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Michelle Finlay - Accident compensation lawyer
Work accident compensation lawyer - Plymouth
Michelle is based in our Plymouth office and although she has extensive knowledge of all types of accidents at work, many of the accident compensation claims that she has successfully fought have involved clients who work in and around the dockyards. Many of her clients have been injured in accidents involving either boat building or one of the other many occupations which exist in the busy port environment of Plymouth and the surrounding coastline.
Michelle’s wide experience of these industries now gives her in-depth knowledge of the circumstances that can give rise to all types of accidents at work. Such accident compensation claims as slips, trips and falls, accidents involving faulty machinery or equipment.
Michelle also has a proven record of successfully concluding claims for occupational diseases that result from particular types of work, or working in particular types of environment, for example compensation claims for vibration white finger, or hand arm vibration syndrome.
Many of Michelle’s cases have involved employers who will attempt to deny liability for the injury to their employee. Michelle’s knowledge of these industries will allow her to assess the real potential for success, and she will have no hesitation in issuing court proceedings if the other side refuse to negotiate an acceptable settlement. She will fight to secure fair accident compensation for each one of her client’s and their families.
Successful work accident compensation claims
Here is just a small sample of the successful compensation claims which Michelle has been involved in
Occupational disease – Bursitis of the knee
Michelle’s client was diagnosed with Bursitis of the knee, an occupational disease that is caused by excessive time spent kneeling at work, without adequate protection. Her client in this compensation claim had worked for this company for almost two decades.
His symptoms started gradually several years before his diagnosis but included swelling of the knee, which required fluid draining. His knee also ached and as the disease progressed, also caused related problems to his foot. Bursitis has left him unable to continue with normal activities such as cycling, and he is unable to walk far before his foot begins to ache.
Michelle’s client had repeatedly brought these hazards to the attention of the employer, and tried to get them to provide workers with knee pads that were built into their trousers. Although knee pads were made available, there were never sufficient, and there were delays in re-stocking. Her client was not provided with any protection for over two years after his diagnosis but the employer has recently introduced the in-built option.
Despite other incidents of Bursitis amongst her client’s colleagues, Michelle was forced to issue court proceedings when the other side’s insurers refused to negotiate. However, Michelle was able to negotiate a fair settlement for her client in occupational disease compensation.
Work accident compensation claim – Slip, trip and fall accident
This client suffered an injury to his shoulder when he slipped and fell from a ladder on a boat in which he was working. Although only a short ladder (6 steps) because of the confines of the boat, he fell awkwardly, landing on his shoulder.
He was taken to hospital where it was confirmed that nothing had been broken and he was prescribed pain killers and a course of physiotherapy. For several months, Michelle’s client underwent physiotherapy, which was extremely painful, received several steroid injections when there was no improvement, and was eventually referred for an MRI scan. This showed that Michelle’s client had actually suffered a small tear of a tendon in his shoulder, and required corrective surgery.
Since her client’s accident at work, the employer has fitted handrails and non-slip steps to these types of ladders. However, they refused to negotiate a settlement for this accident compensation claim and Michelle was forced to issue court proceedings. She was able to negotiate satisfactory settlement terms prior to the trial, which her client accepted.
Work accident compensation claim – Slip, trip and fall accident
Like many workers employed in the boat building and repair industry, Michelle’s client in this work accident compensation claim was required to spend a considerable part of every day kneeling in order to access certain areas of the boat and carry out his work.
On the day of his accident at work, Michelle’s client had been heading for a finished boat in order to carry out a repair. Access was limited and he had to hop across a couple of other boats to reach the deck of the target boat. Power cables are frequently lying around the decks as they take power from pontoons into the boat.
As her client made the final step onto the target boat, he stepped onto one of these cables (they are perhaps an inch or inch and a half in circumference) and it rolled under his foot, forcing his leg out from under him twisting his knee.
Michelle’s client underwent an operation to repair the cartilage to his knee, followed by several sessions of physiotherapy. Unfortunately, this proved unsuccessful and further surgery was required. Although Michelle’s client has returned to work, this is only on light duties and has severely affected his earnings and ability to work overtime. He has also had to give up hobbies but the main problem is that he is unable to return to his normal work as he cannot now kneel.
Michelle was forced to issue court proceedings when the other side’s insurers refused to negotiate a settlement. However, she was able to secure substantial accident compensation for her client some time prior to the trial.
Comments from accident compensation clients
“I would like to thank Michelle Finley who has acted on my behalf several times over the last 3 to 4 yrs. I have found her to be very helpfull and very good at what she does for me. Always kept me informed of what was going on. I would also like to thank the staff who work at the Plymouth branch I have the found them to be very pleasant when dealing with them on the phone and in the office.”
Mr P Gibson - Recipient of work accident compensation
Making an accident compensation claim
You will receive 100% of the compensation awarded if you do have a valid work accident compensation claim and or a compensation claim for an occupational disease, if you decide to instruct Clear Answers 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 yourself. Telephone us now on 0800 783 9019 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms, and a representative will contact you as soon as possible.
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