Background of Injury

Before his injuries, the plaintiff, who was born in September 1988 built his career in scaffolding. From 2015 onward he spent long days carrying heavy poles and planks, climbing pitched roofs, and working under constant time pressure. There was never enough help, and he often worked with new colleagues who needed his support. Over time those demands wore on his back.

Two events made matters much worse. In May 2020 he was moving scaffolding across a muddy building site when he twisted awkwardly and fell. The sudden pain forced him off work. Nearly two years later, on 23 March 2022, he was installing a railing on a sloping roof when his footing slipped and he jarred his spine. Pain shot down his leg. After this second incident his WorkCover claim was accepted. He tried to return on reduced hours but couldn’t manage. In September he resigned and eventually took a lighter job driving trucks for Fulton Hogan. Driving is easier than climbing scaffolds, but his back still hurts every day.

Treatment & Medication

He has tried a number of treatments. A neurosurgeon reviewed his case and arranged an epidural injection. He has spent many hours in physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, and he even tried chiropractic treatment after the first injury. None of these therapies has provided lasting relief, so he continues with regular physiotherapy to ease muscle cramps as best he can. Strong prescription painkillers are not an option because of his high blood pressure; the one time he tried Endone he experienced severe side-effect. These days he mostly relies on over‑the‑counter analgesics such as Panadol, which help only a little.

Pain & Suffering Consequences Of The Injury

Living with constant discomfort has affected every part of his life. Exercise used to be a passion – he enjoyed bodybuilding and strength training – but now he can only manage light upper‑body work. His reduced activity has led to a weight gain of around thirty to forty kilograms, which has hurt his confidence and his health. He rarely sleeps more than three or four hours at a stretch because spasms and discomfort wake him; chronic fatigue and irritability are now the norm.

The injury has strained his relationship with his partner. His restlessness has driven her to sleep on the couch, intimacy has declined, and his irritability has increased. He once took pride in his independence but now needs help with routine household tasks such as vacuuming, mopping and mowing the lawn. He uses devices like a robotic vacuum and pays others to handle chores he used to do himself.

Pain has also narrowed his social world. He declines invitations because he worries about flare‑ups and the embarrassment of leaving early. He cannot return to scaffolding or any job that requires long periods of sitting. Even his truck‑driving role causes significant pain, and he worries about how long he will be able to keep working. Long car journeys are taxing because he must stop often to relieve the ache, which means his family travels far less than they once did.

The hardest change involves his three children, now aged four, ten and eleven. He can no longer play sports or run around with them. Being unable to share in their games leaves him saddened and frustrated, and the children struggle to understand why their father’s involvement has changed so much.

Outcome

With the support of our workers compensation lawyers, he was awarded $150 000 in pain‑and‑suffering damages. The payment acknowledges the physical and emotional costs of an injury that has altered his work, his relationships and his sense of self.