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28th September 2007

Hospital worker awarded damages after door collapses

Injured at Work

A hospital clerical officer who was injured by a large, heavy door that fell on top of her has been awarded damages of £5,350 following an incident at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Coity Road, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan. The claim was brought with the assistance of UNISON and Thompsons Solicitors in Cardiff.

On the 28th of March 2006, Miss Amy Whitcombe, 26, of Maesteg, was passing through the hospital when she walked through some large rubber doors. As she did so, one of the doors unhinged, knocked her to the floor and trapped her underneath. It was so heavy that she required the assistance of several hospital porters to remove it.

Knee and Back Injuries

As well as being severely shaken by the incident, Miss Whitcombe sustained injuries to her knee and back. She was off work for a short period and had to undergo physiotherapy for her injuries.

The manufacturer of the door, B & B Industrial Doors Limited in Cardiff, admitted liability for the accident and has subsequently compensated Miss Whitcombe.

Commenting, Eddie Gabrielsen, UNISON Regional Organiser said: “This incident just goes to show that anywhere in the workplace or a public building can be a hazard if jobs, such as fitting doors, aren’t carried out correctly.”

Kirstie Ellaway, Miss Whitcombe’s representative at Thompsons Solicitors in Cardiff, said: “It was unfortunate for Amy that she was on the receiving end of a door that clearly hadn’t been fitted properly. The compensation has gone some way towards making up for the pain and suffering, however she still has to walk through those doors and it’s an uncomfortable experience.”

Miss Whitcombe said: “You expect your working environment to be safe, especially in a hospital where so many people are coming and going. I was in a lot of pain after the accident and even now I shudder when I walk through that part of the building. It makes you wary of any place or part of the building which potentially hasn’t been secured as it should have been.”

Compensation Claim Advice

If you or anyone you know has suffered a personal injury at work, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.