Martin's story

A railway worker, who suffered multiple injuries after he was injured on a railway line, has secured £21,500 compensation with the support of his union lawyers.

RMT union member Martin, a 58-year-old railway shunter from Southend, Essex, dislocated his shoulder and fractured his femur when he fell while working in April 2021. The accident was caused by a trip hazard that wasn’t signposted until after the accident.

The injury forced the RMT member off work for nine and half months.

He instructed national law firm Thompsons Solicitors through the RMT legal assistance scheme, to launch a claim for compensation. After a thorough investigation, Hanson UK – a supplier of construction material for the railway industry - accepted liability for the incident.

Following detailed negotiations with the defendant’s insurers, Thompsons was able to secure a satisfactory settlement without the need for court proceedings.

Upon his return to work, his company – Freightliner – placed him on light duties. After undergoing a course of orthopaedic and neurological assessments and rehabilitation, he has now made a full recovery.

Martin said: “It was really tough at the beginning, when I didn’t know how long I was going to be out of action.

“You worry about money and how you’re going to pay the mortgage, but luckily my rehab went well, and I wasn’t off work for too long without full pay. It’s also pleasing that I can once again go on long walks, which I loved doing before the accident.

“I’ve been given fantastic support by Thompsons and my union, the RMT. My solicitor, Matthew, kept me in the loop with legal proceedings and explained everything simply and clearly.

“I’m delighted with the outcome of my claim. Having financial security allows me to move on with my life.”

The solicitor who represented who represented Martin, said: “While it's not possible to fully compensate for the physical and emotional distress our client endured as a result of this incident, we are pleased that we were able to secure a satisfactory outcome.

“Working in partnership with the RMT, our case was strengthened by the evidence of medical experts. The settlement figure compensated Martin for his shoulder and leg injuries and his loss of earnings.

“We hope this settlement can provide some closure and we wish him well in his future endeavours.”

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