| The phrase "falling off the back of a lorry" conjures up | | | | Any straps trailing on the floor create an obvious |
| images of cartoon frolics or shady dealings, but | | | | hazard. Some loads are stacked high and when |
| anyone who has suffered this type of accident takes | | | | unloaded become unstable and fall without warning. |
| the matter very seriously indeed. These accidents can | | | | Accident claims also arise if you are required to drag |
| be caused by a defect with the lorry or trailer; when | | | | pallets using the strapping, which might break causing |
| getting on or off the vehicle, or by problems with the | | | | you to lose your balance and fall. |
| load. Any failure by the employer to provide a safe | | | | Not every work accident claim is successful, especially |
| system of work that leads to an employee suffering | | | | if the injured person was negligent. Care needs to be |
| an injury can result in that employee making successful | | | | taken when you get onto or down from the back of |
| accident compensation claim. | | | | the lorry or trailer (or when getting in and out of the |
| A trailer (whether open, curtain sided, enclosed or | | | | cab). To help you gain safe access to the back of the |
| refrigerated) might be slippery with water, ice or snow, | | | | vehicle there should be small ladders or adequate |
| and on occasion oil or grease. Whatever the | | | | footholds and grab handles securely fixed in place, and |
| substance, this creates the risk of slipping and the | | | | you must use them. When getting down from the |
| possibility of an accident at work claim arising. Older | | | | trailer you should avoid jumping, as there is a clear risk |
| trailers may have worn uneven surfaces, with gaps or | | | | of injury. Even trying to slide down from the trailer can |
| holes in the floor creating tripping hazards. Some | | | | result in arms and wrists getting caught in straps or on |
| flatbed trailers have holes so containers can be | | | | rigid metal brackets, which could cause torn muscles |
| attached, but when there is no container these holes | | | | and tendons or broken bones. |
| are not always covered and this creates a potential | | | | Employers are often found to be at fault if they fail to |
| danger. There should be a safe means of storing | | | | provide a safe means of access onto vehicles, and if |
| items such as loose straps, ropes or cables; otherwise | | | | ladders, footholds and grab handles, etc are worn or |
| they can cause tripping accidents. Trailers that have | | | | broken they should be repaired or replaced. road |
| curtains or fixed doors should have a means of | | | | accident compensation caused by defective |
| securing these, to prevent movement in the wind. | | | | equipment are almost always successful, resulting in |
| Whatever the cause of the slip or trip, you could fall | | | | the payment of personal injury compensation. |
| against the load, onto the trailer's surface or even | | | | Whatever the basis of the potential accident at work |
| worse to the ground below and suffer serious injuries. | | | | claim, it is always prudent to take advice from |
| You may not have been involved in the loading | | | | experienced accident claims solicitors to make a |
| process and may be unaware of how the load was | | | | successful accident compensation claim. They are |
| stacked or secured. Items may be strapped to pallets | | | | usually able to offer a free, no win no fee claims |
| and the strapping could be loose or badly attached. | | | | service. |