Compensation for being Injured by Collapsed Chair in Office

I damaged by spine when my chair was tampered with by colleagues as a joke and it collapsed when I sat on it. My employer says he is not liable to pay compensation for being injured by collapsed chair in office and if I want compensation I will have to report my colleagues for criminal assault. Is this correct?

Question:

I damaged by spine when my chair was tampered with by colleagues as a joke and it collapsed when I sat on it. My employer says he is not liable to pay compensation for being injured by collapsed chair in office and if I want compensation I will have to report my colleagues for criminal assault. Is this correct?

Answer:

Although it is not directly your employer´s fault that you damaged your spine, he is still liable to pay compensation for being injured by collapsed chair in office. An employer has an obligation to provide you with a safe environment in which to work, and part of this obligation includes the ongoing monitoring and supervision of the office and those who work in it.

A further element of an employer´s responsibility is the training of his staff – particularly in health and safety matters – and the fact that your work colleagues could pull a prank with such a high risk of injury would imply that the training provided by your employer has been substandard.

With an apparent lack of adequate supervision and training, there is little doubt that your employer´s negligence was indirectly responsible for your injury, which therefore entitles you to make a claim for compensation for being injured by collapsed chair in office.

As your employer is already indicating that he will dispute your compensation claim for being injured by collapsed chair in office, it is recommended that you speak with a personal injury solicitor at the earliest opportunity.

The solicitor will assess your case, confirm that you have a claim for being injured by collapsed chair in office and represent you in negotiations with your employer´s insurers – providing a distance between yourself and your employer in case an uncomfortable situation develops on your return.

No employer wishes to see their staff injured, and it is unlikely that the financial implications of a successful claim for being injured by collapsed chair in office will affect your employer´s business to a great extent. Furthermore, an employer is not allowed by law to penalise you professionally for making a claim for compensation against him.

By engaging a solicitor to represent you in a claim for compensation for being injured by collapsed chair, you can avoid any potential repercussions on your return to work and be assured of receiving the maximum amount of compensation for being injured by collapsed chair in office.