Personal injury news

Suicide widow makes personal injury claim

The widow of a factory worker who killed himself nearly six years after being badly hurt in an industrial accident is entitled to a personal injury claim, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Thomas Corr was 37 when he threw himself to his death from the top of a multi-storey car park in 2002, leaving his widow to bring up their two young children.

Six years earlier, he had been working as a maintenance engineer on a factory production line that produced panels for Vauxhall cars. He had been trying to repair a fault with the equipment when it started up unexpectedly, almost decapitating him in the process. He managed to move his head out of the way but his ear was almost completely severed.

In addition to being permanently disfigured as a result of the work accident, Mr Corr suffered mild tinnitus, constant unsteadiness, severe headaches and difficulty sleeping.

His psychological state worsened and his whole character changed, as revealed by Lord Justice Ward, who said, "He began to suffer a post-traumatic stress disorder. He became bad tempered and drank more than he had before the accident.

"He felt bitter towards his employers and was angry that he had never received a proper apology."

Mr Corr's employers, IBC Vehicles, were ordered to pay his widow, Eileen, £85,000 for the injuries sustained in the industrial accident. She also made a significantly larger personal injury claim relating to his death.

Her latest compensation claim was originally dismissed by the High Court, but yesterday the Court of Appeal overturned the decision. The level of damages to be awarded will be decided at a later date.