Case study: £45,000 for fall at campsite requiring surgery

Our personal injury solicitors helped a client claim compensation for injuries he sustained because of an avoidable slip during a camping trip.

Slip on poorly maintained path

Our client, Mr C, was staying on a campsite. On the day of the accident, one of the campsite owners sold Mr C a ticket to go fishing, an activity offered as part of the site’s facilities.

The owner gave our client specific instructions as to how to get to and access the fishing lake. The route was not well-maintained and there was no handrail to assist with the slippery conditions of the path. As Mr C descended the path, he slipped and fell.

Mr C found out after the accident that there was an alternative route to the lake which had suitable steps installed alongside a handrail, but he was specifically directed to the lake via the unsafe path.

As a result of the fall, Mr C sustained a ruptured quadriceps tendon in the right knee requiring surgery to reattach it.

Claiming compensation for personal injury

Mr C instructed our personal injury solicitors who specialise in slips, trips and falls, to help him claim compensation for his injuries.

We submitted a letter of claim to the Defendant (owner of the campsite) outlining details of the accident and liability was accepted.

Treatment and rehabilitation

Following the Defendant accepting liability for the claim, our solicitors liaised with their insurers about arranging early rehabilitation for Mr C to help with his ongoing symptoms; the cost of which would be paid by the Defendant’s insurers with no cost to Mr C.

Although our client had returned to work as a Painter/Decorator, he remained limited in completing the same tasks he could do before the fall and struggled with some of the job’s physical aspects.

An intensive course of physiotherapy was recommended and subsequently arranged.

The Defendant’s insurers also paid for specialist equipment for our client’s work which included a safety platform ladder instead of a normal ladder.

In addition, Mr C had been mentally affected by the accident and underwent a course of psychological therapy.

Medical reports

Our solicitors awaited conclusion of the rehabilitation before obtaining any medical evidence to assess Mr C’s recovery.

Claim for financial losses

To assist Mr C financially, our lawyers requested an interim payment of £10,000 from the Defendant’s insurers to assist in providing financial relief and cover lost earnings, whilst the claim was ongoing.

We drafted and then disclosed a provisional schedule of financial losses to evidence the losses suffered and demonstrate that the claim was worth more than the amount requested.

Settlement offer

After receiving our interim payment request, the Defendant’s insurers put forward a surprise offer of £35,000, which they based on the financial losses and treatment reports which was shared with the parties.

We discussed the offer with Mr C, however, as medical evidence had not yet been obtained, we were unable to advise whether the offer was reasonable and acceptable. Mr C was recovering very well from his injuries from the rehabilitation, although he still had some minor ongoing symptoms, including aching and discomfort upon activity.

Mr C advised that he would prefer a settlement to put the claim and what happened behind him. He therefore instructed us to put forward a counteroffer. The claim settled for £45,000.

Had a slip, trip or fall? Get in touch

If you have suffered an injury as a result of an avoidable slip, trip or fall, our personal injury lawyers may be able to help you claim compensation on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. For a no-obligation chat, call our friendly team on 0117 325 2929 or fill out our online enquiry form.