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A 21-year-old refuse worker has been awarded £3.75 million compensation after the truck he was operating overturned in a work accident, leaving him with serious personal injuries and a disability.
Richard Taylor, of Cannock, was in a rubbish lorry which turned over last year, leaving him paralysed, wheelchair-bound and in need of 24-hour care. He was only 19 at the time.
The work accident was caused when he carried out a "shift load" manoeuvre. This means that a lorry is driven fast before braking hard and the reason for doing it is to force rubbish to move up the truck and create more space. The practice is not endorsed by the local council.
Despite being paralysed, Richard managed to reconstruct his life after the work accident.
Richard Davis QC said of Taylor and his case, "I would like to pay tribute to him and his family. He comes from a very close and loving family and the way which he has built his new life has been an inspiration to us all."
Accusations of dangerous driving and of supervisors aiding and abetting have been dismissed by the local council in Lichfield District.
The local council made it clear that it doesn't condone any practice of "load shifting" by its employees or agency workers engaged in refuse collection on the council's behalf.
As this kind of activity is considered to be highly dangerous, it is stated to all refuse employees that it must not be carried out under any circumstances in order to avoid similar work accidents.
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