Past Cases - Other Cases
Scalding Injury
We acted for a delightful lady (aged 86) who suffered a scalding injury at her home in Swindon during September 2009. On the day in question, she was receiving care from an employee of a care agency. This employee filled 2 hot water bottles and placed them behind our client’s back to make her more comfortable. The hot water bottles were pushed between her back and the chair in which she was sitting and, as she leant back against them, one of them suddenly burst and burning hot water escaped, causing a scalding injury to her lower back. She had to be admitted to hospital where she stayed for 5 months as an unfortunately she caught an infection. When discharged from hospital, she was no longer able to look after herself and had to go into a nursing home. Our medical expert was of the opinion that the scalding injury did not cause her to be admitted to the home as it is likely that this would have happened in any event. In our view, the carer was entirely to blame for this accident. The insurers of the care agency vigorously disputed liability and proceedings had to be issued on her behalf at the County Court. Shortly before this case was listed for a trial, the care agency agreed to compensate our client for her injury.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £4,000.00 for this client during 2012
Collision with a fox hound
We acted for a cyclist (aged 63) who was cycling along a country lane near to Cheltenham, Glos during June 2011, when a foxhound from a farmers hunt accidentally collided with his bicycle, causing him to fall to the ground and fracture his left shoulder. It was a serious fracture and he was admitted to hospital where he underwent surgery to fix it. He is a making a slow but steady recovery and the prognosis for the future is encouraging. We were in correspondence with the insurers of the farmers’ hunt who initially disputed liability. They later agreed, however, to compensate our client without the need for us to issue proceedings.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £35,000.00 for this client during 2012
Serious knee injury
One of our clients (aged 52 at the time) was involved in an accident during March 2008 when she tripped over a builders line as she was walking towards an office. At the time, she was working as a volunteer at a charity. As a result of her accident, she sustained a number of injuries including a fracture to her left kneecap. She later required a total knee replacement and continues to suffer from symptoms which impact on her life both at home and socially. It is likely that she may need further revision surgery to her knee in the future. Due to an underlying back problem, she was not working at the time and there was no claim for loss of earnings. Although, liability was conceded by the insurers of the charity at an early stage in this case there was a dispute on quantum. Fortunately, we were able to agree upon a settlement shortly after we issued proceedings.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £125,000.00 for this client during 2012
Unsafe ankle boots
One of our clients (aged 52 at the time) purchased some ankle boots from a shoe shop in the outlet village in Swindon during November 2008. During December 2008, whilst she was out shopping wearing her new ankle boots, she slipped and fell due to a defect in one of the heels (it had not been properly secured to the boot making it unstable) which caused her to fall to the ground and fracture her left wrist. She was then off work for about 7 weeks but did not suffer a loss of earnings. She tried to deal with this claim herself but found she was making very little progress with it. Once she instructed our firm we arranged for her to have some additional medical treatment which included a steroid injection which cleared up most of her ongoing symptoms. The insurers of the shoe shop then accepted liability for her accident but declined to make a sensible offer of compensation. We therefore had no option but to issue proceedings and shortly afterwards we were able to settle our client’s claim.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £10,000.00 for this client during 2012
Falling off a ladder
We acted for our client (aged 46) who worked at a warehouse in Swindon. On the 03 April 2009, she was asked by her manager to do some stock checks. To do so, she had to stand on a metal A-frame ladder. A fellow employee accidentally collided with the ladder causing her to lose her balance and fall, landing heavily on the ground. She sustained a number of soft tissue injuries including a minor head injury and a fractured metatarsal on her left hand. The client made a good recovery from all these injuries. A settlement was agreed without the need for us to issue proceedings.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £8,500.00 for this client during 2011
Accident at hotel
One of our clients (aged 58) who is registered disabled, stumbled on some defective steps while attending a social occasion on the 18 September 2010 at a hotel in Cheltenham. The steps in question gave way under his weight causing him to fall and land onto his right knee. Unfortunately, this accident aggravated a pre-existing condition of arthritis in his right knee by a period of about 18 months. He now needs knee replacement earlier than would have been the case but for his accident. A letter of claim was sent on his behalf to the insurers of the hotel and we were able to agree upon a settlement figure.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £12,500.00 for this client during 2011
Soft tissue injury to left leg
We acted for the wife (aged 34) of a soldier based at Dalton barracks in Oxfordshire. On the 9 July 2010, she had to walk past the main guardroom, when the soldier on duty lowered the barrier and it inadvertently struck her left leg causing a soft tissue injury. It took her about 12 months before she was fully recovered from this injury. She did not suffer a loss of earnings. A letter of claim was sent on her behalf to the MOD and we were able to negotiate a settlement on her behalf.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £2,300.00 for this client during 2011
Knocked over by a nightclub bouncer
We acted for a client (aged 35) who together with some friends visited a nightclub in Gloucester during May 2010. During the early hours of the morning, a fight broke out near the bar area and a member of the club’s security staff (who was running towards the disturbance) accidentally collided with our client causing her to fall over and sustain a number of soft tissue injuries. She was left with a whiplash type injury to her neck which resolved itself within about 18 to 24 months following this accident. She was badly shaken up by the whole experience. A letter of claim was sent to the security company in question and we were able to settle her claim without the need to issue proceedings.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £4,010.00 for this client during 2011
Faulty examination couch
In a bizarre accident, our client (aged 41) was attending a routine hospital consultation on the 4 August 2009. At one point, she was asked lie down on the examination couch which was being elevated. When it reached the top, the mechanism failed causing the couch to drop vertically some 12 to 18 inches causing a soft tissue injury to our client’s lower back. She then had to attend the A & E department for further treatment. It is anticipated that she should be fully recovered from this injury within 20 months or so. Unfortunately, we were unable to negotiate a settlement of her claim without the need to issue proceedings. Shortly after doing so, we were able to agree upon a settlement figure with the hospital’s solicitors.
S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £5,835.00 for this client during 2011
Manhole Accident
One of our clients (aged 63) had a nasty accident just outside his home in Priory Vale, Swindon. During April 2009, he was walking in the communal garden, when he stepped on manhole cover which collapsed beneath him, causing him to fall into it and suffer lacerations to both his legs. Fortunately, he made a complete recovery from his injuries within a period of 2 months although he has been left with some minor scars on both legs. The insurers of the company responsible for the said manhole cover admitted liability following receipt of our letter of claim.
S J Edney solicitors obtained damages of £3,750.00 for this client during 2009.
Builders’ scaffolding injures foot
In one of the most unusual cases which we were involved in during 2008, a client of ours (aged 62), walked into his garden only to accidentally stand on a protruding nail which penetrated one of his feet. This nail had fallen from some builders’ scaffolding at an adjoining property. To begin with the firm of builders in question refused to acknowledge or respond to any of our correspondence but we were eventually able to obtain details of their public liability insurers who after being notified of this claim agreed to compensate our client for his injury. The good news is that he made a good recovery although his foot will always be a little sore.
SJ Edney solicitors obtained £10,000.00 for this client in 2008
Hotel chair collapses damaging ear drum
Our client (aged 67) and his wife were staying at a hotel in Manchester prior to catching an aeroplane the following day in order to travel to South America. Our client was sitting in one of the hotel chairs when it collapsed underneath him causing him to land heavily on the floor. He sustained a number of soft tissue injuries and his holiday was effectively ruined. It was only when he returned to the UK that he became aware of a problem with his hearing and balance and it subsequently transpired that he had damaged his ear drum in the accident. Fortunately with surgery the prognosis for a full recovery was very good. Correspondence was exchanged between our firm and the insurers of the said hotel and we were eventually able to negotiate a settlement for him.
SJ Edney solicitors obtained £20,750.00 for this client in 2008
Nightclub door causes cut to face
We acted for a young man (aged 19) who visited a Nightclub at the University of Essex during January 2006. At one point, he had to use the men’s toilets when the main door to the toilet was suddenly flung open and its edge caught his left eye and forehead leaving him with a nasty cut on his face. This left him with a small scar. We ascertained that the door in question was unsafe as its door closing mechanism device had not been working. Liability was disputed by the insurers of the Nightclub and it was only after we issued proceedings and were preparing for trial, an offer was made which we advised our client to accept.
SJ Edney solicitors obtained £7,500.00 for this client in 2008
Physical and psychological injuries sustained after dog attacks
One of our clients (aged 27) was involved in a terrifying incident at work when she was attacked and bitten by a large dog belonging to her employer. She suffered a number of physical and psychological injuries and has been left with scarring. Fortunately, liability was not an issue and after protracted negotiations a settlement was achieved for her.
SJ Edney solicitors obtained £16,250.00 for this client for this client in 2007
Hairdresser nipped client's ear
We acted for a client who had an unhappy experience whilst visiting his hairdresser. The Stylist accidentally nipped his ear whilst cutting his hair. This was very painful at the time but it has left him with no long term damage.
SJ Edney solicitors obtained £1,530.00 for this client in 2005
6ft plastic ball causes fractures
In what must be one of the most unusual accidents which we have come across, one of our clients, was helping a friend to promote a 6ft plastic ball which carried up to two people inside it. The ball rolled over whilst in motion. Unfortunately, our client was accidentally knocked over by this ball and suffered a number of fractures and had to give up his job and re-train doing something less physical. Proceedings had to be issued in this case and it settled shortly before Trial.
SJ Edney solicitors obtained £167,500.00 for this client in 2005
