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AIBU?

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AIBU to want an apology after a colleague injured my ankle?

163 replies

Scrrt · 13/09/2026 16:59

a few weeks ago I was coming out of the staff room at work and a colleague came flying in, crashed into me, knocked me out of my shoe and I stumbled and landed awkwardly on my ankle. It’s been weak and painful ever since. I had to cancel a charity race and Ive had time off work for appointments and X-rays.

Her response was “well I was hungry”. Everyone who saw it happen finds it hilarious. People who didn’t see it finds the description hilarious. I don’t and I’m pissed off. I want her to acknowledge it and acknowledge that it was her fault and apologise rather than it still being treated like a comedy sketch.

OP posts:
letmebetheone · 13/09/2026 18:15

EdP00 · 13/09/2026 18:02

Did she not even say sorry when you were lying on the floor?

She should absolutely say sorry and check that you’re ok - it’s basic human decency.

I wouldn’t expect her to still feel bad though and I assume the co-workers are joking about it so she doesn’t feel as bad.

Op didn't say she was knocked to the floor. The fact that everyone who saw it found it funny and laughed implies the OP wasn't seriously hurt. Presumably that's not a reaction everyone would have had if the OP had been badly hurt.
What have HR said about it? presumably you raised the issue with them.

SquidgyPudge · 13/09/2026 18:08

She should have apologised, did she not say even a cursory "oops, sorry"?Seems really weird for someone to be opening a door and then starting to run... Surely she had to slow down to open the door or is it a swing door? How much speed did she manage to pick up in order to knock you out of your shoes? But in any event I'm sure it wasn't a deliberate act and the very definition of an accident.

I have to ask though, like others, I'm curious as to what sort of shoes you were wearing that you got knocked out of them? That's not normal. What was the result of the appontments and x-rays, I assume something serious if there have been multiple appointments and xrays? What have work said as I'm assuming you must have recorded it in an accident book since it's so serious you are suffering weeks later?

EdP00 · 13/09/2026 18:02

Did she not even say sorry when you were lying on the floor?

She should absolutely say sorry and check that you’re ok - it’s basic human decency.

I wouldn’t expect her to still feel bad though and I assume the co-workers are joking about it so she doesn’t feel as bad.

Wreckinball · 13/09/2026 18:00

She should have apologised.
This could happen again, raise as H&S issue to get a glass panel in the door, so starving, barging staff can see if they are about to take someone else out. If she thinks it’s funny she’s not about to alter her behaviour.
Get it reported in the accident book.
Take time off if you can’t work properly
I hope you heal ok and can get back to fitness.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 13/09/2026 17:52

TwinklyAmberSloth · 13/09/2026 17:48

Basic common sense: when walking through a door to a busy area (e.g. a staff room) then you open it with care.

Regardless of whether the person came through the door too fast or not, she hurt someone and should have apologised.

The fact you think it's OK to hurt someone and not even apologise speaks volumes...

Yes, as I said upthread - both are at fault and I would have checked OP was okay.

I also never once said I wouldn't apologise - just that I wouldn't take responsibility for her injury. So maybe read what you're responding to before being rude.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 13/09/2026 17:52

ColdAsAWitches · 13/09/2026 17:19

I'm not entirely sure it was her fault though. Two people bumped into each other because neither of you can see through doors. I'm sure it's annoying and painful, but nobody is necessarily at fault.

Bollocks. You should never enter a staff room quickly, flinging the door open, knocking someone over on the way to the fridge. Colleague sounds like a thoughtless, clumsy twat.

BeSharpHelper · 13/09/2026 17:51

Im sorry you were hurt op and im the sort of person who apologises to furniture that ive walked into , but I’m actually laughing at the mental picture of ‘falling out of shoes’ . What speed was she travelling at? What sort of shoes were you wearing?

TwinklyAmberSloth · 13/09/2026 17:48

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 13/09/2026 17:28

Yes, I'm for real.

If OP managed to get herself knocked over by someone rushing through a door, that suggests she was stood in the wrong place. It's common sense 101 not to stand directly behind a closed door.

Like I said, I would have made sure OP was okay.

Basic common sense: when walking through a door to a busy area (e.g. a staff room) then you open it with care.

Regardless of whether the person came through the door too fast or not, she hurt someone and should have apologised.

The fact you think it's OK to hurt someone and not even apologise speaks volumes...

ThisCraftyAquaHedgehog · 13/09/2026 17:45

What have HR said? Your line manager?
Presumably you have had to complete an 'injured at work' form?

I would fully expect a quick apology at the time, but not a formal thing however long later.

What on earth kind of work shoes can one 'fall out of'?

If you genuinely believe her negligence caused you injury, then HR is your place to go.

UncannyFanny · 13/09/2026 17:43

I’m trying to picture falling out of my shoes. I’m guessing they can’t be very well fitted?

SueFlay12 · 13/09/2026 17:40

Scrrt · 13/09/2026 17:15

She flung the door open and ran in. No apology, just barged me out of the way to get to the fridge

Send her a solicitors letter

Nofeckingway · 13/09/2026 17:38

Gosh, even if I accidentally bump into someone's arm I say sorry . Doesn't take much . I would be annoyed too OP . And it sounds like she is trying to make a joke of it to deflect blame . Not nice and a shame others on the workplace don't realize too.

Couldyounot · 13/09/2026 17:38

"I was hungry"

What kind of piss-arse excuse is that for being a blithering, blathering oaf??

Livelovebehappy · 13/09/2026 17:35

I would say Yabu to still be angry about it ‘a few weeks later’. I would have addressed it at the time - filled in the accident book, keeping HR and colleagues aware of the issues caused following the incident. No point in dwelling on it so far down the line.

Waitingforthistopass75 · 13/09/2026 17:34

I’m a bit on the fence. Your description sounds quite dramatic….running, flung and barged all paintbquite the picture that I just can’t imagine in the workplace. Maybe you’ve over-egged it to get people to side with you? Also, did you indicate you were hurt at the time or just carry on? If someone didn’t indicate they were injured (quite seriously as you describe needing time off and not being able to race…for a charity…which I’m guessing the charity part was added for extra sympathy points) at the time, I’m not sure there would be anything more than a ‘whoops sorry’. I can’t imagine a staffroom of people just ignoring someone who was clearly hurt.
Id love to hear your colleagues versions of events.

Triskellion75 · 13/09/2026 17:34

I'd be mortified if I'd hurt someone like this, no matter how accidental. How hard is it to not be a dick and say sorry?

thornbury · 13/09/2026 17:33

This reply has been hidden

This reply has been hidden until the MNHQ team can have a look at it.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 13/09/2026 17:31

ColdAsAWitches · 13/09/2026 17:19

I'm not entirely sure it was her fault though. Two people bumped into each other because neither of you can see through doors. I'm sure it's annoying and painful, but nobody is necessarily at fault.

Exactly. If this lady needs to apologise, surely OP should also apologise for standing directly behind a door?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 13/09/2026 17:29

RitaIncognita · 13/09/2026 17:25

I agree. They need to address the design of the door/entry.

Also, I find it shocking that you were injured and people think it's funny.

Design of the door? Do you not have doors in your house that don’t have windows in? Sometimes accidents just happen

AlohaRose · 13/09/2026 17:29

You say you have had appointments and x-rays for your ankle but has anything actually been confirmed wrong with it? Or is it just a case of keeping it rested until it heals naturally?

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 13/09/2026 17:28

TwinklyAmberSloth · 13/09/2026 17:25

Are you for real?

Someone came through a doorway with such force/speed it knocked someone over, and then rather than apologising, they made an excuse and said "well I was hungry".

That's shockingly bad behaviour.

Bursting through a door because you're hungry is one thing, but if your actions then knock a person flying, you apologise for your mistake.

@Scrrt that's really awful. And the fact people find it funny indicates it's a work place with a bit of a bullying culture???

Yes, I'm for real.

If OP managed to get herself knocked over by someone rushing through a door, that suggests she was stood in the wrong place. It's common sense 101 not to stand directly behind a closed door.

Like I said, I would have made sure OP was okay.

RitaIncognita · 13/09/2026 17:25

Weirdpig · 13/09/2026 17:21

Have you logged this as a workplace injury and have management/HR addressed it?

I agree. They need to address the design of the door/entry.

Also, I find it shocking that you were injured and people think it's funny.

TwinklyAmberSloth · 13/09/2026 17:25

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 13/09/2026 17:20

Isn't it just one of those things? You were in the way of the door/she didn't see you and unfortunately you lost your balance. I'd make sure you were okay but I'm not sure I'd take the blame for it.

Are you for real?

Someone came through a doorway with such force/speed it knocked someone over, and then rather than apologising, they made an excuse and said "well I was hungry".

That's shockingly bad behaviour.

Bursting through a door because you're hungry is one thing, but if your actions then knock a person flying, you apologise for your mistake.

@Scrrt that's really awful. And the fact people find it funny indicates it's a work place with a bit of a bullying culture???

ToKittyornottoKitty · 13/09/2026 17:24

smallglassbottle · 13/09/2026 17:24

Because you don't run in the workplace? The woman is presumably an adult as opposed to a toddler.

I can’t see where OP said she was running

smallglassbottle · 13/09/2026 17:24

ToKittyornottoKitty · 13/09/2026 17:20

A sorry at the time would have made sense, but in the Absance of the ability to see through the door, why was this her fault rather than an accident?

Because you don't run in the workplace? The woman is presumably an adult as opposed to a toddler.

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