Unite, Britain’s largest Union, has secured £9500.00 in compensation for a member who was injured in an accident at work. Mr Roger Loughran, aged 37 from London, brought his claim after being knocked unconscious at work by a colleague. His claim was handled by specialist personal injury solicitors, Pattinson & Brewer.
Mr Loughran was employed as a sweeper/driver by Onyx. He was loading bread crates, which were left on a pavement, on to an open caged lorry, which was parked along Kingsway, Holborn, London, WC1. Suddenly and without warning, he was hit in the face by a crate thrown by his work colleague. He was knocked unconscious and fell to the ground and was immediately taken to University College Hospital for treatment.
Mr Loughran explains:-
“There was blood everywhere. My colleague took me to hospital, despite being told by my employers not to do so. My teeth had been pushed back into my throat. The accident happened just before Christmas and I had to eat through a straw for a month and to wear a brace for some weeks. I was worried sick as I was advised that I would lose all of my teeth and have to wear false teeth. In the end I lost two teeth only. I was in extreme pain for some considerable time and had very many appointments with my dentist”.
Representing Mr Loughran, Deborah Smith from Pattinson & Brewer Solicitors explains:-
“This was a very nasty accident which ultimately could have been much worse. It is a pity that the Defendant chose to dispute this case and settle the claim a matter of weeks before a trial was due to be heard. The company throughout maintained that Mr Loughran was partly to blame for this accident and that argument is very difficult to understand”
Peter Denman from Unite the Union said:-
“Unite is pleased that our member has received the compensation that he so justly deserved. This case confirms that we are prepared to take and support legal action to protect our member’s health & safety at work”.
