Page 16 | to sue hotel chain

tosuehotelchain · 2010-09-12T15:35:20+00:00

We were at a well known hotel this afternoon for Sunday lunch, after lunch we were walking through the reception area where DC (13months old) fell and split open their head on the corner of the table (adult shin height) we had to ask the receptionist for medical assistance, all the while DC screaming and blood pouring everywhere. We had to take DC to A&E where he needed a GA, however because of past expeirence with this, it was then decided that our baby would go through the treatment and the horrid trauma with no pain relief, he needed 1 inner stitch and 2 outer stitches, and next week he will have to endure it all again. I phoned the hotel to let them know the result, and asked for safety guards on the tables to stop further accidents like this in future, they said the would get back to me, due to the "design" of the lounge [hmm] Everybody has said to sue, as its the only way they know, that this hotel will take action. I know this from expeirence sadly also with the chain. However I feel uneasy about it.

thesecondcoming · 13/09/2010 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

plonker · 13/09/2010 00:08

Good Lord ...this thread makes very uncomfortable reading ...

OP - I hope your little boy is ok, and that no-one else gets hurt

annec555 · 13/09/2010 09:27

I must be bit dim - I don't understand why the OP didn't just post under her normal name. I saw something saying she couldn't think of a better name but not an explanation for why she changed her name at all - I may have missed something.
I don't understand why the hissy fit about not wanting to sue when it it is the title of the thread and her username.
I don't understand who in their right minds thinks it is a good idea to receive stolen documents obtained from a large hotel chain who can afford costly lawyers and who will have an interest in protecting their reputation.
I don't understand how the OP thinks these documents could be used to found a case - the UK legal system isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination but most courts wil look a little askance at stolen information being brandished by a claimant.
I don't understand who the OP thinks would take this case or why she thinks a threat of legal action which would get laughed out of court is going to motivate a hotel chain.
I don't understand why the OP can't just make contact with the hotel chain and make a strongly worded suggestion that plastic corners might mitigate th risk slightly.
Finally, as someone who has had up to 20 GAs in childhood to correct a deformed club foot, and who has had a reaction to some of those GAs and who is strongly resistant to local anaesthetics, I can't possibly imagine why the hospital did not at least offer local anesthetic - the anaesthetic wipes take the edge off the injection pain which is nothing against the pain of having deep stitches. I have had stitches without pain relief as an adult and I was nearly climbing the walls.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 13/09/2010 10:06

I don't think you are dim at all, annec! You are asking all the same questions that have been asked throughout the thread, and largely unanswered.

It also strikes me that the OP is only going to give any credence to posts that back her up - she has no intention of taking on board anything said to her by anyone who dares to disagree with her.

Finally - regarding the removal of the stitches - I am a Registered General Nurse and I do not believe that the hospital is going to remove the internal stitch. By the time the child goes to have the stitches out, the wound should have healed up (otherwise it would not be advisable to remove the stitches), so the internal stitch will be inaccessible, unless the hospital plan to reopen the wound - which would be ridiculous!!!

I used to be a Theatre Nurse, and I have worked on surgical wards where I have had to remove stitches on far deeper and more serious wounds than the one sustained by the OP's son (major abdominal surgery etc), and despite the fact that all of these had had internal stitches (sometimes more than one layer of internal stitches too), we never ever removed more than the skin sutures.

OP - I suspect you got the wrong end of the stick with regards to removal of the internal sutures, but I cannot see why it would be neccessary or even advisable. And removing the two skin sutures will not be anywhere near as painful or traumatic for your son as the suturing was - the tissues will have healed up and will not be inflamed and tender from the immediate aftermath of a wound, so it should be a lot easier on him.

Bunnyjo · 13/09/2010 10:14

OP - I read this thread last night and decided against commenting. The timeframe didn't add up to me nor the subsequent receipt of reports etc. That said, I was probably being cynical.

Firstly I hope you, your DH and your DS are much better this morning. It must have been a very scary incident and will have really affected you all.

Now WRT litigation - your post title and name change did suggest your intentions were to sue this hotel. Your OP only mentioned that you 'feel uneasy about this', not that you really don't want to sue. You also mention in your OP that 'Everybody has said to sue, as its the only way they know, that this hotel will take action'. In my opinion, you will get a much better result if you report this incident to the hotel management, central office and the HSE. As harsh as this sounds I doubt you have any grounds for suing the hotel chain. Whether you agree with this or not, their legal firm will argue that your DH should have had better control of your son and that it was his slow reaction that caused the accident in the first place. The information you have received from your friend will probably be completely inadmissable and may well land your friend in deep trouble with both her employers and the police.

I do hope the hotel chain investigate the matter and act accordingly. Unfortunately, this was an accident where I doubt blame could be apportioned to any party.

Morloth · 13/09/2010 10:16

Your fault. DS1 had an almost identical run in with a glass table when he was 2. No-one's fault but ours we are his parents and should have been more careful.

Same as you.

Flighttattendant · 13/09/2010 10:23

Bloody hell. What an insane, vicious, nasty thread - OP I'm really sorry you had to endure this caterwauling of shite from so many people, some of whom I ahd previously assumed were actual adults.

I'd get it deleted if I were you. nobody needs this kind of crap. And fwiw, YANBU about the tables - sueing might be unnecessary but definitely make a strong complaint.

Good luck.

perfumedlife · 13/09/2010 10:25

I am quite astonished at Nursie999's comment that "there's no point us arguing about this'

The AIBU positively encourages debate, the OP asked for honest opinions and then refuted them at every turn.

Did you mean Nursie, there is no point in us disagreeing with OP?

Flighttattendant · 13/09/2010 10:33

I think I have a new disclaimer to go up there at the top of AIBU.

'Had a really bad day? Want to kick someone but too scared to start a proper fight? Are you very small and weak, but able to be incredibly rude? This is the place for you! We have hundreds of vulnerable, new, naive, stupid or even just normal people here, waiting for you to turn their innocent and sometimes valid question into a massive scrap! You can hurl insults, make faces and shriek as much as you like, and nobody will hit back! In fact, you can even subscribe to the view that nobody gets hurt! (NB this isn't actually the case but you'll be in good company if you want to pretend)

So jump right in, make random, uncalled for attacks, it's fun! Welcome to Mumsnet'

Mingg · 13/09/2010 10:37

This obviously was an accident so you have no grounds to sue the hotel. The best thing you can do, as suggested by others earlier, is to write a letter to the manager (cc H&S & HO) explaining what happened, how distressed you all (especially your son) were and ask for their comments and how they are planning to make sure this does not happen again. Do not threaten to sue as you have no grounds and their legal/insurance team will be fully aware of that.

I hope you are all feeling better and you son is recovering well.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 13/09/2010 10:37

I disagree that this thread has been vicious - it has been blunt and to the point, but this IS AIBU, where opinions are likely to be blunt.

I don't think that it is adult behaviour for tosuehotelchain to try to get the thread deleted either - to me that smacks of petulance and flouncing, because she didn't get the chorus of approval and agreement that she wanted.

A lot of people have taken time to post here with sensible views - for example the fact that the hotel is not going to take any notice of the OP suing them, because their lawyers are going to tell them there is no case.

People have pointed out that the world is full of sharp corners, and you cannot baby-proof everything - but that IS the logical endpoint of where the OP is going - if all hotels have to make sure all table corners have toddler guards on them, then surely all cafes must do the same, and all shops must put them on the corners of shelves, and all furniture must be designed to be rounded and incapable of cutting a child. Doors and gates and walls must all be rounded off and made safe. All trees will have to go, as branches could break off and leave a sharp stump. And what about glasses in cafes and restaurants - they could break and injure a child. This way madness lies.

The hotel is trying to appeal to all age groups, not just the parents with young children demographic - and personally, I would not want to eat or stay in somewhere with plastic protectors on the corners of every table. It is only reasonable to expect that if the main demographic that a venue is aiming to attract is the toddler demographic - and that just does not apply in the case of a hotel chain.

BrightLightBrightLight · 13/09/2010 10:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HowsTheSerenity · 13/09/2010 10:43

And this is why you cannot do anything anymore.
Becuase people want to sue a the drop of a hat.

Flighttattendant · 13/09/2010 10:44

SDTG - I disagree completely. There's a thin line between 'blunt' and downright bloody minded and vile.

It gets better later but down at the start it's a big old bandwagon. It's no holds barred.

Flighttattendant · 13/09/2010 10:49

Gay40 Sun 12-Sep-10 17:02:07
Tripe. Kids have accidents.
I think a solicitor might laugh you out of their office.

Northernlurker Sun 12-Sep-10 16:58:05
Silly woman - tables have corners and just walking toddlers fall over.
I'm not sure I believe this thread at all - surely nobody is as dim as the op appears?

perfumedlife Sun 12-Sep-10 17:18:52
Oh get a life for Gods sake.

Add message | Report | Contact poster RunawayWife Sun 12-Sep-10 17:26:11
me thinks OP should be on day time TV

hobnobsaremyfave Sun 12-Sep-10 17:46:50
Oh grow up you sound like a spoilt petulant brat! jog on!

___

In what circles are these comments acceptable? The OP didn't deserve to be flamed at all. She maintained her sense of equilibrium throughout. You lot just made it into something out of Jeremy Kyle.

It didn't need to be like that.

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 13/09/2010 10:59

We'll agree to disagree, Flightattendant.

Flighttattendant · 13/09/2010 11:01

Okay.

ilovesprouts · 13/09/2010 11:27

it was just an accident ,nothing else !

bottyburpthebarbarian · 13/09/2010 11:31

I think the chances of the OP coming back to answer some of the queries are pretty slim.

perfumedlife · 13/09/2010 11:43

I stand by my comment to get a life, totally.

My child ran into a swing door in a restaurant as a customer was coming through the other side and child ended up with a lump the size of an orange on his head. Blood everywhere. My fault was taking my eyes off him. Two hours in A&E, X-Rays and finally stiches.

I took him home and watched him like a hawk as he slept off the shock. The last thing on my mind would be going on line to canvas, and then disregard, people's opinion on sueing the restaurant. I would be too busy caring for my child, and beating myself up for taking my eyes off him.

The post title was just asking for trouble, she talked of sueing and then denied it. People don't care for having their time wasted, and she was wasting our time.

SummerRain · 13/09/2010 11:45

ds1 fell into the corner of a table in a playschool and still has a scar next to his eye from it years later.

dd broke her leg at a friend's birthday party when she was 4.

ds2 crushed his thumb in the back end of the french doors when they blew closed in the wind at 14/15 months old.

Yes all these and the many other injuries they've sustained were traumatic, and several were preventable but it never crossed my mind to sue... my children are accident prone, as am I, and I'm hardly going to hold anyone else responsible for that fact.

The hysteria and need to blame the hotel you've exhibited is unecessary and deeply unpleasant to read and I hope you're feeling a bit calmer and more rational today and that your son is feeling ok.

Original poster

tosuehotelchain · 13/09/2010 12:07

just a update, I have been on the phone to HQ, they are removing the tables immediately and are doing a investigation into my ds and the other accidents, on them, they have not been informed of any accidents involving the tables etc...

Ive asked for the risk assessment reports on the tables, their is none apparently Ive also told them Ive been on the phone to HSE also, and they have asked me to contact them first (which I did) to see if they take action. (which they are).

We have also been offered a weeks stay at any of the theme park hotels, and they will pay for tickets, I have decided to take this offer, HOWEVER, I am donating them to a friend who is raising money for SANDS, and the hotel is leaving them blank for the winner.

I haven't done any of this for self gain, I have done it for the H&S for guests and children.

SDTG, if you are who you say you are, then you will know that his inner stitch thread has been left outside and they will pull it with the others, which "apparently" will coe away easily, this is done by the IFAX Dr's, who dealt with him.

I feel this thread has been completely nasty and unjustified, even fabricating at times, it shocking attitude from supposed adults, I never went down the obscenity route or even the slagging route, I'm far better and mature enough to behave in such a childish manner!

I have opened my profile to "prove" this is not lies and you can see his injury for yourself!

I asked if if I was being unreasonable to feel uneasy to sue the hotel chain, not that I wanted to sue! their is a massive difference between the two!.

Disgusting behaviour from so called adults in my opinion, all I wanted to do was protect adults and children from more injury, nothing wrong with that.