Accident Compensation

KILL_BILL

alot of pi solicitors will give 30 minutes free advice as to wether you have a case or not

they will assertain whether you have a case and put you in touch with a local solicicotor to discuss the case

pulliptears

From what the OP has said the doormat was sticking up off the floor, hence the trip. This is a hazard.

If the OP cant drive and cant work then she should be compensated for loss of earnings at least.

Anetares

This got me thinking.. At the end of last year I went into a shop and slipped on a wet floor, managed to fall backwards and did some nerve damage to the L1 & L2 lumbar area. The floor wasn't marked or warned or whatever, it was just wet, there wasn't any sign it was being cleaned (i.e. bucket and mop laying around indicating the floor may be wet), and there were also shop displays with large boxes in the middle of the aisle bit I was walking up which I hit myself on.
The staff's first reaction was to laugh at me as I burst into tears - frankly, it hurt like [enter lots of unmentionable words here]. They just left me there until I shouted for someone to help me because I couldn't get up, I tried to stand but couldn't move, got stuck in the same position, then I was offered a chair. I had to ask them to call an ambulance (in an accident earlier in the year I fractured my spine, so I thought it prudent to get it checked out). I was in hospital for 2 days, had an MRI, was kept on morphine injections and discharged with Oramorph (morphine in liquid suspension) for the pain.

I was given an original 12 month recovery prognosis from my spinal fracture, this has added an additional 6 months on. If people are going to start to sue for fracturing wrists by tripping over mats, I think I might give it a go myself

Terrylw1

I've been looking into this for my mum as she slipped on rubble on a public pathway (after the residents had made several complaints asking them to clean it and rectify the fault causing it to gather at the bottom of some steps when it rains) as she broke her shoulder and ended up of work for 6 months having physio. She still hasn't got full movement back.

So, I guess you could say "don't walk don't that pathway" or "don't walk over small bricks on a path" but at the end of the day, the council had plenty of notice to resolve it and failed in their duty of care. She really didn't want to be in pain for all that!

The companies seem to have several types of approach to this from what I've found in no win no fee:

- you have to purchase an insurance policy known as "after the event insurance". You keep 100% but if you lose you have to pay our for all costs to the other party which would then be covered by this insurance. Per another poster, home insurance may cover this.

- same as above but with some I noticed they state if your solicitor cannot then recover his fees off the other side - it comes out of your settlement despite claiming 100% is kept by you.

- some only take your case on if it's likely to earn over X£ compensation or will only take you case on if a win is likely.


So, the best way is to compare the FAQ's and T&C's on their sites and then clarify further on a call to them.

There are also some solicitors who let you mail them for an assessment free of charge prior to signing an agreement.

Remember, there also other costs which are paid out in pursueing your claim e.g. costs for an independant medical assessment.


I often look at these things from the other angle. Companies get away with incompetance by ignoring H&S regulations and causing injuries ot unsuspecting people who didn't go into their premises with the intention of breaking something!!! So, unless the companies are pushed, they don't see it as being wrong until they actually get caught out by someone.

Timmne

This post has got to be a wind up.

Not an unbelievable story but a subject that gets people talking, and look how much the OP has contributed to the latter parts!

uktim29

Terrylw1 wrote: »

I often look at these things from the other angle. Companies get away with incompetance by ignoring H&S regulations and causing injuries ot unsuspecting people who didn't go into their premises with the intention of breaking something!!! So, unless the companies are pushed, they don't see it as being wrong until they actually get caught out by someone.

This could well have been caused by the previous person wiping their feet and moved the mat. Things like this can hardly be described as "incompetance by ignoring H&S regulations". What do you want a law saying if you have a mat you by law then need to employ a mat monitor?

IvanOpinion

Jeez, I remember as a kid getting a cuff round the back of the head for not 'picking my feet up' ... it is definitely a different world we live in today.

ivan

pinkshoes

So how come no one else tripped over the doormat?

Why is everyone always looking for blame nowadays??

I trip over lots of things, including doormats - BECAUSE I AM CLUMSY! (particularly once a month...!).

I also have a permanent bruise on my left thigh from walking into the corner of my desk daily! Now, shall I sue the company for not giving me a round desk? Or shall I just pay more attention to where I am walking??

pulliptears

pinkshoes wrote: »

So how come no one else tripped over the doormat?

But how do you know they didnt?

A few years ago I worked in a shop with a similarly unruly doormat. Several people tripped over it on the way in, fortunately none actually fell. I pointed out to my manager who was a bit of a prat that it was a trip hazard, but frankly he couldnt have cared less.

The next time the shop owner called in I mentioned it to her and it was removed, with immediate effect.

The problems with small shops and doormats are when the shop receives a delivery they prop the door with the mat to carry things in. This usually results in a very sticky up mat and the potential for an accident like the OP describes.

I fell over it myself a few times

helloecho

If that mat wasn't there, people would walk in with wet feet and you'd probably have slipped over on the wet floor instead!