Our client sustained injuries as a result of an accident at a hotel. They were there to do a job and, as they were walking round the outside of the building at night, they fell down some steps due to a lack of lighting. There were lights on the path, but they were not lit, leaving the area dark and the Claimant unable to see the steps down. The Claimant was self-employed.

The Claimant suffered personal injury, namely a serious fracture of the elbow requiring surgery and leaving them with permanent symptoms, a risk of post-traumatic arthritis and a small risk of elbow replacement surgery being required. They needed some months off work, care from their partner for a while and there would be a small effect on their future earnings potential.

The Claimant made a claim for personal injury and other losses. They were initially represented by a different firm of solicitors. Liability for the accident was strongly disputed by the Defendant and the original solicitors declined to carry on. The Claimant approached Chris Wood, a Director at Porter Wood Law, on the recommendation of another previously satisfied client. After reviewing the evidence and deciding that the claim had reasonable prospects of success, Chris Wood took the claim on, on a conditional fee agreement (no-win, no fee agreement).

Liability continued to be denied. Chris Wood arranged for our client to be seen by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. There were claims for personal injury, loss of earnings, care provided by their partner and future losses in the form of potential cost of future surgery and loss of earnings. We gathered evidence of all of the Claimant’s losses and issued court proceedings.

All the way through, liability was denied by the Defendant. The claim was defended vigorously, with various unfounded allegations made about the circumstances and the losses claimed, which understandably upset and annoyed our client. Our Client simply wanted to be compensated for his losses suffered on the Defendant’s premises, as result of their failure to light their outside path with steps. However, at all times, we spoke with our client to update, advise and seek instructions, where appropriate. Our client understood the need to cooperate and provided a wealth of evidence to support his claim. We pursued the claim to court on behalf of our client. Finally, right at the gates of court, the Defendant started to negotiate and settlement was agreed at £27,500.00. Our client was satisfied with the outcome.