Widow wins personal injury compensation
The widow of a man who was crushed to death in a serious
personal injury work accident has successfully won
compensation for the loss of her husband. Damages were claimed under the Law Reform Act and / Fatal Accidents Act 1976.
The woman’s husband received his fatal personal injuries whilst operating a hydraulic machine. At the time of the accident at work, he was leaning over the controls when he accidently pressed the lever, operating the crane and allowing it to fall on top of him. He became trapped between the boom and the machinery.
Because he was lying over the controls, it was not possible to release the control leaver. He later died in hospital after receiving massive chest injuries.
His death was investigated by the HSE who found that he should not have been able to lean over the machinery in such a way to put himself in physical danger.
A guard has since been fitted to prevent a similar accident in the future.
Updated on 16/12/2008