We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
Unless we're lucky enough to have won the lottery or have inherited vast amounts of wealth, the chances are that at some point in our lives we have to go out and earn a living.
Most of us don't think twice about this and just get on with it. Going to work is just a fact of life and there's not much we can do to change that.
But if we go to work and our health and safety is then put in jeopardy because of an unscrupulous employer then things start to change a little. Being exposed to accidents at work is something you shouldn't have to put up; you're there to do a job and not get unnecessary personal injuries.
Susan's story
One Scottish lady who found herself in this situation was 43-year-old Susan from Glasgow. A mother of two teenage boys, she worked as a receptionist in an office just around the corner from Queen Street Station.
Her average day was spent answering phones, making cups of tea for her boss and doing any filing that was necessary. The office was only small and was slightly crowded with fifteen employees in a building that was probably meant for ten at the most. As a result, there were often bags strewn around the floor and boxes of files piled up precariously in corners.
One Monday morning she was sat at her desk working when her boss asked her to bring him and a client a pot of tea and some biscuits. She loaded up a tray and began to walk towards his desk, navigating her way around the coats that were hanging off the back of chairs and the various other obstacles in her path.
So busy was she trying not trip over the bags and boxes that she didn't see an internet cable that was snaking its way across the floor. Her foot got tangled in it and she was unable to keep her balance, falling forwards and instinctively dropping the tray as she put her hands out to stop herself.
Her head made contact with the corner of a desk with a sickening crack, the boiling hot tea spilt over her arms, face and chest and she landed awkwardly on her arm, snapping the bone clean in two.
The other office workers rushed to help her, an ambulance was called and one of colleagues wrapped her in a blanket as she seemed to be going into shock. The paramedics arrived within 15 minutes and Susan was taken to hospital where doctors stitched the head injury she had sustained, dressed her burns and operated on her badly broken arm.
She was kept in hospital for five days before being allowed home to her family. Such were the extent of her personal injuries that she was unable to return to work for nine weeks and so lost out on some much needed wages.
Luckily she had some savings that she could use to survive whilst not working but she felt it was unfair that she should have to delve into them when the accident at work hadn't really been her fault at all.
And so she decided to make a compensation claim against her employer and, typing 'accident claim Scotland' into Google, she came across YouClaim's site. Impressed by what she read, she gave us a ring and spoke to Corrine, one of our friendly claims handlers.
Susan was worried about the costs of pursuing personal injury compensation but Corrine reassured her that making a claim through YouClaim was completely cost-free at all times. She also explained how we wouldn't attempt to take a cut of her compensation and that she could keep everything she was awarded.
We spoke to a Glasgow-based solicitor who was a member of our panel of personal injury experts and he agreed to take on Susan's case. He also promised not to charge her a penny and, like all of the solicitors used by YouClaim, said she could keep 100% of her compensation.
The personal injury solicitor began the lawsuit against Susan's employer, holding him responsible for the accident because he had failed to ensure the workplace was safe. All that was required for Susan to do was to attend an appointment with an independent medical expert who assessed the extent of her injuries. The solicitor arranged all of this and all Susan needed to do was turn up at a convenient time.
Upon hearing about the personal injury claim against his company, Susan's employer decided not to oppose it and he admitted liability for her work accident. His insurance company made an offer of nearly £5,000 but her personal injury solicitor recommended that she refuse this and hold out for a better offer.
Her employer's insurers were desperate to avoid a potentially costly court case and so, less than a week later, came back to Susan with an offer of just over £10,000. This included money to cover her lost earnings, prescription charges she'd had to fork out as well as money to compensate her for the pain and trauma the injury had caused.
Susan's solicitor advised that this was a good offer and she decided to accept. A week or so later a cheque arrived on her doormat for the full amount and, true to their word, neither YouClaim nor the personal injury solicitor that we appointed had taken a single penny from her.
Soon after she received her compensation, she handed in her notice and was able to secure a better paid job as a receptionist with another Glasgow company. Her new employer is far more safety conscious and it's unlikely that she'll ever have to make another compensation claim because of a work accident caused by a careless boss.
We could help you make an accident claim
If you've been hurt in an accident that wasn't your fault, either at work or anywhere else, you could be in a position to make a personal injury compensation claim.
We're the personal injury experts and a fantastic success rate shows that we really are one of the best people to help you after a non-fault accident. Our no win, no fee service is completely cost-free and, just like Susan, you'll be able to keep 100% of any compensation that's awarded.
If you want to find out more or if you'd like to begin an accident claim today, pick up the phone and call us free on 0800 10 757 95.
