Mark had been working as a welder for Hadee Engineering Ltd for over 15 years when he was hit on the head by a five and a half tonne sheet on 24 October 2007.
He was crossing the factory floor using the designated walkway when the steel sheet, which was being manoeuvred by a tandem lift, swung out of position and knocked him into a steel skip.
The accident left him with a deep skull fracture, brain contusions and a right sided haemorrhage, and multiple fractures to both eye sockets.
He was treated by paramedics at the scene of the accident, but then had to be taken to Neurosurgical Unit at Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where he was treated as an emergency case.
He underwent a 16 hour operation at the hospital, where titanium plates were inserted into his skull in order to protect his brain from further damage. He remained at the Royal Hallamshire for three months following the accident, before being transferred to the Northern General Hospital for neuro-rehabilitation.
With the help of Irwin Mitchell's specialist head injury solicitors, Mark was able to obtain 100% compensation for his injuries, calculated to cover his rehabilitation and life long care needs.
Mark's mother, Sandra Downs, commented on the outcome of the claim for compensation: “We are very relieved at the outcome of the trial. We are pleased that we have been able to move one step closer to getting the funding we need for Mark’s care and rehabilitation in the future.
“We are extremely grateful to Irwin Mitchell, not just for their work on the case but for the ongoing help and support they have given us. Their hard work has made sure Mark will be able to access the highest standard of care for the rest of his life.”