Past Cases - Tripping or Slipping

Accident whilst on holiday abroad

We acted for the parents of a young girl who was only aged 6 at the time of her accident. Briefly, during March 2010, her parents had booked a holiday with Thomas Cook staying at a resort in Turkey. The contract provided for both flights and accommodation thus triggering the Package Holidays & Package Tours Regulations 1992 – the upshot is that her case could be heard in England under English law. On the 17 April 2010, whilst on holiday, our client slipped on a wet step, close to the swimming pool at the hotel the family were staying, which caused her to fall and sustain a number of facial injuries including the loss of four of her front milk teeth. She was taken to hospital and received dental treatment both in Turkey and upon her return to the UK. It was our case that the step in question was too slippery and appropriate safeguards including anti-slip rubber grips would have prevented the accident. A letter of claim was sent to Thomas Cook and their solicitors initially denied liability. After threatening to issue proceedings, they reconsidered their position and we were eventually able to negotiate a settlement on behalf of our client.

S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £4,500.00 for this client during 2011

Falling over in town

During July 2007, one of our clients (a woman aged 60) was walking along the pavement close to the shopping centre in Swindon when she tripped and fell to the ground and fractured her right shoulder. The cause of her trip is that she had stepped onto the cover of an inspection chamber which had a concrete surface which had become severely cracked and pitted. This inspection cover was the property and/or responsibility of Thames Water Utilities Limited. A letter of claim was submitted on her behalf but the insurers of Thames Water denied liability. They maintained that the manhole cover, whilst cracked, did not constitute a danger to pedestrians as there was an insufficient lip to cause someone to trip. Proceedings had to be issued at Swindon County Court and shortly before the date fixed for trial, the parties were able to agree upon a settlement. This figure had to be discounted to represent the litigation risk that our client may not succeed with her claim at trial.

S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £3,500.00 for this client during 2011.

Accident in pub

Another client of ours (aged 30) was visiting her local pub in Oxford. At one point, she decided to use the ladies toilet and as she was walking across the floor, she slipped on a wet substance (probably split beer) which caused her to lose her footing and fall, hitting her face on the corner of a nearby fruit machine. This left her with a split lip and some bruising on her face. She made a good recovery from her injuries within a few weeks of her accident. The insurers of the public house disputed liability and we had to issue proceedings on her behalf at Oxford County Court. Shortly before trial, we were able to agree upon a settlement.

S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £1,000.00 for this client during 2010

Accident at Sainsburys

One of our clients (now aged 59) slipped on a slippery substance (she suspects cream cheese) during December 2008 whilst she was shopping at her local Sainsburys store in Sevenoaks, Kent. She landed heavily and sustained a fracture of a metatarsal in her left foot and a fracture of her right wrist which was her dominant arm. She worked as a physiotherapist and was off work for about 3 months because of her injuries. The insurers of Sainsburys admitted liability for her accident but we were unable to agreement the value of her claim. Proceedings were issued at Swindon County Court. Sainsburys solicitors then attempted to withdraw the earlier admission of liability which had been made which we successfully opposed. We were then able to settle her claim.

S J Edney solicitors obtained compensation of £12,500.00 for this client during 2010

Trapped stiletto causes broken arm

One of our clients (aged 49) attended her daughter’s wedding reception at a hotel in Swindon. The dance floor at the reception was only a temporary construction and had been erected beforehand. There were small gaps between the floor panels. Whilst our client was dancing, one of her stilettos got caught in one of the gaps, causing her to fall over and break her right arm. She had to undergo surgery. Fortunately, she has made a good recovery from this injury and there was no claim for loss of earnings. After receiving our letter of claim the insurers of the hotel admitted liability. We were able to negotiate a settlement for her.

SJ Edney solicitors obtained £11,700.00 for this client in 2009

Large pothole throws cyclist off his bike fracturing his left clavicle

We acted for a client (aged 42) who was involved in an accident during February 2007 when he fell from his bicycle. He had been riding along a narrow country lane in Wiltshire when his bike hit a large pothole in the road which was filled with rainwater. As a result, he was thrown off his bike, hitting the road and fracturing his left clavicle. The Highway Authority responsible for this stretch of road was Wiltshire County Council who vigorously denied liability for his accident. They tried to pass the blame onto Network Rail who had also been working in this area at the material time. Proceedings had to be issued at Court and once these had been served on their solicitors, they admitted liability straightaway. Fortunately, our client made a complete recovery from his injury although he has been left with an unsightly lump on his shoulder.

SJ Edney solicitors obtained £6,000.00 for this client in 2008

Ankle injury caused by defective grid

Another client (a pensioner) tripped over a defective grid outside her local Lidl store causing her a nasty ankle injury. This injury had a major impact on her life in that it took her much longer than before to do her normal household chores and care for her disabled husband. She had been fit and active prior to her accident and not surprisingly her symptoms caused her to become depressed. The prognosis for the future was encouraging. This case settled before the issue of proceedings.