A man from Rhondda Cynon Taf has successfully pursued a claim for damages for personal injuries he sustained as a result of falling down a set of defective steps.
The steps were located outside a local shop and were under the ownership of RCT Homes when, on 29 July 2014, Mr P sustained injury when walking out of a local shop and down the steps. The injury was caused as a result of the steps being in a very poor state of repair, with crumbled and broken away sections. When Mr P stepped onto one of the steps, a section of cement moved and crumbled away causing him to fall down the remainder of the steps sustaining impaction injuries of the cartilage surfaces in his knee.
The injuries were so severe that it was concluded, upon obtaining medical evidence, that he would have an increased likelihood of needing a partial knee replacement in the future.
Mr P instructed Janine Griffiths of Martyn Prowel Solicitors in Cardiff in relation to his claim for damages and they successfully set about establishing that the Defendants were negligent and/or in breach of their duty under the Occupiers Liability legislation. Full liability was eventually admitted by the Defendants Insurers and Martyn Prowel Solicitors then obtained medical evidence in relation to the injuries sustained, as well as gathering documentation and evidence in relation to the financial losses sustained by Mr P as a result of the accident, and the future potential for surgery.
The claim was settled, prior to the need for any attendance at Court by Mr P, in the global sum of £40,000.
Janine Griffiths of Martyn Prowel Solicitors stated, “claims of this nature are always difficult in that Local Authorities and Housing Associations often have routine inspection and maintenance procedures in place upon which they rely in denying liability for any accidents caused by defects and disrepair. We are equipped and experienced at dealing with such contentions and are able to pick through the sometimes excessive documentation provided by Defendants in order to establish whether they have, indeed, adhered to a reasonable system of inspection and maintenance. This is one of the many occasions upon which we have been able to establish that their Defence fails and we are delighted to have been able to secure the compensation he deserves on behalf of Mr P”.