Unite member Michael Stanley has been awarded £28,000 compensation after he suffered multiple injuries when he was hit by a car.
The 68-year-old, who was leader of North Warwickshire Borough Council at the time, was hit by a car while crossing a road in Nuneaton.
He needed two operations for fractures to his right ankle and leg, keeping him in hospital for two weeks. Unable to put weight on his foot for three months, the injury curtailed his duties for the council, which included election campaigning.
Michael said: “The driver was going the right way but unfortunately wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings, plain and simple. If he had, I wouldn’t have been hospitalised. The injury curtailed my council work at one of the most important times of the year and left me in significant pain months after the elections ended.”
In total, it took 18 months for Michael’s leg and ankle injuries to heal. While he can now walk unaided, he continues to suffer occasional pain.
As a Unite member, having joined in 1966, he was able to contact Unite Legal Services for guidance with a compensation claim.
“The fractures have definitely slowed me down,” he said. “I find myself trailing behind family and friends when I’m out walking and general housework can be a chore.
“I became a Unite member in my teens and never looked back. This claim has reminded me why I joined decades ago. Without my union’s legal support, I would not have received the compensation I did.”
Peter Coulson, Unite regional officer, said: “A Unite membership provides a wide range of legal support. It’s not just about helping those injured at work, as this case clearly shows. Michael’s council activities were almost brought to a halt because of his injuries in an accident that shouldn’t have happened.
“We’re glad we were able to bring a successful resolution to the case, making sure Michael was fairly compensated for his injuries.”
