Compensation News

A hotel guest was who suffered a back injury following an accident at a hotel has successfully claimed £6,500 in compensation.  The woman tumbled to the ground during a family meal after the chair she was sitting on collapsed from under her.

As a result of the accident, the woman suffered soft tissue injuries to her lower back which required physiotherapy, and continued to cause her discomfort for months after the accident.

The solicitors acting on behalf of the injured guest noted that the hotel had “failed to ensure that their facilities were safe for use and this is what led to her accident”.… Read more

Mark Smith, 52, was ordered to pay £250 to Pamela Young after she was bitten on her left calf by Smith’s dog, a black collie cross breed called Prinze, in April this year.

Mr Smith pleaded guilty at Caerphilly Magistrates Court to charges of allowing his dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and for causing the injury.

Prosecutor Chris Simkins told the court how Ms Young had parked her car to see her daughter on George Street at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon.  Ms Young saw the dog running up the street as she got out of her car.… Read more

A woman who suffered a fractured shoulder, as well as head & neck pain following an accident at an outdoor market has received a £30,000 compensation award.  The woman needed to take time off work as a result of the accident, and was not able to return to her previous job role, leading to a reduction in her earnings.

The accident happened when a large metal pole fell from a stall in the market as the woman walked past.  Whilst the stallholder did admit liability for the woman’s injuries, the first offer of compensation was considered inadequate.  After negotiation, a figure of £30,000 was agreed as an out of court settlement.… Read more

A cyclist who suffered a broken wrist and a sprained ankle when hit by a negligent uninsured driver, has been awarded compensation by Market Harborough Magistrates’ Court.

The driver told the Court that sun was in his eyes and he didn’t see the cyclist approaching as he came out of a turning.   The court convicted the driver of driving without due care and attention, fined him £335 and ordered him to pay £200 to the cyclist.  He was also banned from driving for nine months after admitting that he had no insurance.

The cyclist may be able to claim further damages via a civil compensation claim.… Read more

A customer who suffered injuries after slipping on a grape in a Peterborough supermarket has been awarded over £10,000 in compensation.

Supermarket managers admitted their failings, which led to the man’s injuries: “We have thorough processes in place to ensure our store floors are kept clean to prevent anyone from slipping or falling.

“We’re extremely sorry that on this occasion we did not meet our own extremely high standards.”

The personal injury solicitor dealing with the case confirmed that the size of the award was in line with official guidance for the injuries sustained.… Read more

A 50-year-old Greater Manchester man has received a compensation payout for tinnitus and deafness after years of being exposed to excessive noise in his workplace.

During his 30 year career the man was never offered protection such as ear defenders, despite regularly being exposed to noise levels in excess of 90db.

He commented, “I was furious when I found out. The council never told us about the dangers or I would have bought something to protect myself.”

He now needs to wear hearing aids in both ears, and suffers from insomnia as a result of his tinnitus symptoms.

The man’s personal injury solicitor commented, “Historically, excessive noise and hearing loss was perceived to be confined to heavy industry.… Read more

Paul Pritchard suffered his injury whilst packing heavy aeroplane components for the Mitie Group.  The incident left Mr Pritchard with injuries which took over eight months to heal.  His employer admitted blame for the accident, and £4,500 in compensation was awarded.

Mr Pritchard told his local newspaper: “I was off work for almost four months and was basically bedridden…..I felt that Mitie should have done more to make sure the job I was doing was safe.”… Read more

A child who suffered serious injuries after he was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing, has been awarded £14,000 in compensation.

The three year old child was knocked down by a Vauxhall Cavalier, while crossing a road hand in hand with his mother near to their home in New Ferry on the Wirral.  The driver had gone through a red light before crashing into the toddler, and then driving off without stopping.

The toddler suffered serious injuries in the accident, and needed treatment at a high dependency unit at Arrowe Park Hospital.  Part of the compensation payout may be used by the family to fund cosmetic surgery to repair some of the scarring which he suffered as a result of the accident.… Read more

A compensation settlement has been agreed in the case of a factory worker whose colleague leapt onto him at work, resulting in him suffering serious back injuries.

William Jones, 46, was bending down to pick up a tool when a colleague jumped onto his back as a joke. Mr Jones heard a popping noise in his back, and it turned out that he was badly injured.

He required surgery to try to correct the injuries he suffered. This involved removing a piece of bone from his hip and inserting it into his spine. He continued to experience severe back pain, however, with the result that he was absent from work on health grounds for four years and was eventually made redundant.… Read more

A resident in a nursing home, who suffered 40 per cent burns when she was lowered into a bath of hot water, has been awarded substantial compensation for the injuries she suffered.

Jeanette De Bono, 28, suffers from a rare neurodevelopmental disorder and has lived in a nursing home for most of her life. She has severe learning difficulties, epilepsy and no communication skills.

She was badly scalded when carers at a nursing home in Sussex lowered her into bath water at a temperature of more than 50 degrees centigrade. She was not able to communicate her distress because of her speech impairment, and her attempts to alert her carers to her plight led them to believe she was having an epileptic fit.… Read more