Bank Worker Wins £9,000 For Accident At Work

A 48 year old bank worker who fractured her ankle and injured her knee after falling down at work has won a work accident claim and been awarded £9,000 in compensation.

The woman, who is the main carer for her disabled son and elderly mother, injured her ankle and knee when she fell down a 'hazardous step' while carrying two heavy metal boxes from the bank's safe to the cashier's desk.

The accident occurred due to correct health and safety procedures being ignored, meaning that the step was not pointed out by a warning sign.

Without a sign and the heavy boxes in front of her, she was not aware that she was approaching the step and as a result she fell awkwardly, painfully twisting her ankle and landing heavily on her knee.

Having been a faithful employee of the bank for five years, she contacted the bank's union, UNITE, who put her in touch with a firm of injury lawyers.

The accident meant that she was off work for more than six months and had to hire outside help to provide care for her disabled son and elderly mother.

This meant that she incurred expenses as a result of the accident at the same time as missing out on much needed earnings.

Apart from losing out on money as a result of the accident, the victim went through a great deal of unnecessary pain and trauma, which could have been avoided had a simple warning sign been in place.

The compensation awarded takes into account the economic cost of the injury as well as the emotional and physical cost to the victim and her family.

Following the accident, the victim, who lives in Vange, has stopped working for the company. She says that she hopes her work accident claim will encourage the bank to stick to health and safety regulations more rigidly and hopefully prevent further accidents.

"This accident meant I had to get help to care for my elderly mum and my disabled son. I was unable to walk the dog or undertake my hobby, speed walking," said the woman.

"I felt aggrieved I had to spend six months off work when this accident could have been avoided easily. I wanted to make sure no-one else suffered the same fate."

A representative from her union said that they take any accident at work suffered by their members very seriously and are determined to minimise preventable accidents.

"Our member suffered a serious injury which could have easily been prevented had a simple warning sign been in place," said a spokesperson.

The victim's personal injury lawyer said that wherever an employer has been negligent in providing a safe working environment there are possible grounds for a claim.

"Under health and safety legislation, employers have a general duty of care, which includes addressing this type of hazard," said the solicitor.

Accidents such as this should not happen in the workplace and anyone who is the victim of an accident at workcould receive compensation for their pain and suffering while ensuring that the business improves health and safety for other employees.

The victim's solicitor urged anyone who has had an accident at work to look into claiming rather than letting the negligent employer get away with operating a business without following the correct safety procedures.