£11,500 awarded to client who sustained a fracture to her little finger

Pauline Smith, Associate and personal injury claims handler recently settled a case for a Catering Assistant who sustained personal injury when her finger got trapped between a trolley and a table.

The claimant had been preparing sandwiches for a party which was due to take place in the playground to celebrate the school being open for 10 years. The claimant went to the assistance of a colleague who was taking some tables outside using a metal trolley which contained approximately 20 tables. The claimant assisted with pushing the trolley down a slope which leads to the playground but, upon reaching the playground, a table within the trolley moved and trapped the claimant’s right little finger between the trolley and table. The claimant was diagnosed with a fracture to her right little finger.

The claimant was required to wear a mallet splint and also underwent physiotherapy treatment. Medical evidence confirmed that a radiograph demonstrated early degenerative changes within the finger joint which was a direct consequence of the fracture. Expert opinion was that the degenerative change will progress in time and become more painful. As such, the claimant will need interphalangeal joint fusion surgery in the near future to treat the pain.

After Stephensons proceeded with the case against the employer, the case was settled and the claimant received £11,500 compensation.