£320,000 damages after fall from ladder
Phillip Barrigan suffered a head injury while carrying out electrical work
An electrician from Filey who suffered a head injury when he fell 10ft from a ladder due to “inadequate equipment” has won £320,000 damages.
A former electrician from Filey who suffered a head injury and fractures to his left arm when he fell 10 feet from a ladder has been awarded £320,000 in damages. Phillip Barrigan, 58, was contracted by Scarborough-based maintenance firm EMCE to carry out electrical maintenance work across sites in Yorkshire.
On one job in Seamer, the ladder Phillip was working on suddenly lost grip and slipped from its position, causing him to fall 10 feet onto concrete below.
He was immediately taken to hospital where he had surgery on a fractured arm and treatment for injuries to his head, lip, thigh and hand. Despite surgery, Phillip continued to suffer pain in his arm, and ended up having a further three operations.
Complications from the surgeries caused a series of infections, leaving him with permanent scarring and a disability.
Mr Barrigan also suffered psychological trauma and has not been able to return to work since the accident nearly four years ago.
“The pain I’ve suffered since my fall has been agonising,” said Phillip. “I’ve had multiple operations and physiotherapy to help me regain movement in my arm, but I know it will never be the same as before the fall.”
He instructed serious injury specialists, Thompsons Solicitors, to investigate a compensation claim.
Thompsons secured £320,000 for Mr Barrigan, including welfare benefits and interim payments for physiotherapy and psychotherapy.
He added: “My employer kept challenging my claim and said that the accident was my fault, but I knew it wasn’t. Having to deal with my injuries – turn to page 30