Legal News
Essex County Council personal injury payouts total £1 million (19 March 2014)
Date: 19/03/2014
According to new figures, Essex County Council has spent over £1 million settling personal injury claims during the last three years, with almost a quarter of that figure being paid out to one victim that slipped on a ketchup sachet at school.
The Council, which confirmed that all the incidents had been investigated, settled 34 claims between 2011 and 2013. The largest sum, £230,000, was given to a secondary school teacher that suffered injuries after a fall in a hallway.
The payments have been made public following a freedom of information request and they include a variety of costs associated with cases such as medical fees in addition to claimant damages. Though there were four that resulted from assaults by pupils, the majority of claims related to trips and falls in the workplace
There were several other sizeable settlements including a payment to a member of staff who slipped on a wet floor twice and suffered a spine injury and a £57,000 payment made to an employee who suffered a head injury from a falling fridge door.
National Union of Teachers' (NUT) national executive, Jerry Glazier said: “As a union we will support members who pursue claims for personal injury and when we feel they have been poorly treated by management in schools. Employers have a duty of care to both pupils and staff.”
Duncan Lewis' personal injury solicitors can help you to make a claim if you have suffered an injury at work. We offer a friendly and professional service that can be funded with a no win no fee agreement.