net hit his left eye and he suffered a detached retina which needed surgery. He later developed a cataract and needed a second operation a year later to correct it. He now has to wear a special lens in his eye.
Following the accident he contacted the GMB which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.
Thompsons argued that Coast and Country Housing had provide the wrong type of netting to secure the load and should have provided the correct safety goggles.
The firm did not admit liability but settled the claim out of court.
Safety goggles are a must-have item in a wide range of industries
The GMB member said: “I had asked for glass prescription safety goggles on a number of occasions because in my line of work I feared I ran the risk of serious injury but they were never provided. If I hadn’t been wearing the plastic glasses I could have been blinded. Having gone through two eye operations I know just how scary it is to lose your sight. I was lucky that when I did I knew it was only temporary.”
Tom Brennan, GMB regional secretary, said: “Safety goggles are a must-have item in a wide range of industries. However there are several types of goggles on the market and it is up to the employer to ensure that the type used is suited to the tasks being undertaken.”
Diane Davison from Thompsons Solicitors added: “The employers should have provided safety goggles that protected his eyes from all angels whilst enabling him to see clearly. With the correct equipment the long term sign problems he now has could easily have been avoided.”
Make a claim for Personal Injury Compensation
If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury, illness or disease at work which has been caused or made worse by a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 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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