£100,000 Compensation for Prison Officer's Career-Ending Fall

A prison officer who suffered a career-ending injury at work has won £100,000 in damages.

The accident happened when David Hunter was responding to an alarm. He was moving quickly down a staircase on his way to the area where the alarm had been raised. Unfortunately, he slipped at the bottom of the staircase and fell heavily, landing on his left side.

In the fall, Mr Hunter sustained severe injuries to his shoulder and hand, as well as bruising to his ribs. He required two operations on his hand and was absent from work for 12 months.

When he returned, however, he was unable to carry out the more demanding ‘control and restrain’ tasks required, and so was unable to continue working as a prison officer.

Not only has Mr Hunter had to change career and accept a less well paid job but he has also been left with stiffness in his shoulder, and weakness in his left hand that means he can no longer take part in activities that he had previously enjoyed, such as sea fishing and riding a motorcycle.

It was later discovered that one of the inmates who was carrying out cleaning duties had applied wax polish to the area where Mr Hunter slipped, but had not buffed it.

After bringing a personal injury claim, Mr Hunter received the six-figure settlement.