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News Desk | News Story
11th August 2009
Van driver freed by firefighters
Accident Compensation awarded to injured driver
A delivery driver who was freed by the fire service when a faulty van door crushed his hand has received £7,000 in accident compensation.David McCulloch, 52, from Bicester in Oxfordshire, was forced to take seven weeks off work following the shocking accident which left him with a broken index finger.
He was delivering bread buns to Burger King in Newmarket as part of his job for food delivery firm 3663 Limited when the accident happened.
Van door slammed shut and trapped hand
His van door was faulty and it slammed shut trapping his right hand. Staff from Burger King were unable to release his hand and called the fire service which freed him using specialist cutting equipment.
Following the accident he contacted his union, the GMB, which instructed its lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation. 3663 admitted liability and settled the claim out of court for just over £7,000.
David, who now works for a different company as a driver, said fortunately he has not suffered any long term damage to his hand.
He said: “I was in agony when the van door fell on my hand and I’m lucky that people were around to get me help. The fire brigade couldn’t get the door to open and in the end used cutting equipment to get my hand out.
“My hand has healed well, but I had to miss out on seven weeks work. I’m just glad that my injuries weren’t worse. As a driver I rely on my hands to earn a living.”
Injured driver was working with faulty equipment
Carol Sears from the GMB said: “Mr McCulloch underwent a shocking ordeal all because his van door was defective. He should never have been put in a position where he was working with faulty equipment.”
Martin Fell from Thompsons Solicitors said: “Mr McCulloch was a victim of his employer’s inability to ensure it provided safe working conditions for its employees. All vehicles should have been part of a thorough inspection programme to pick up potential faults like this. Fortunately he has not suffered from any long term damage, but that does not negate the fact he was put in a dangerous position in the first place.”
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 personal injury 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 personal injury compensation claim forms.
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