Clarkson Wright and Jakes Ltd Banner Image

Insights

Yacht Fall Man Receives £930,000 Compensation

A man from Devon has won £930,000 in compensation for the serious injuries he suffered when he fell from a yacht.

The accident happened on the man’s first day working as a crew member on board the yacht, during his induction. The yacht was in dry dock in New Zealand at the time. The colleague who was responsible for carrying out his training had gone off to get some equipment. The man, who had yet to receive health and safety training, was later found on the quayside and was presumed to have fallen from the top deck of the yacht during the other man’s absence.

In the fall, he suffered multiple skull fractures and a severe brain injury.

He was rushed to hospital, where he had to have an operation to drain the blood from his brain. He spent four weeks in hospital before being transferred to a specialist facility, where he underwent weeks of rehabilitation. During this time he was in a wheelchair for a considerable period and unable to feed himself.

The man, who is in his 30s, has been left with only half his field of vision in both eyes. He also has problems with mental reasoning, language, speech and memory.

When he came to pursue a claim for compensation, the case was complicated as he was working abroad on a yacht registered in the Caribbean and run by a firm in the USA. The insurance company involved did not admit liability for the accident but agreed a settlement of £930,000. This will compensate him for loss of earnings and cover his ongoing rehabilitation costs.

View my profile
    • 01689 887822
    • 07825 134695
    • 01689 887888
    • View profile
If you have been injured as a result of an accident at work that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact us to discuss your claim. It is important to take advice early on as there are time limits that apply when making a personal injury claim.
Although correct at the time of publication, the contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article. Please contact us for the latest legal position.