The amount paid out for work personal injury compensation claims centring on the Edinburgh tram project has trebled in the past year.
As reported by The Scotsman, contractors who are working on the tram route have paid around £50,000 for incidents ranging from head injuries to flooded basements and ripped jackets caused by work on the tram project.
Since last year 35 more people used an injury claim solicitor to fight for compensation, costing an extra £32,000 of which £5,500 was for personal injury claims.
The vast majority of compensation packages have been paid out for incidents of damage to property, totalling over £43,000. The claims vary from £20 for a damaged jacket to £10,000 for a flooded cellar.
£150 was awarded to a pedestrian who tripped on the pavement. Another pedestrian who tripped, twisting their ankle and injuring their limbs, was awarded £1,500.
“I’m glad to see these contractors have acted honourable and paid compensation to those who have been adversely affected,” said Steve Cardownie, deputy leader of the city council.
“Considering the size of this project and the amount of roadworks and scaffolding left lying around, it would be very surprising if there wasn’t damage to property or people twisting their ankle and injuring limbs,” he added.
It’s expected that the figure will rise as work continues to up-heave the existing network and lay the remaining tram tracks.
A spokesman for Transport Initiative Edinburgh said: “Edinburgh Trams takes the standards of construction very seriously and regrets any situation where a claim needs to be made. It is not the customer who meets the cost of any of these claims. These are settled through agreement with the contractor who has caused whatever issue has arisen.”
“Personal injury claims treble at sight of Edinburgh tram construction”
I don’t think they were struck blind so I presume you mean “site” and not “sight“.
Opps, thank you.