Personal injury claims for trips, slips and public liability

There are countless ways in which one person's negligence can cause another to trip, slip, fall, be fallen on or otherwise suffer personal injury.

These are the main categories:

Pedestrian highway injury claim

Local Councils owe a statutory duty to keep pavements in repair. Where they fail to do so and the pavement becomes dangerous they may be liable to a person who falls over a pavement defect and sustains injury.

These cases can be difficult to win because councils can often rely on the defence that they had a proper inspection and repair system. It is very important that the injured person takes photographs of the defect and contacts witnesses as soon as possible.

Injury claims in other public places

Shops, restuarants, bars, cinemas, schools and nurseries, sporting and other events, communal parts of residential buildings. The list is almost endless but the point is that if a person or organisation invites another person onto his land or to his event then he owes that other person a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent him suffering injury. This is not an absolute duty and no-one is liable for a pure accident or another person’s misadventure.

Here are some examples of recent personal injury claims we have won in this area:

• Woman tripped over raised paving slab outside her home and fell, breaking a wrist. Council denied liability and blamed contractors. Case won at trial and Claimant awarded £6000.
• Broken handrail in restaurant caused elderly lady to fall. Physical and psychological injuries accelerated need for residential care and case settled after litigation for £100,000.
• Visitor to art exhibition slipped on mock blood from (very modern) art exhibit and suffered nasty wrist fracture. Case settled after proceedings for £9000.
• Young woman suffered temporary burns from wax treatment in beauty salon. Awarded £3000 at trial.

How do I start my personal injury claim?

Contact Wendy Wright on 020 7681 8671 or by e-mail to wendywright@osbornes.net. Or Stuart Kightley on 020 7681 8672 or by e-mail to stuartkightley@osbornes.net

We will then discuss the personal injury claim with you over the phone and if you have a claim we will arrange a free initial interview either here or at your home

• Personal injury claims on holiday
• Personal injury claims for road traffic accidents
• Product liability claims
• Personal injury claims for head injuries
• Criminal personal injury claims
• Work accident and disease claims
• Personal injuries and stress claims at school