We recently helped a client recover £5,500 in compensation after he was injured by a reversing forklift truck while visiting a builders’ merchant as part of his job.
Although the accident happened during working hours, this was not an accident at work claim. Instead, it was a public liability claim because the accident happened on another company’s premises.
What Happened?
Our client, a 53-year-old man from Nottingham, visited a builders’ merchant to collect materials needed for work.
While walking through the designated customer area, a forklift truck reversed into him, trapping his left foot and ankle beneath the vehicle. The impact pulled off his trainer and left him with painful injuries.
Following the accident, he contacted our team for advice about making a compensation claim.
What Is a Public Liability Claim?
Many people assume that if they’re injured while working, they must claim against their employer. That isn’t always the case.
A public liability claim can be made when someone is injured because a business, landowner or organisation has failed to keep its premises reasonably safe for visitors.
In this case, the builders’ merchant was responsible for ensuring customers could move around the yard safely. Following our investigations, their insurers accepted that the accident had been caused by failures on the premises and admitted liability.
The Injuries
To support the claim, we arranged for our client to be examined by an independent Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.
The medical evidence confirmed that he had suffered:
- A fractured left big toe
- Soft tissue injuries to his left foot and ankle
- Ongoing pain and reduced flexibility
Although he was able to return to work after around a week, he continued to experience discomfort during more physically demanding activities.
How We Helped
We guided our client through the claims process from start to finish, explaining everything in straightforward language and obtaining the medical evidence needed to support his case.
As he had not lost any earnings or incurred significant financial expenses, we focused on ensuring the compensation reflected the pain, discomfort and impact the injuries had on his everyday life.
The Outcome
After negotiating with the builders’ merchant’s insurers, we successfully secured £5,500 in compensation for our client.
The settlement recognised the injuries he sustained and the ongoing symptoms he experienced following the accident.
Thinking About Making a Public Liability Claim?
If you’ve been injured because a business or organisation failed to keep its premises safe, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
At What’s My Claim Worth, we help people who have been injured in shops, supermarkets, restaurants, car parks, builders’ merchants and other public places understand their legal rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.
If you’d like to find out whether you could make a public liability claim, contact our friendly team today on 01244 604 590 or email info@whatsmyclaimworth.co.uk for a free, no-obligation chat.