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A lorry loader from Oxfordshire, who was left with tendon and ligament damage after an accident at work, has been compensated for his injuries thanks to support from his target="_blank" title="Our Work with Trade Unions">trade union, the GMB.
The Bidvest Logistics employee was loading the back of a lorry when a colleague driving a powered pallet truck (PPT) crashed into him and trapped his left foot.
He suffered tendon and ligament damage
The claimant was left with damage to his foot and heel and was unable to work for four weeks. He contacted his union, the GMB, who instructed personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors to investigate his case.
He said: “I was very grateful for the legal expertise I received as part of my GMB membership. Everyone involved in the accident was very apologetic but when you’re off work for so long, an apology doesn’t get the bills paid and they soon mount up.
“My money worries combined with the pain I was in after the incident meant it was a very stressful time for me and my family.”
Employers have a duty to enforce safety standards
Joe Morgan, Regional Secretary of GMB Birmingham and West Midlands, said: “Employers have a duty, not just to set safety standards but to enforce them. Here the employer failed and they have taken responsibility.
“GMB membership ensures that employers whose safety standards fail are brought to account and members don’t lose out.”
Amie Jeffcott, the Thompson’s solicitor who represented the claimant said: “Our client was known to be a committed employee who was injured through no fault of his own. The practical consequences of his injury were pain and financial loss and our job was to get him proper compensation for that.”