Alton Towers injury-what should i do?

jumblejack

Hi. My family went to Alton Towers nearly a month ago. My 7 year old wanted to go in the sealife part as it was new.

There are circular window bowls there: some concave so you can put your head in for a 3d look around and some convex (which come out). The two styles of bowl windows look identical as it creates a kind of illusion- both seem to go in.

My son looked into one and then rushed to the other one to look inside (which stuck out instead) and crashed his face into it. The assistant asked if he was OK but he was crying too much and holding onto his mouth. I took him outside and when he showed me his mouth, he had cracked his permanent front tooth. We had only just had a family check up at the dentists 3 days previously so I was utterly gutted as he has no problems with his teeth prior to this.

I filled in a complaints form and have only just received a reply after several follow up phone calls, which offered 4 complimentary tickets as a "full and final compensation resulting from this claim"!

I rang up to express my disgust and was told that it had been checked by health and safety and was approved for public use.

What can I do?

Jacky xx

robpw2

what do you want them to do . because that kind of determines what you do next
first if your not happy i would right to them and advise your disgust .. better than phone call get everything from them in writing

if you want compensation .. (for ?) as dentistry for under 18 is free then you would need to seek legal advice ..

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Compensation for what?

Your son headbutting a window? When he is a teenager will you also be asking for compensation when he trips over drunk or damages his lungs smoking

what a complete leech you are.

DebtHater

Where theres blame theres a claim, eh?

Put this down to experience, its a bit unfair for them to cough up the bill for your son not looking where he is going

jumblejack

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

what a complete leech you are.

How very insulting you are.

We have been to quite a few sealife centres which have these bowl effect windows which are designed for heads to look inside for a 3d effect. I have never come across any that balloon out. To have one of these in a tank next to one that goes in is extremely misleading and is a real safety issue.

I would be happy to see it removed so that other children (they are at a childrens height level) do not have the same injury or worse (it could easily have been a broken nose).

As regards being a leech, what use are the complimentary tickets when your son is autistic and gets distressed by places which are associated with a bad experience?

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Its a safety issue to the blind only.

Your son headbutted a window sticking out. Its clearly not their fault. As to suggest it is because other places have different windows. well you are a leech.

Care to quanitfy exactly what it is you think you deserve and why

pinkshoes

jumblejack wrote: »

My son looked into one and then rushed to the other one to look inside (which stuck out instead) and crashed his face into it.


What can I do?

What you can do is put it down to experience.

They generally request in such places to please keep an eye on your children and don't allow them to RUN around!

As you have already told us that he was rushing (as highlighted above), it's kinda not suprising this happened.

I think 4 free tickets is a very generous offer.

jumblejack

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

Care to quanitfy exactly what it is you think you deserve and why

I believe I already have:
"I would be happy to see it removed so that other children (they are at a childrens height level) do not have the same injury or worse (it could easily have been a broken nose)."

And just to repeat again, the concave and convex glass bowl windows look identical as they create an illusion of depth. They need to be felt to discern which is which.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

jumblejack wrote: »

I believe I already have:
"I would be happy to see it removed so that other children (they are at a childrens height level) do not have the same injury or worse (it could easily have been a broken nose)."

And just to repeat again, the concave and convex glass bowl windows look identical as they create an illusion of depth. They need to be felt to discern which is which.

Or maybe other parents will just ensure their children are suitably controlled.

Ivrytwr3

jumblejack wrote: »

And just to repeat again, the concave and convex glass bowl windows look identical as they create an illusion of depth. They need to be felt to discern which is which..

just like McDonalds now have to state on their cups:

"Coffee - Hot drink inside".

Are the British really as dumb as some Americans? Or do you think we should not have let the child run around unsupervised ESPECIALLY as he is autistic?

The centre has already passed Health & Safety. They don't HAVE to do anything.

michaelvintner

This might sound nasty but kids get injured. It's part of growing up. I fell off my bike when i was 11 and hurt my knee. I also ran straight into a climbing frame at an adventure playground.

Should I now go back and sue the council. Why does everyone now expect to be given stuff when everyday things happen.

It's called an accident and they happen. Maybe we should all sue god for accidents.