dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
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Had an injury at work on saturday. Basically a 7 metre steel pole fell on my head (ouch) and suffered "substantial concussion". Havent felt right since been to hospital etc they said there are no signs of bleeding on the brain but have to go for a scan on Monday.
Does anyone know where i would stand regarding claiming compo?
Thanks
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Mad Moe
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Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
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Depends on how the accident occured, did the pole fall from scaffolding, dropped by worker?
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
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sorry no, work in a loading bay. The pole was leant up against i wall. I dont know what it was doing there or why it was there as no scaffolding work has been/is being carried out.
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
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aye moe, if it could have been prevented by health and safety standards at work then you might be able to claim compensation.
For exampleeeee my dad is an engineer and cut his hand at work because the gloves they had provided him with weren't thick enough to stop the metal from slicing through the glove.
Just worry about making sure you're ok first 
[Edited on 30-03-2004 by Ally]
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Ally
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Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
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quote:
Originally posted by dousey
sorry no, work in a loading bay. The pole was leant up against i wall. I dont know what it was doing there or why it was there as no scaffolding work has been/is being carried out.
did anyone witness it falling on you? you need to find out why is was there, a metal pole lent up against a wall doesnt sound very safe to me 
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MatthewR
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Registered: 21st Oct 02
Location: Rickmansworth
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Claim!!!
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Greg_M
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Registered: 2nd Sep 03
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
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you cna claim compo anyway, no matter what they provided, unless they gave you a hard hat and you didnt wear it. beware tho, if you sue, considder you job gone.
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
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Well it shouldnt have been there for a start. Told the health and safety officer at work and he didnt really give a shit and just said "they should have been thrown away".
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Mad Moe
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Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
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Certainly sounds like it has potential for a claim to me anlthough it would depend upon the extent of your injuries and absense from work.
[Edited on 30-03-2004 by Mad Moe]
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg12v
you cna claim compo anyway, no matter what they provided, unless they gave you a hard hat and you didnt wear it. beware tho, if you sue, considder you job gone.
Surely then i can do them for unfair dismissal? No hard hats as not the sort of job that requires them (normally!)
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Ally
quote:
Originally posted by dousey
sorry no, work in a loading bay. The pole was leant up against i wall. I dont know what it was doing there or why it was there as no scaffolding work has been/is being carried out.
did anyone witness it falling on you? you need to find out why is was there, a metal pole lent up against a wall doesnt sound very safe to me
One guy witnessed it. There were about 5 poles leant up against a wall, but only one hit me! Dont have a clue why it was there and i dont think anyone else does.
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MatthewR
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Registered: 21st Oct 02
Location: Rickmansworth
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have u been in an accident or fall at work? Then call claims direct, out team of proffessional solictors will offer a no win no fee claim 
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Mad Moe
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Registered: 14th Jun 01
Location: Northumberland
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They WILL look for any legimate excuse to get rid of you once you've made a claim against them, trust me!
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Greg_M
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Registered: 2nd Sep 03
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
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they will find an excuse mate trust me, seen it happen loads of times. they have an accident, and think oh goody some compo, and then wonder why they got the sack. would you employ someone that just sued you for x amount of thousands of pounds.
on the plus side you should be garanteed a fair few thousand. not sure how much, i know wip lash is usually around £1k
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
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Thanks for all the replies. I work at Marks and Spencer btw. Most of the senior management are fuckers. Dont give a shit about anyone except themselves.
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Greg_M
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Registered: 2nd Sep 03
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
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yeah, you have got a case mate, and a good one for that matter, and solicitors will take your claim, but...like i said you WILL loose your job after it.
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
User status: Offline
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To be honest the job aint up to much anyways. In fact monkey work. Do you think it would be better to go to a solicitors or one of these no win no fee organisations
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AdiSRI
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Registered: 1st May 02
Location: Berkshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg12v
you cna claim compo anyway, no matter what they provided, unless they gave you a hard hat and you didnt wear it. beware tho, if you sue, considder you job gone.
not always true, i know a m8 who sued and got a good whack of compensation and kept his job for ages after.
It deffo seems like you have a case, poles shud not be left leaning against a wall, and as long as you were following any given safety procedures u shud win easy.
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Greg_M
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Registered: 2nd Sep 03
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
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there are two side to the argument, the solicitors may get you a larger claim because of the reputation of the firm, rather than no win no fee orgainisations.
but they will charge, however the no win no fee may gain a slightly smaller claim, but they will not charge 1 - as much and 2 - if you go to the rite firm you will gain 100% of what you are awarded.
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg12v
there are two side to the argument, the solicitors may get you a larger claim because of the reputation of the firm, rather than no win no fee orgainisations.
but they will charge, however the no win no fee may gain a slightly smaller claim, but they will not charge 1 - as much and 2 - if you go to the rite firm you will gain 100% of what you are awarded.
If i get 100% of what is awarded, how do they make money?
Thanks
Chris
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wezjax
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Registered: 28th Mar 02
Location: mansfield,notts
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quote:
Originally posted by Greg12v
would you employ someone that just sued you for x amount of thousands of pounds.
that is why companies have insurance. their premium will go up a little if you are successful in your claim.
i am in the process of claiming against my employers, i went to a no win no fee place, they have a consultation with you then let you know wether they think you have a case for a claim or not. only alternative is through a union or pay yourself.
make sure the accident was recorded in the accident book aswell.
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wezjax
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Registered: 28th Mar 02
Location: mansfield,notts
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they have to pay you 100%. their cut comes from the works insurers.
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nickyboy01
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
Location: Oxford-ish
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You can claim but dont get ya hopes up about gettin a big payout, my brother got burnt with chemicals at a farm he worked on and after 3 years of courts etc he only got £2k and is scarred for life. If you do sue them then they'll contest it in court etc and you'll be cross examined blah blah, anything not to pay out.
If they offer you something out of court then take it.
My brother was offered £8k out of court but his solicitor reckoned it was good for £20k, after the 3 years he got £2k, gives the companys insurers to find more ways to get out of it.
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nickyboy01
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
Location: Oxford-ish
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quote:
Originally posted by wezjax
make sure the accident was recorded in the accident book aswell.
Thats a good point, if its not recorded then officially it didnt happen so you might be screwed in that respect.
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dousey
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Registered: 21st May 03
Location: Selsey, West Sussex
User status: Offline
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Dont worry - it's in 'the book'
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