Bakery manager sues ASDA for £200,000 due to an injury at work

A bakery manager has brought a compensation claim against his employers, ASDA, after he sustained a broken thigh bone in September 2017.

The fracture was so severe that the employee has required a hip replacement and one of his legs is now permanently shorter than the other. Steve Drew, 49, was covering a shift in the warehouse, which was not his usual place of work. He had accepted a fresh delivery and he had returned to collect the bakery delivery.

When he was travelling through the yard with a stack of bread, he became startled by the sun and turned to his left, colliding with a pallet truck which had been left in the walkway, falling heavily and injuring his left leg. Mr Drew was alone in the area but luckily managed to use his work mobile phone to call for help.

An ambulance arrived at the scene and the hospital diagnosed him with a broken left femur, requiring metalwork into his hip. Unfortunately, the metalwork did not fix the fracture and Mr Drew then required a total hip replacement. The injuries have left him with a discrepancy in his left leg, ongoing right leg and lower back pain, an adjustment disorder, depression and anxiety.

Mr Drew has now instructed a representative to bring a personal injury claim against ASDA for negligence, arguing that had the pallet truck not been left in the walkway area, then he would not have sustained injury.  Liability has been admitted for the accident but the case is now proceeding through the Court process, with Mr Drew and his representatives being put to proof as to whether his ongoing symptoms have been caused by the accident.

The case is currently claiming over £200,000 in compensation, which has been disputed by ASDA’s representatives. If no agreement can be reached, the case will be listed for trial.

What should I do if I have sustained an injury at work? 

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd has a wealth of expertise in handling issues that arise from accidents at work, including those suffered in a warehouse environment.

We can advise you on your employment position and assist you with any claim you may wish to make against your employer (even if you are an agency worker). Claims can include reimbursing any loss of earnings you have incurred and providing any treatment which may be needed for your injury.

Further reading

Full details regarding the claims process can be found in our article here, or for more information about accidents in the workplace, read our FAQ.

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