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News Desk | News Story
1st April 2010
Scaffolder receives compensation after traumatic accident
Lost his leg in a horrific workplace accident
A Unite member has received a substantial sum in compensation after he lost his leg in a horrific workplace accident.
Terry Ledger, 43, from Grays in Essex was dismantling scaffolding at Coryton Oil Refinery in Essex when he fell through wire caging and his left leg became caught in the moving blade of an industrial fan.
The caging, used to protect the fan, had been damaged in an earlier accident but had only been repaired using a piece of string. Mr Ledger hadn’t been warned about the danger.
Amputated below the knee
Mr Ledger’s leg was so badly injured it was amputated below the knee and he now uses a prosthetic limb.
After a fight lasting almost five years his employers, Vange Scaffolding and Engineering, agreed to pay the compensation.
The company had already been fined £20,000 by the Health and Safety Executive for health and safety breaches relating to the incident.
Pursue a claim for compensation
Following the accident Mr Ledger needed two operations and extensive physiotherapy. He also suffered post traumatic stress disorder including nightmares and flashbacks for which he underwent significant counselling to help him come to terms with his injuries.
He still suffers from phantom pains and has to take a cocktail of medication every day. He has been unable to return to work and will certainly never work as a scaffolder again.
Following the accident he contacted his union, Unite, which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.
Thompsons argued that Vange Scaffolding and Engineering should have recognised the danger posed by the moving fan.
Mr Ledger said: “I feel a great deal of anger towards my employers for allowing this accident to happen. It has left me struggling to deal with the physical and mental consequences of the loss of my leg.
“This compensation will help to pay for my prosthetic limbs which I had to have privately made. It also goes some way towards making up for the wage loss I will suffer for the rest of my life as I will never be able to earn a living as a scaffolder again.”
Guy Langston, regional officer at Unite said: “Vange Scaffolding and Engineering was prosecuted as a result of Mr Ledger’s accident and fined £20,000. However, whilst they have lost money our client has lost his livelihood and lives daily with the consequences of an entirely foreseeable and entirely preventable accident. The safety standards on site were lamentable.”
Trevor Sterling from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Mr Ledger suffered a traumatic and life changing injury, one that could have been avoided had the employers taken more care. Had it not been for the accident our client had another 20 years scaffolding ahead of him.”
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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