Bridgestone Sued in Australia for Tyre Injury

An Australian man has sued Bridgestone Tyres for more than AU$400,000 (£194,000) following two workplace injuries. Former forklift driver Brett Suna, employed at premises operated by the company in suburban Brisbane, was injured in July 2002 whilst trying to manually lift a 40-kilogram truck tyre from a raised cage. It is said Mr. Suna fell backwards and the tyre dropped onto his head. A year later he was again injured, his arm wrenched while attempting to retrieve a tyre for a customer. Doctors report that the impact of the tyre dislodged a disc in Suna’s back, causing him recurring pain, restricting his movements and limiting his future job prospects.

Lawyers for Bridgestone unsuccessfully argued Suna may have suffered from a pre-existing back injury, and any of a number of normally harmless activities could have caused his slipped disc. However the court ruled in favour of Suna, ordering the company pay him $407,775 for lost income and future earning capacity, pain and suffering.