During one of the many building demolitions taking place around London, I found myself lying on the curb after part of a wall had collapsed on me. Instead of falling to the empty lot in the rear, it teetered before falling to the front where several bystanders were standing in.
The first thought that entered my mind as I regained consciousness was that I was in hell because everything was dark and I was experiencing the most excruciating pain I even felt in my entire life. But after a few minutes of disorientation, I realised that I was buried underneath rubble.
It took five more hours of darkness and pain before I finally heard the dogs, machines, and people digging towards my position. And it was another hour before I was finally extracted from underneath tons of steel and concrete.
During the trial covering my personal injury compensation, the lawyers for the contracting company insisted that I was fortunate to be alive and that they already did more than enough by paying for my hospitalization. And when they rested their case, they insisted that I was not entitled to anything more than what they already spent.
Thankfully I had a good lawyer and he argued that paying for my medical bills was only part of the company’s obligation. I had missed work for six months and was eventually laid off because I could not carry heavy items which formed part of my job. And as I continue to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, treatment for that should be covered as well.
My lawyer concluded that the trial was short, but I felt like it was the longest thing in the world, especially since I had to continue attending every court appearance from a wheelchair.
In the end, my lawyer was able to secure an amount equivalent to my future salary as part of my personal injury compensation. He was also able to get a budget for my post-traumatic stress disorder as well as something for my continuing therapy.
And while I do appreciate that all my bills will be covered, it is the changes that the company that was ordered to make that put me at ease.
You see, the contracting company was right about my being fortunate. I was the only survivor of the collapsed wall. Fourteen others, including a policeman, died on that fateful day. So when the court ordered changes in the way buildings are brought down, I felt good to know that lives would be saved in the future.
The first thought that entered my mind as I regained consciousness was that I was in hell because everything was dark and I was experiencing the most excruciating pain I even felt in my entire life. But after a few minutes of disorientation, I realised that I was buried underneath rubble.
It took five more hours of darkness and pain before I finally heard the dogs, machines, and people digging towards my position. And it was another hour before I was finally extracted from underneath tons of steel and concrete.
During the trial covering my personal injury compensation, the lawyers for the contracting company insisted that I was fortunate to be alive and that they already did more than enough by paying for my hospitalization. And when they rested their case, they insisted that I was not entitled to anything more than what they already spent.
Thankfully I had a good lawyer and he argued that paying for my medical bills was only part of the company’s obligation. I had missed work for six months and was eventually laid off because I could not carry heavy items which formed part of my job. And as I continue to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, treatment for that should be covered as well.
My lawyer concluded that the trial was short, but I felt like it was the longest thing in the world, especially since I had to continue attending every court appearance from a wheelchair.
In the end, my lawyer was able to secure an amount equivalent to my future salary as part of my personal injury compensation. He was also able to get a budget for my post-traumatic stress disorder as well as something for my continuing therapy.
And while I do appreciate that all my bills will be covered, it is the changes that the company that was ordered to make that put me at ease.
You see, the contracting company was right about my being fortunate. I was the only survivor of the collapsed wall. Fourteen others, including a policeman, died on that fateful day. So when the court ordered changes in the way buildings are brought down, I felt good to know that lives would be saved in the future.
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