Our client, a 61-year-old parking attendant from Fife, contacted us in relation to personal injuries he sustained in his workplace on 30 May 2017. He was referred to us through his union, UNISON.

The background

On 30 May 2017, our client, Mr David McCracken had been closing a set of heavy, metal gates at Kirkcaldy multi-storey car park on the Promenade, as required as part of his employment, when he slipped from the kerb and fell to the floor.

He immediately felt a severe pain behind his knee and, unable to get into his car to get home, called his daughter for help.

The consequences

Mr McCracken attended the Accident & Emergency Department of Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where medical staff performed an x-ray on his injury and diagnosed an injured hamstring.

The injury caused Mr McCracken to miss work from 30 May to 17 July. Although he was paid for the period, he lost his weekend shift allowance. The injury healed after six weeks but caused discomfort for a further four weeks.

The consequences

Thompsons slip injury solicitors intimated a claim against Mr McCracken's employers, Fife Council, on the basis of breaches of common law as informed by regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 4 of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and regulation 12 of The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

The defender denied liability. We therefore raised a court action. Following subsequent negotiations, the claim was settled for £2,000.