We are about to obtain compensation for a Sheffield pensioner in his eighties who suffered multiple injuries when he fell over due to a dangerous defect in a local supermarket car park. He was lucky not to suffer a serious head injury and is likely to be left with permanent facial scarring.
After we submitted the claim to the proprietors of the car park, a complex dispute arose as to who was responsible for maintaining the exact part where the accident occurred. There were four potential defendants including the local council, which owned the freehold, the company which leased the car park and two different managing agents, all of whom blamed at least one of the others.
After several months of legal arguments, we persuaded one of the agents’ insurers to accept liability and our client is going to receive damages shortly.
Because he has made a relatively good recovery and his age (older people tend to receive less than younger for the same injury) he will receive less than £5000 in respect of his injuries.
If the Government’s proposed reforms were in force now, this client would probably have received nothing as it would be categorised as a small claim. He would probably have been unable to deal with the matter himself due to the complex arguments raised by the four defendants and could not have afforded to pay a solicitor to take the case on, knowing that he would have to pay the solicitor, win or lose.
He and millions of others will be denied proper access to justice if the Government reforms are introduced. We are proud to support the Access to Justice Campaign and suggest you do too. Please visit www.accesstojusticeactiongroup.co.uk for more information.
In other news I’m looking forward to Father’s Day when I will be buying my Dad a pint or two and a meal in one of our local hostelries and hope that my daughters do the same for me! Enjoy your weekend.
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