Royal Mail and 'injury', custardy?

pulliptears

Just been over to see my elderly Mum who tells me that this morning she found 2 postmen measuring and photographing her front gate. She went out to find out why and one of them told her that the other had 'cut his finger' on the latch of her gate this morning. He held up an index finger which was covered with the worlds smallest plaster. Mum did ask how he's managed that when said gate has been there for 30 years without any other incident but they seemed unwilling to answer anything else, got in the van and left.

Obviously I'm hearing this second hand from Mum but I'm curious as to what happens now. I've inspected and photographed the gate myself and can say with all honesty there isn't a rough part on it that would be possible to cut yourself on! Its a wrought iron gate thats painted and the latch is completely smooth. I've been opening it twice a day for the last 30 years myself and have all my fingers intact.

Is this likely to go any further? Obviously she's now worried she's going to end up sued for a small cut to the finger.

custardy

pulliptears wrote: »

Just been over to see my elderly Mum who tells me that this morning she found 2 postmen measuring and photographing her front gate. She went out to find out why and one of them told her that the other had 'cut his finger' on the latch of her gate this morning. He held up an index finger which was covered with the worlds smallest plaster. Mum did ask how he's managed that when said gate has been there for 30 years without any other incident but they seemed unwilling to answer anything else, got in the van and left.

Obviously I'm hearing this second hand from Mum but I'm curious as to what happens now. I've inspected and photographed the gate myself and can say with all honesty there isn't a rough part on it that would be possible to cut yourself on! Its a wrought iron gate thats painted and the latch is completely smooth. I've been opening it twice a day for the last 30 years myself and have all my fingers intact.

Is this likely to go any further? Obviously she's now worried she's going to end up sued for a small cut to the finger.

unlikely
cuts etc are part of delivery
thing is a postie is usually moving faster than when you 'normally' open the gate
RM wont really be interested. If there is an issue with the gate/access then n doubt they will be in contact

paulofessex

There's been a lot in the press lately regarding police officers making claims outside of the force so perhaps the postman is considering doing the same. using one of those injured lawyers you see on adverts. Not sure how your mum would stand if such a thing happened. I'm guessing her home insurance which my include legal advice would be the starting point should anything come of it.

sacha28

Good God what is wrong with people today? Surely opening a gate is just an occupational hazard that you live with??!! The whole compo culture has just gone mental, people really do fail to take responsibility for themselves.
My closest friend had an issue with a postie last year, she got a letter from RM saying that they were looking into her dog 'biting' one of their delivery staff. She also had a visit from the local dog warden and a police officer to investigate her dog's 'nature' and to make sure he was safe. She has a one year old daughter, born years after the dog was bought, and has NEVER shown aggression towards her (or anyone else for that matter) and that's despite her pulling his fur/tail, poking him in the eye etc.
Turns out, after weeks of threatening letters from RM that the delivery man was going to claim compo for 'damages' and 'stress' that a neighbour had seen said incident and her dog had run out of the front door barking at him.......BEFORE he even got through the gate!!!!! So with that statement, and the info from the DW and police that the dog was perfectly safe, the claim was dropped. No apology to my frien for the stress they had caused her tho. Funny that.

pulliptears

Thanks all.

Obviously its worried her with them coming back to investigate the gate. I cant see how it could hurt someone no matter how quickly it was opened tbh as its smooth. Whether he'd cut himself on something else and only noticed when he opened the gate I dont know, but I cant see any way he's done it on that.

She does have insurance so we'll see what happens now.
I will update if something occurs.

geri1965_2

I expect they were taking photos of the gate for their union solicitors to assess. If there is nothing wrong with the gate then I would expect them to be advised that a claim is not likely to succeed.

If she does receive a letter, she should pass it to her insurance company straight away and not panic.

zerog

The postman no longer delivers to my door, I have to go downstairs to the front entrance. When I asked why he said he could trip over the stairs

porto_bello

zerog wrote: »

The postman no longer delivers to my door, I have to go downstairs to the front entrance. When I asked why he said he could trip over the stairs

And don't forget, he might put his back out, what with carrying a letter with a weight of more than 100 grams uphill! _pale_

withabix

geri1965 wrote: »

If she does receive a letter, she should pass it to ROYAL MAIL'S insurance company straight away and not panic.

Just correcting you there.

Employer's liability insurance is for this purpose, unless of course the communist posties' union has previously written to your Mum advising her that her gate is very dangerous...

Coming next...

Postie sues council after tripping over kerb between van and footpath.

geri1965_2

withabix wrote: »

Just correcting you there.

Employer's liability insurance is for this purpose, unless of course the communist posties' union has previously written to your Mum advising her that her gate is very dangerous...

No.

If the letter is addressed to her and holding her responsible, then she should pass it on to her own insurance company.

Royal Mail are not responsible if one of their employees is injured on premises they have no control over.

Lifeforms

No comment about the hazards of paper cuts?!

Crikey! Those things are the worst ever. I swear I feel like I've severed my finger when I get one, so all those letters they handle must be a nightmare for insurance...