Feedback 2003
Set out below is a small selection of some of the feedback received during 2003.
Robbie Halling was attending a children's farm in Nottinghamshire with her grandchildren.
The owners of the farm sold small bags of animal feed, so that visiting members of the public could feed the animals on display, many of which wandered freely around the farm. The animals themselves appeared used to coming in contact with members of the public.
Among the animals was a pig, kept inside an enclosure. There was nothing to suggest that the pig was any less "approachable" than the other animals. Accordingly the client placed some animal feed on her hand, and held it out to the pig.
The pig reacted by eating the feed, but it also bit the client's hand. This caused the client to suffer nerve damage. The client is a keen golfer, and the injury prevented her from pursuing her hobby for a number of weeks.
We made a claim against the farm, and their solicitors in Nottingham quickly conceded liability. A supporting medical report was obtained, following which damages were agreed out of court.
To read Mrs Halling's feedback, please click here
Priscilla Sanders lives in sheltered accommodation in Birmingham.
The pavement outside her bungalow was in very poor condition. As a result she tripped and suffered serious injuries.
A claim was made against the company responsible. While they admitted primary fault, as so often in such cases they tried to blame the client in part, for failing to look where she was going.
Medical evidence and a calculation of financial losses was served on the defendants, and after protracted negotiations settlement was finally achieved.
Claims involving elderly people often reveal the cynical side of insurance companies. Although I have no proof, nevertheless insurance companies give the impression of being particularly uncooperative in claims brought by the elderly. No doubt their internal research reveals that elderly clients are more likely to settle early for a lesser amount, rather than push to obtain the full compensation that they deserve.
To read Mrs Sanders' feedback, please click here
Christine Cartridge was working on a production line in Birmingham, for a company that manufactured automotive components.
The work that the client was undertaking was repetitive in nature. There were insufficient breaks, or job rotation. The work was very intensive. Over the months, the client developed an upper limb disorder.
A claim was made against the company concerned. Repetitive strain injury cases (or RSI cases) are always contested. Companies and their insurers take the view that if one claimant succeeds, then everybody else on the production line will make a claim as well.
Usually to fight off RSI claims, insurance companies allege that the symptoms were caused by matters unrelated. They normally try to trawl through the injured person's previous medical history, to find evidence of previous similar symptoms.
However in this case the medical evidence clearly showed that the upper limb injuries were caused by work, and nothing else. Nevertheless county court proceedings had to be issued before suitable compensation was forthcoming.
To read Mrs Cartridge's feedback, please click here
Boris Kremer, UK personal injury lawyer