Injury at work

knightstyle

Hi everyone, I am wondering if anyone can tell me what the Judicial Studies Board guidelines state. My brother-in-law injured his hand at work, they admitted liability but their insurance company have only offered £6000. His hand is now, 18 months later, still giving pain and the medical report says this will continue for many years. Plus movement of his finger is severely limited. When we questioned them they said they have their own guidelines and said we should go to a solicitor, this 18 months after the accident!
What should we do? Is this a fair amount?

sarahg1969

No one can tell you if this is a fair amount ,because we haven't seen the
injury or the medical evidence and we aren't experts in valuing claims. If he
has sustained what sounds like a fairly serious injury, then he really should
seek some legal advice. The insurers will be responsible for paying the
costs.

HTH.

Sarah

foxxymynx

If he wants to persue it he should be seeking compensation with the help of a solicitor!

Otherwise they don't have to compensate at all.

geri1965_2

foxxymynx wrote: »

If he wants to persue it he should be seeking compensation with the help of a solicitor!

Otherwise they don't have to compensate at all.

That's not true, there is no obligation to use a solicitor and I have dealt with many unrepresented claimants.

knightstyle, can you tell me what the nature of the injury was and I'll look it up in the JSB for you, but you'll have to bear in mind that the figures quoted in the JSB are just guidelines.

foxxymynx

You're right, they don't have to use a solicitor, but what I'm saying is if you don't go down the legal route, courts etc being the potentiol end of said route, they don't have to compensate at all.

I'm not explaining myself very clearly and I hold my hands up at that.

geri1965_2

Well - he would have to issue proceedings after three years if the claim hasn't settled by then, for which he would need solicitors, but that's a long way off.

knightstyle

Thanks for the quick replies. geri1965,the injury was a crushing of his two middle fingers, one of which he can no longer straighten and now lacks strength. He works as an engineer and toolmaker so uses his hands all the time. He is now in constant discomfort/pain when working, the medical report states that he had fractures to his fingers of his left hand, he is left handed, fingers ache with restricted movement, flexion only 30%, grip reduced by 50%, symptoms are likely to be permanent.