KimberleyAnn Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 As some of you may know my Stepdad had a serious accident whilst at work on a construction site in London in September. His condition was critical and he has suffered mutiple injuries. He is still in hospital after having operations and plastic surgery, and will be for some time to come yet. A solictor is involved and the claim is going ahead, but in the mean time my Mum is stuck for cash! My stepdad was the only worker, as my mum looked after my nephew full time. His employer has refused to pay him. So now they are stuck, with no income, until the claim comes through which could take YEARS! My mum is so depressed and upset, and she is no help at the moment. Does any one know any thing i could do? or anyone i could write to? To seek advice, or get some sort of charity/benefit. We are not poor, but we are not rich either, and we were comfortable before this accident, i dont see how it is fair that m mum could loose her house ect, due to this accident. Any advice would be great Cheers x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I am a party in a similar situation. Over 3 years down the line and there is still no money. Hopefully within 6 months court etc will be over. It shouldnt take that long though. Would you like me to PM you the soliciters we are using? They specialise in this sort of case. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberleyAnn Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 Well i have sorted the solictor, but could you tell me the sorta injuries ect and the process? that would help! thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl_S Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Really sad to hear that has happened. Benefits office is there to help. Income support, or even crisis loans I think. I waited years for a compensation claim to come through too. Best act asap. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Can't your Mum get a job now? You say she "looked" after your nephew - past tense. Maybe someone else needs to do that now under the circumstances? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Sorry about Dad Kim. I assume you've looked into the insurance situation? As said, disability benefits have to be sorted. Although they won't amount to much. Then you and your Mum need to get to the mortgage lenders asap and come to an agreement. Maybe, deferred payments, lowered payments for a set period of time. I hope you can sort this. I really do. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snooze Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Who is the claim against? Whos fault was the accident? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberleyAnn Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 Can't your Mum get a job? How do you suggest that? My mum is atcually a qualified ITU Nurse. But she looked after my nephew in order for my sister to get her own house. My mum cant get a job, as shes at the hospital by steves bedside every day checking that everything is done (as it hasnt been) My Mum hasnt had the best of luck in her life, and considering she has worked all her life, i dont see why we shouldnt get help. She has never been on any benefit, always had her own house. So NO , she cant get a job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberleyAnn Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 Who is the claim against? Whos fault was the accident? The claim is against 3 defendants at the building site. It was the Wilton Plaza site in London Victoria, a 35millon project. The teletext claimed the cable for the crane had snapped, causing the load to fall on my stepdad, who was underneath. Howlett Clarke is the solictor we are using. We are waiting for the health and safety executive report to tell us exactly whos fault it was, but steve did NOT load the crane. Also he was the only first aider on site and had no health and safety training, he had been at this site for 3 weeks, in the industry 20 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz1 Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 sorry to hear that kim, i am in the construction game at it can be a absolute b*stard for the guys who have an accident, in my eyes is does not matter about blame, nobody goes to work in the morning thinking "oh i think i will hurt myself today" i have seen some very bad accidents in my time, and its not nice, because of the blame culture in this country, companys will not pay wages after an accident because then they are admitting liability, years ago my brother had a really bad accident at work,(construction) the firm he worked for made an agreement then, that if he did not claim they would pay his wages in full untill he was back to work, he was off 9 months, have you contacted the b+ce i think its that, they take holiday and pension from construction workers, not sure if they could help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 So NO , she cant get a job. Well pardon me, sorry for not knowing the specifics of the story based on your vague witterings. Best sell the house then and look into renting a council property while applying for any benefits that might be available. Perhaps the world owes her a favour but there are people in these situations who don't have the benefit of property worth £1000's sat there. Nobody wants to lose a house but it's not a right to own one no matter how hard you've worked or how nice you are. Your mum is able bodied, you say she's a qualified ITU nurse and she's doing favours for your sister. Well your sister needs to step up and take responsibility for her child so that your mum can try and get back to work then doesn't she? And yes it would be nice to be able to spend time making sure the hospital are doing their job but sometimes you have to put your trust in these people so that you can eat and pay the bills. Sorry for saying it how it is (in my mind at least) but this is life sadly, if he wasn't insured against such things then there isn't a huge amount you can do beyond asking for donations, benefits or going out to earn money yourself. Sorry about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Well pardon me, sorry for not knowing the specifics of the story based on your vague witterings. Best sell the house then and look into renting a council property while applying for any benefits that might be available. Perhaps the world owes her a favour but there are people in these situations who don't have the benefit of property worth £1000's sat there. Nobody wants to lose a house but it's not a right to own one no matter how hard you've worked or how nice you are. Your mum is able bodied, you say she's a qualified ITU nurse and she's doing favours for your sister. Well your sister needs to step up and take responsibility for her child so that your mum can try and get back to work then doesn't she? And yes it would be nice to be able to spend time making sure the hospital are doing their job but sometimes you have to put your trust in these people so that you can eat and pay the bills. Sorry for saying it how it is (in my mind at least) but this is life sadly, if he wasn't insured against such things then there isn't a huge amount you can do beyond asking for donations, benefits or going out to earn money yourself. Sorry about that. Well said Michael, 100% agree with you. Whilst I sympathise the situation what Michael has said is spot on, unless there is more to the story but just going on what has been said so far. I hope all is better sooner rather than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Sounds shit Kim, but in these times you have to pull together and ride the tide before things get better, theres probably no easy solution, so everyone in your family needs to step up the game to make sure you dont loose anything like a house, you have a skyline you dont use dont you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainy Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hi sorry to hear about the accident i had an accident at work this time last year and was off for just over 7 months. I was only getting sick pay that was £70 per week and i was able to claim industrial accident at work benefit and that works out at £26 per week for life as they have assessed me as 15% disabled. You will have to get in touch with your local benefits office to find out what if anything you are entitled to. You might need to push them as the first few times my wife asked she was told that I was not entitled to anything. I also remember quantum claims saying that they could apply for an interim payment if we really needed cash straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 That's a crappy situation, but unfortunately for people who work in jobs that don't offer sick pay or anything, and who don't have insurance against personal injury, it really is a case of either riding it out until the court stuff is done (as you say, could take years), or selling everything of value and making money wherever possible with any jobs that anyone is capable of doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon F Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Howlett Clarke is the solictor we are using. Howlettclarke - wise choice. Only legal firm I know that offers 15% off your next massage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I always find when I need some cash quick a few nights on the game does the trick. It's amazing what people will pay just to swallow nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Walker Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I always find when I need some cash quick a few nights on the game does the trick. It's amazing what people will pay just to swallow nowadays. Cruel, but v funny All the best Kim, hope you manage to arrange something.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jspec Germany Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Terrible news. I'm truly sorry for your mum. Can you work to help pay the bills? That's what family is for and afterall, they raised you didn't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimberleyAnn Posted January 4, 2008 Author Share Posted January 4, 2008 Terrible news. I'm truly sorry for your mum. Can you work to help pay the bills? That's what family is for and afterall, they raised you didn't they? I work very hard. I have 3 sisters, so i dont see why they cant help. I am already paying alot of the bills as it is.......... Oh thanks for the nice, helpful comments...........as for the others, get a life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Sorry to read this, crap situation:( Not something any of us think about happening I guess and it's sad but probably not much outside help available. Maybe time for you to get your sisters/rest of the family together and come up with a plan to all chip in and help her? As with many situations regarding families it all seems to land on one persons doorstep while the rest lay low, you need to get them all involved instead of taking it all on yourself;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiten55 Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 forgive me for saying this if im wrong, but from what i've just read, are we missing some info here? Dont take it personally Kim, i doubt anyone here has anything against you, but people are just saying what they think with the facts they have. sometimes its hard to portray how difficult a situation is, especially when its playing on your mind constantly. have you been to the citizens advice bureau yet? and, from what you've said, you're the one bearing the brunt of the whole situation, how come your 2 sisters aren't lending a helping hand? its not right for you too take on so much while they sit back and watch... just my opinion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Sorry to hear about this. I'm fairly clued up in this area... I would have thought that your dad can claim unemployment benefit, I don't think your mum will be able to, because it's actually Job Seekers allowance and you have to prove to them that you are applying for jobs and going to interviews. Don't ask my why if you're injured & in hospital that means you can claim it and not have to prove you are job hunting but that seems to be the way it works. We thought we could claim disability allowance but noooo unemployment only. Oh, and if he does get benefit, once the court case is won he will be expected to pay back the total benefit claimed out of the payout. Crap eh? Remind me why we pay NI etc? Remember that the insurance claim will include your mums time that she's spent helping rehabilitate him. Sounds like you agree your sisters needs to pull their finger out - have you had a conversation with them about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supragal Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Oh, and speak to your solicitor you may be able to get a partial advance on the payout. Plus if that happens then it's as good as them admiting liability! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 An alternative would be for her to go to an eastern block country, get one of their passports and return. This way she'll get all the help going as we seem to help 'outsiders' before looking after our own:( Not very PC but true;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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