A former bus driver has received a six-figure sum in compensation after being injured in a fall at work that left him with life-changing injuries and the loss of his job.
Unite member Mr Courtman, who worked for First West Yorkshire Limited, was collecting fares and as the bus drove out of Bradford Interchange, a car pulled out, causing the bus driver to slam on the brakes.
Mr Courtman flew into the air and hit a metal step on the bus. He suffered serious injuries which included a fractured skull, perforated eardrum, injuries to his neck, back, hand and right shoulder, along with psychological injuries. He remained in Bradford Hospital for five days.
Mr Courtman contacted Unite Legal Services to pursue a compensation claim. Investigations carried out by an independent medical expert revealed that the accident meant that he had an increased chance of developing epilepsy in the future.
Unite Legal Services was able to secure interim payments, which helped to keep him and his family afloat financially during this difficult time. They were also able to obtain funding for psychological therapy.
Unfortunately, Mr Courtman’s employment was terminated on medical grounds and he has not been able to work since. He now suffers from short-term memory loss and concentration.
As the driver of the car could not be traced, a claim had to be submitted to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), who compensates victims of untraced and uninsured vehicles. Full liability was admitted and the case settled out of court.
Mr Courtman said: “The injury has really limited what I can do, it’s devastating. The support I’ve received from Unite Legal Services was fantastic, guiding me through the claim so that I understood what was going on every step of the way, which was all the more invaluable to me at a time when I was so low.”
Karen Reay, North East, Yorkshire and Humberside regional secretary at Unite the Union, said: “An accident at work that results in an injury is a horrible experience. By pursuing his claim through Unite Legal Services, he has received 100% of his compensation for an injury that he should never have suffered.”
