I suffered a hernia injury while moving office furniture, I didn’t receive appropriate training and my doctor says I may be out of work for some time. How much compensation for an injury from moving office furniture would I be entitled to?
The amount of compensation for an injury from moving office furniture that you may be entitled to claim, depends on the severity and extent of your injuries as well as the impact it has on your personal life. You are best advised to speak with a personal injury solicitor as they will be able to calculate the potential amount of compensation you are entitled to based on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
However it is important to be aware that the amount of compensation you are eligible to claim could be altered by many factors. For example, you may be entitled to recover your loss of earnings through ‘special damages’. These are damages awarded which are intended to return your financial position to what it was before the accident, you may also be eligible to recover any medical costs you incurred as a result of your injury as well as the costs of using alternative transport if your injury means you are unable to drive although you must provide evidence – usually in the form of receipts – of these costs in order to successfully claim for them.
Other compensation for an injury from moving office furniture that you may be eligible to claim includes damages for ‘loss of amenity’. Loss of amenity refers to the impact the injury has on your personal life, therefore if you participated in hobbies or social activities prior to the accident and are now unable to because of injury you may be entitled to compensation. To support your claim it is advised that you maintain a diary detailing the various events you have been unable to participate in because of your injury and describe how that made you feel.
This diary will also prove useful if you pursue compensation for emotional trauma. If you have suffered from anxiety or depression as a result of your accident you may be eligible for compensation for the psychological injuries you have sustained, although this must first be verified by a psychologist in order for you to include it in your claim for compensation. Age, sex and the general state of your health are also factors that can impact the value of your claim.
It can be difficult deciding which of the above elements would be worthwhile including when claiming compensation for an injury from moving office furniture, therefore it is recommended that you speak with a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible.