Chainsaw accident at work

Posted on January 29, 2026

When parts of a chainsaw blade were embedded in the leg of our client during a workplace accident we were able to negotiate a full and final settlement of £15,000 with his employers.

The incident occurred near the M65 motorway, close to Blackburn, where our client had been contracted to cut down lamp columns as part of roadside works.

Leg injury claim

While using a chainsaw to remove one of the columns, he had cut halfway through when he adjusted the revs. At that moment, the blade catastrophically failed and exploded, sending metal fragments directly into his shin.

He received immediate first aid on site before being taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital. Surgeons carried out an operation to remove debris from the wound due to concerns that fragments might remain inside. He required 11 stitches and later underwent follow-up plastic surgery to improve the appearance and healing of the injury.

Employer failures

“Everyone deserves to expect a safe working environment and to arrive home from work safely at the end of the day. However, when things go wrong and people are injured they need help and advice on how to claim the compensation they deserve, in this case follow up plastic surgery was needed on the wound” said Solicitor and Head of Personal Injury, Michael Talbot.

“The Defendant provided our client with equipment which was unsafe, not suitable for the purpose for which it was provided and was not in efficient working order. The Defendant also failed to provide a safe work system and exposed our client to unnecessary risk of injury and was in breach of its duty to our client,” he added.

Speical damages secured

This was far from a superficial injury. In addition to compensation for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity, our team successfully claimed a range of special damages, including:

Care and assistance during recovery
Payment for household tasks the client was unable to perform
Mileage to and from medical appointments
Loss of gym membership
Reimbursement for topical creams and oils used for scar treatment

These additional losses ensured the client received a settlement that accurately reflected the full impact of the accident on his daily life.

Personal Injury lawyers No Win No Fee

This personal injury case was run under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) - more commonly known as a “no win, no fee” agreement. Under this arrangement:

If the case is successful, the client’s legal fees, expenses, disbursements, and success fee are taken from the settlement.
If the case is unsuccessful, the solicitor typically waives their legal fees, although certain expenses may still need to be met.

How can we help?

Workplace injuries can have long-lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Whether caused by faulty equipment, poor training, or unsafe work practices, you have the right to seek compensation - and our experienced Personal Injury solicitors is here to support you every step of the way.

We offer clear guidance, expert representation, and a commitment to achieving the best possible result for every client.

If you have had an accident at work and need legal advice, contact our personal injury solicitors on 0161 785 3500 or email enquiries@pearsonlegal.co.uk

Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.