Boyes Turner’s specialist personal injury solicitors have secured compensation for Sian*, who suffered burns to her back and left arm when working in a clothes shop. Injuries One of her colleagues was engaged in some horseplay with a clothes steamer, which backfired and resulted in Sian suffering steam burns to her back and left arm. She attended the Accident and Emergency department at a local hospital and her wounds had to be regularly dressed over the following weeks. Her wounds took several months to improve, after which she was left with six small, circular areas of red scarring. She was self– conscious about the scars, adjusting her choices of clothing to make sure that the scars could not be seen, and suffered from anxiety. Employers have a duty of care to their employees and must take all reasonable steps to ensure that they are safe in the workplace. They are ‘vicariously liable’ for the negligence of their employees when they are acting in the course of their employment. This means that, if one of their employees is negligent and injures someone as a result, the employer is liable to compensate the victim. Settlement We secured an early admission of liability from our client’s employer’s insurance company and obtained medical reports from a plastic surgeon and a clinical psychologist. A five-figure settlement was negotiated, which Sian was happy to accept. While the incident was a traumatic one for Sian, she was pleased with the outcome of the claim and made the following kind comments about the service she received from Boyes Turner. “Thank you for everything. Amazing firm, so pleased. Martin was so kind and helpful and made me feel at ease.” If you or a family member has suffered a burns injury after an accident, you can contact our specialist personal injury team on 0118 952 7137 or email piclaims@boyesturner.com for a free initial discussion.
