Compensation for Injury on Business Premises

Nicola was injured in July 2010. She contacted Barratts Solicitors and instructed us to pursue a claim on her behalf for compensation. We overcame the insurers’ objections and succeeded in recovering 100% compensation for Nicola.

In July 2010 Nicola was visiting some business premises where she tripped on a raised door threshold of an internal doorway. Unfortunately, just beyond the doorway was a concrete flight of stairs. This meant that when Nicola fell forward she struck her right knee on the stairs. As a result, she sustained serious displaced intra articular fractures of the upper tibia and fibula bones involving the knee joint. This was a particularly painful injury and Nicola needed to be admitted to hospital as an emergency patient. She needed an operation on her knee during her stay in hospital.

By December 2010 the insurers admitted that their insured were responsible for the accident. However they argued that Nicola was partly responsible. They claimed that, if she had been more careful, she would not have injured herself. They also produced witness statements which they said proved that there had not been any similar incidents before Nicola’s accident.

Nicola had to undergo surgery on two further occasions. She was keen to have the surgery as soon as possible to minimise her time off work. Happily, the insurers agreed to meet the cost of that treatment on a private basis. They also made interim payments of almost £25,000 to cover this and other expenses.

Claiming for Nicola’s Injury

Once we obtained a final prognosis in respect of Nicola’s injuries, we took steps to negotiate a settlement. Nicola still suffers from residual symptoms and she can’t wear her elegant high heel shoes. However, she is hopeful that she can get back to her hobby of scuba diving. The majority of Nicola’s award of damages was to compensate her for the pain and suffering she underwent as a result the injury and the effect that this had had upon her life style.

Significantly, we negotiated the settlement on a 100% basis as the insurers abandoned their arguments of contributory negligence.