Case Study

Case Summary

Incident

Michael was working at a factory that manufactured stone kitchen countertops. His job involved carrying and cutting quartz stone pieces. One morning, Michael was working alone as his colleague was absent. He cut a quartz countertop and lifted it to be transported to a table behind him, when suddenly he slipped on a wet surface.

As he fell backward, the stone piece dropped onto his chest. Michael immediately felt pain in his lower back and across his chest.

Despite the pain, Michael continued working for three hours, while experiencing discomfort. Once he finished work, he went to a local clinic and was prescribed pain relief medication. He was discharged as x-rays did not show any fractures.

One week following the accident, he attended his GP as he was still experiencing severe pain, despite taking the pain medication. He also had restricted movement in his lower back, so the GP referred Michael to hospital for further assessment.

At the hospital, an MRI scan revealed a fracture in Michael’s lower back. He received injections to treat the injury. During this time, Michael was also diagnosed with a heart condition that may have been triggered by the chest injury sustained in the accident.

Following the incident, Michael was unable to work for six months and attended eight physiotherapy sessions. He also had to change career to a less physically demanding role as his previous job at the factory was quite manual and involved heavy lifting.

Michael continues to suffer from lower back ache and experiences occasional shooting pain. He avoids lifting heavy weights and driving long distances as these activities aggravate his condition.

Every employer has a duty of care to ensure a safe working environment for their employees. In this case, the employer failed to provide Michael with appropriate manual handling training and failed to ensure a safe working environment. As a result, the accident caused Michael significant physical pain, disruption to his daily life, and financial hardship.

Case progression

The Injuries Resolution Board did not assess this case due to the complexity of the accident. Solicitor Monika Kealy instead instigated Court proceedings, and the case was brought to a successful conclusion.

Case settlement

The case was settled on the 7^th of April 2025 for the sum of €52,500. This was a great result for our client and we are proud of all the work put in by Monika and her team to achieve this brilliant outcome.

This case was handled by Tracey Solicitors LLP under Irish personal injury law.

 *Note: Client name changed for GDPR reasons.

Information updated November 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I report a workplace accident?

   It is important to immediately take the following steps after the occurrence of an accident at work.

   • Report the accident immediately to your superior and ensure that an accident report is completed and you are given a copy of it.
   • Seek medical attention immediately and ensure that your doctor or hospital personnel keep detailed records of the accident.

   There are strict obligations on employers under the Health & Safety Acts together with other legislation to ensure that employees have a safe system of work and that employees are properly trained in the tasks that they are carrying out and that they are provided with proper equipment in the course of their employment.

2. What to do after an accident at work?

   After an accident at work and before making a work related claim, your first priority should be to seek medical attention. In minor workplace incidents whereby you have a slip, trip or fall, you may feel as though you are fine, but what you don’t realise is that the minor injury you have suffered could develop into a bigger health issue for you. Assessing your health after an accident is a critical first step.

   Once you have had a medical assessment there are a number of steps you will follow:

   1. Report the accident to your superior

   Before making work related claims it is important that you notify your manager at work as to the accident that occurred. You need you to inform them of the injuries you suffered and the cause of the accident. It is advisable for you to seek confirmation from your superior that you have reported the accident, whether it is written or electronic.

   2. Seek legal advice from a personal injury solicitor

   Once you have reported the accident, it is important that you seek advice from a personal injury solicitor who has experience with accidents in the workplace. They can then talk you through the next steps as to what is involved when making work related claims.

   In the event that you do decide to take a personal injury claim, you are not obliged to personally tell your employer. Your solicitor can write to your employer and notify them of the claim. Some of our clients have told us that they feel that it would be better for them to inform their employer that a claim was being made and that their solicitor would be in touch. This is a matter for each client. Generally, we would advise that all communications regarding the case take place between the legal representatives.

3. What information will my solicitor need to make a claim?

   In order for your solicitor to proceed with a personal injury claim for you they will need the following information:

   • Details of the person who caused the accident.
   • Names, addresses and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
   • Where available, photographs of the location of the accident, paying particular attention to the item or area where the accident happened.
   • Name of Gardaí/police and station where the accident was reported – names of any Gardaí who attended the scene of the accident (where applicable).
   • Medical records detailing any injuries/treatment following the accident.
   • Details of any costs incurred following the accident (keep your receipts).
   • Details of any loss of earnings and details of any future loss of earnings if you are to be out of work for a long period of time.
   • Cost of medical treatment – details of future medical treatment needed.