Case Study

Case Summary

Incident

Anthony was working in a meat factory. He was originally hired as an assistant but had been asked to perform slaughtering functions without having any training or experience.

The job of slaughtering was fast-paced and required two knives to be used with a certain amount of agility. As he had no training to use the two knives simultaneously, he became confused with the procedure and accidentally made a deep cut to his left wrist in the process.

Anthony’s colleagues reacted quickly and used cloth to wrap around the wound and apply pressure. They arranged for Anthony to be driven to the nearest hospital.

Anthony was assessed at the hospital and x-rays showed he had no fractures to his wrist. His wound was cleaned, dressed and he received an anti-toxin vaccine and IV antibiotics. He was referred to the Regional Plastic Surgery Trauma Service for assessment the following day.

Anthony underwent surgery at the Plastic Surgery Trauma Service to repair the artery and cut to the left wrist. He was kept overnight for observation and discharged the next day with a prescription for antibiotics and a referral for hand therapy.

Anthony was unable to work for three months following the injury. During this time, he had eleven sessions of physiotherapy for his hand to improve mobility. Despite this physiotherapy, Anthony continues to feel decreased sensation directly over the scar.

This injury had a severe impact on Anthony’s daily lifestyle. He often feels a tingling sensation in his hand and experiences numbness for a short time after waking up. Anthony avoids carrying heavy weights as this makes his scar painful, and he also feels severe discomfort in cold weather.

Every employer bears the responsibility to ensure the well-being of their workers and to provide a safe and hazard-free work environment. In this case, the employer failed to provide sufficient training to Anthony, resulting in a serious accident.

Case progression:

The Injuries Resolution Board assessed the injury at €34,098.80. Solicitor Maria Lakes reviewed the Injuries Resolution Board assessment and felt that it did not properly compensate Anthony for the injuries incurred. Maria instead instigated Court proceedings, and the case was brought to a successful conclusion.

Case settlement:

The case was settled on the 1^st of May 2025 for the sum of €40,000. This was a great result for our client, we are proud of all the work put in by Maria Lakes and her team to achieve this brilliant outcome.

 *Note: Client name changed for GDPR reasons.

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.