A man who fell from a ladder whilst working as an electrical engineer has been awarded a compensation payout of £450,000.

The man suffered serious injuries after the 13 foot fall from the ladder onto concrete paving slabs below, he sustained serious injuries to his ankles which resulted in him having to have his  left leg amputated below the knee.

The man was working on external cabling at the side of a house when the accident happened, he had not been provided with a safety harness or given any training by his employer.

The man now faces a long period of rehabilition and will require caring for at home, the compensation payment will help cover the costs associated with this and the money lost through him not being able to work. 

Falls from height are the most common type of injury in the workplace, with scaffolding and ladder falls being among the main type of work related accident.

Anyone who has to work at height as part of their job must be given the correct safety equipment and training from their employer by law.

If an employee is injured after falling from height there is a good chance they will be able to make a claim for personal injury compensation, especially if their employer has failed to provide suitable training or equipment.

After seeking medical attention the next step for anyone hurt in a fall from height is to speak to a specialist injury claims Solicitor. They will be able to give legal advice and information about making a claim and will give an indication as to the likelihood of the claim being successful.

The Solicitor will normally make a claim against the insurance policy the employer would have taken out to cover them against any accident claims of this nature.

Making a claim for injury compensation after a fall from height should not cost the claimant any money, any reputable Solicitor will handle the case on a “no fee” basis and will recover their fees from the other side.

Pinto Potts are specialist Solicitors with many years experience in handling claims for people who have sustained injuries at work.

If you, a friend or family member have been involved in an accident in the workplace call 0800 316 4434 to speak directly to a Solicitor who will provide confidential advice about making a claim and what to do next.

Related article: 5 steps to ladder safety