Call back for new
personal injury claims only
Leave your details to request a call back.
PCS member receives compensation after infected insect bite
Bite became septic
A PCS member has received compensation after she suffered a septic insect bite at work when her employers failed to keep her offices clean.
The tax credit advisor from Washington was forced to take four weeks off work after she was bitten by an unidentified insect whilst working for the HMRC at its offices at Waterview Park in Washington.
The bite initially looked similar to a regular bite but soon started to swell up. By the following day it was so bad the member’s entire leg was swollen and she was barely able to walk. She was unable to sit down and couldn’t touch her leg.
She was told by her GP that the bite was septic and she needed four courses of antibiotics before it cleared up.
Bite left large black scar
She has been left with a black scar the size of a 10p piece.
The member’s office is next to Washington Wetland Centre, a popular bird watching spot, which means insects from the park often come into the offices through open windows.
The PCS member contacted her trade union when she returned from work as she was concerned about the extended period of time she was absent. The union instructed Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.
The HMRC admitted liability for the bite and settled the claim out of court for £4,000.
Offices are now fumigated more often
The member said: “I had never had time off sick in seven years of working for the HMRC so I felt worried about how it would reflect on me. I couldn’t believe that something as small as an insect bite could make me so ill for so long. I had never had a bad reaction to a bite before, it was frightening.
“Since the bite our offices are fumigated more often and fortunately I’ve not yet been bitten again.”
Peter Lockhart, PCS national officer for HMRC, said: “Insect bites are a common problem at this workplace, which is located next to a wetland, but this member’s reaction to the bite was extreme meaning she was very ill. Her reaction shows her employers the importance of doing everything they can to prevent this from happening to other members of staff.”
Rachel Leach from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Employers have a responsibility to ensure that its employees are not at risk of infection. The location of this workplace means that they must have a clear and practical plan in place to make sure that the risk of bites and infection is kept to a minimum.”
Compensation Claim Advice for Accidents at Work
If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury at work, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any personal 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 solicitors and 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.
Contact us about your accident or injury
Call us for free on 08000 224 224 Call us from your mobile on 0330 123 123 0 (charged at local number and free when covered by inclusive minutes) Request a call back Text CLAIM to 82010 (standard network rates apply)
