Advice on Personal Injury please...

[Bradders33]

Hi All,

Wonder if anyone can help?

Two weeks ago this coming Friday, I was at my local leisure centre watching a live band. I walked out of the auditorium in to the main public area by the bar to meet my friends and all of a sudden my feet went from underneath me and I landed with a hard crack on to my right knee.

At I the time, I burst out laughing, with shock.. and embarrassment as everyone in the bar area had seen me. Then as my friends were helping me to my feet, a member of staff literally flew down the stairs and plonked a "slippery when wet" sign down! We were so shocked by the action of locking the gate after the horse as bolted, that someone took a photo!

We then realised that there was another staff member mopping the floor very close by, it was still very wet where I had slipped over and the only signage around was the one that had been put down after my accident. (He too was caught on photo! Heavens knows why!)

Within half an hour my knee was REALLY starting to hurt, I rang my husband to have a moan as I was starting to feel pretty sorry for myself and he asked if the staff had put it in the accident book, I said I hadn't even had an apology let alone it being reported. So with that in mind I made them put it in the book, there was also a child waiting behind me with a bloody nose. He had slipped over somewhere as well by all accounts.

By the time I got home, it looked like I had a hard-boiled egg on top of my knee, it was swollen quite badly, within 2 days it was badly brusied. Now two weeks later it still is not right. If it even gently catches my mattress or duvet in the night the pain wakes me up.

I haven't seen my GP yet as I thought it would get better, but did speak to him on the phone the other day and he said to see him if it doesn't get better, but it has been so bad tonight that I am going to see him tomorrow now.

Friends say I should start a PI claim against the leisure centre. Part of me thinks that it was just "one of those things" and it's not like I have broken my kneecap or anything, but the other half thinks that they were negligent and should have not left the floor sopping wet with no signage during a busy peroid when there were many patrons.

So my first question is should I make a claim?

My second is, if I do make a claim, which route? These no win no fee companies that you see on daytime TV always seem dodgy to me, not sure if that is just my perception mind you! What do I have to lose exactly? Is there any outlay?? If I do decide to claim then I am not well versed in this situation, so any further advice, help etc.. gratefully received.

Many Thanks,
Bradders.

[revolting peasant]

Bradders

Forget it. Ultimately the culpable person is the one who spilt the drink in the first place. You couldn't reasonably expect the staff to clean every spilt drink in that environment immediately.

It is the litigation society that has created a massive increase in insurance premiums for all of us.

If you have suffered financialy then claim but please don't use it as a means of getting easy cash

[Bradders33]

Hi, nobody spilt a drink, they were simply mopping the floor early so they could finish earlier it seems and they decided not to put any signs up as they did so.

The only reason I am considering it is because I have suffered a fair amount of pain thus far with no sign of improvement yet, plus it was through no fault of my own.

With regards to suffering financially, if I need physio then I will suffer as I have a neck condition at the mo and can't afford physio for that as it is, so deffo won't be able to afford it for my knee if the GP suggest this tomorrow.

I'll see what the GP says anyway. He might be able to alleviate the pain for me until it finally heals.

[ab123uk]

Bradders, with PI, the thing is there is partial responsibility on each and everyone of us to be alert, although there is grounds for a claim due to Injury, financial loss is another matter really. If you feel that you have been significantly inconvenienced, speak to a local solicitor, these tend to be more reasonable, and more honest than 0800 "give us a call and claim for brusing" type companies! most locals offer a free first appointment, and will advise you of your rights to make a claim, they may deal no win no fee, or possibly on a credit agreement which would leave you liable if they were unsuccessful.

As already stated though, it is these claims that increase everyone;s premiums, if you havent suffered badly, I wouldnt personally claim, but only you can decide what to do.

Good Luck

[BADGER 69]

I would talk to your Citizens Advice Centre.


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