Our client had spent his lifetime working in the construction industry. He loved his work. Usually he worked a 10 hour day plus several hours on a Saturday. He specialised in the construction of high rise buildings.
On this particular day, he was working 27 storeys up assisting workmates to place aluminium panels into position for a concrete pour. With the wind increasing in intensity, he ordered most of his workmates to get down and take shelter on lower floors. Worried that the aluminium panels would be lifted from the building and cause injuries to people in the surrounding neighbourhood, he and a skeleton team attempted to secure the panels as best they could. Unfortunately one of the panels “took off” striking our client in the head. He suffered a very severe gash to his skull as well as severe facial injuries. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to Accident and Emergency at a nearby hospital.
He came under the care of a Neurosurgeon who operated placing three titanium plates in his skull to repair a very severely fractured skull. He remained in hospital for several days and was allowed home with strict orders for bedrest for several weeks. Because he had also suffered fractures to various facial bones, he needed several further operations with various specialists to repair these facial injuries.
The net result of these injuries has had a devastating effect on our client. He suffers constant headaches, he has severe scarring to his face and he has lost vision in one eye. He suffers from nightmares where he relives the accident. He is now hypervigilant, especially if there is any wind blowing. He has become withdrawn and has had to give up his gardening which he loved. Sometimes, because of the plates in his head, he becomes disorientated and is forced to lie down until these settle. He has stiffness and pain in his neck as the blow from the panel has caused a whiplash type injury. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, irritability and severe mood changes. He is now fearful of entering a building site. Fortunately, he has a loving supportive partner who cares for him. Realising that this accident now permanently prevents him from working, he turned to the experts in workers compensation, work injury damages and negligence claims here at Taylor & Scott Compensation Lawyers.
HOW TAYLOR & SCOTT COMPENSATION NEGLIGENCE LAWYERS HELPED
Initially, our client met with Ray McClenahan, the Managing Partner at Taylor & Scott. Ray is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury and an acknowledged leader in his field of workers compensation. Ray conducted a face to face case assessment with his client. He took great care to get a complete understanding of the causes of the accident, the injuries suffered and the long term effects of the accident on both his client’s working life as well as how they have impacted on his social and domestic lives. Ray proceeded to obtain all medical information and once it was confirmed that all injuries had stabilised and that there was no likelihood of any improvement, Ray proceeded to have his client assessed for his whole person impairment. With the assessment to hand, Ray was able to secure a lump sum payment for his client. Ray also confirmed that his client continued to receive the correct workers compensation payments and ensured that all his medical treatment needs were being met by the insurance company.
Having achieved and ensured that his workers compensation rights were in order and noting that the whole person impairment was greater than 15%, Ray introduced his client to his Partner, Simon Meigan. Simon is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury and acknowledged as one of NSW leading work injury damages and negligence lawyers. Simon met with his client. Having reviewed all the facts of the case, he advised that there was a clear case of negligence against the employer and various other contractors on the building site for not having implemented a strict code and practice in dealing with these panels in windy conditions.
Simon noted that wind was a factor on this site and on several previous occasions, there had been incidents where the wind had picked up panels and blown them around. The bosses had simply turned their backs on the safety of the workers and had just left them to try and deal with the issues as best they could. “A catastrophic accident was just waiting to happen”. Having laid out a roadmap to his client for bringing a work injury damages and negligence claim against those responsible for his client’s accident, Simon agreed to run the case on a no-win/no-pay basis, meaning that his client paid no costs whatsoever unless and until he was successful with his case.
LARGE SETTLEMENT ACHIEVED BY SIMON
We are pleased to report that Simon obtained a substantial settlement for his client, acknowledging that his client was lucky to be alive and has been left with serious physical and psychological injuries. Simon noted “This accident has had a devastating effect on my client. I am very pleased we were able to secure maximum compensation for him giving him the financial security he needs for the future”.
TAYLOR & SCOTT COMPENSATION LAWYERS OFFER TO YOU IN WORK ACCIDENTS
If you or someone you know suffers an injury at work which leaves you with permanent injuries and affects your ability to work, you are welcome to take advantage of Taylor & Scott’s free face to face case assessment (wherever you live in NSW). Our team of expert lawyers will advise you on your rights and lay out a roadmap for the conduct of your case. If we act for you, you will have the advantage of Taylor & Scott’s no-win/no-pay policy which means that Taylor & Scott will meet all the costs involved in your case and you will not pay any costs whatsoever to Taylor & Scott unless and until you win your case.
Please contact Taylor & Scott by phoning 1800 600 664 or email us at info@tayscott.com.au
No matter where you live in NSW, our team can help you. We will do everything we can to ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries and disabilities.
At Taylor & Scott, we care for you.
