Building sites can be dangerous places and it is obviously right that those who suffer injury due to their employers' failure to take appropriate precautions should be fully compensated. In one recent case, a worker who sustained grave head injuries when he fell through a roof will receive a settlement of £6.6 million in damages.
The accident caused a brain injury which has rendered the man an exceptionally vulnerable and challenging individual. Although he has made some progress, he is quite a handful for those who are trying to rehabilitate him. He has little insight into his condition and, due to his inability to handle money sensibly, has in the past fallen victim to unscrupulous characters intent on manipulating him.
After action was taken on his behalf against the house-building company for which he worked at the time of the accident, a lump sum settlement was agreed on the basis of 82.5 per cent liability. In approving the settlement, the High Court imposed wide-ranging restrictions on reporting of the case in order to protect the man, who has no capacity to make decisions for himself.