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AIBU?

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Original poster

to sue hotel chain

588 replies

tosuehotelchain · 12/09/2010 16:35

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.

OP posts:
Hardandsleazy · 12/09/2010 16:55

Others not otters Blush

fuschiagroan · 12/09/2010 16:56

So what do you want them to do, sellotape padding to every available corner and edge? 13 mo is small, you should have been holding onto him or carrying him through the lobby.

booyhoo · 12/09/2010 16:58

but what would you sue them for? what did they do to cause the accident?

Northernlurker · 12/09/2010 16:58

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? She's done well to go for lunch, have accident, get to a&e and have a complex repair then get home all before 4.30 as well Hmm

Original poster
tosuehotelchain · 12/09/2010 16:59

sorry also, dc was on reins backpack,DC wasn't free walking, dc was walking, but my the time dh reacted to his fall it was too late Sad

OP posts:
Tigerdrivesbackin · 12/09/2010 16:59

No of course you shouldn't sue them, and in fact if you did, you would lose as they have no duty of care to babyproof tbings. Child/family friendly means they don't chuck kids out, they have a kids menu, they are attentive to children. It doesn't mean every guest has to enter a giant play pen when they go to the hotel. You have had a really horrid time, which has been nasty for you, and I am sorry that you weren't able to have the GA for your little one, that must be horrid but I wouldn't either FWIW.

here's a little anecdote. Today I went to a very kid friendly posh pub. I didn't have any kids w me. A little boy was in the garden building a house from some (real and very heavy) bricks. When the brick tower was higher than him I persuaded him to take me to his mum, so we could avoid screaming toddler goes to hospital scenario. Should they have sued the pub? I think not. Mum and Dad could have done a better job in watching him, tho...

Gay40 · 12/09/2010 17:02

Tripe. Kids have accidents.
I think a solicitor might laugh you out of their office.

bigstripeytiger · 12/09/2010 17:02

I agree that from the sound of things you probably wouldnt get very far with suing the hotel.

Why were the stiches done without pain relief? Couldnt a local anaesthetic have been used?

Original poster
tosuehotelchain · 12/09/2010 17:02

Northernlurker dont read the thread then Hmm if you think I am a troll. No need for rudeness either.

We had lunch at 12, finished at 12.45 and was out of the hospital at 3.15pm.

we have documents and prescriptions to prove this if you find that its so incredibly dim Hmm or hard to believe.

OP posts:
lottiejenkins · 12/09/2010 17:03

Surely they wouldnt have let a child home already who had had a GA????? Hmm

SummerRain · 12/09/2010 17:04

so you dp walked him/her straight into the obstacle (chair legs) and then let go of the reins when s/he fell? Confused

woopwoop · 12/09/2010 17:04

So nowhere should have tables and chairs?!

If everyone around me was telling me to sue then I'd really be considering changing my whole set of friends/family - and I mean that seriously. I can't stand this whole American attitude of 'SUE, SUE, SUE'. Sue for what - Trauma? Yes I'm sure that it was a traumatic experience but they do tend to happen in life. Unfortunately many children have accident (as someone else said - ACCIDENTS - the clue is in the word!) I really can't see how this is anyone's fault. The world is full of angles/hard bits/steps.

And 'child friendly' does not mean everything has a padded cover. Are you going tto suggest the same at nursery/school? Because there's likely to be tables and chairs there too!

Vallhala · 12/09/2010 17:04

Are you for real? Hmm

I hope you never have occasion to visit my house with your child. I've got sharp edges on my furniture.

Hands up anyone else who has normal but sharp edges to their furniture!

Ah-ha. Just as I thought.

You're going to lead a mighty lonely life avoiding all those wicked householders and businesses which haven't padded their table edges with cotton wool.

lottiejenkins · 12/09/2010 17:05

Oh just re read and no GA.......... still think sueing is in the realms of fairyland!!

herbietea · 12/09/2010 17:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Northernlurker · 12/09/2010 17:07

How could I decide that you were dim or fabricating the whole thing without reading the thread Confused. I assumed there was a serious problem not daftness lurking. Sadly I was disappointed.

Original poster
tosuehotelchain · 12/09/2010 17:07

They said it would have been more distressing if they had to inject with anesthetic and then stitch with the stitches, they done it the way they did to ease the stress for him.

Ds also doesn't react well to anesthetic.

I will STATE again, that I dont want to sue, however I want to prevent this happening again, the people who told me to sue, are actually my friends who work at the chain.

OP posts:
ilovesprouts · 12/09/2010 17:07

it was an accident ,yabu

SauvignonBlanche · 12/09/2010 17:08

I think OP is probably feeling guilty that they din't prevent the accident by better supervision. They shouldn't, accidents happen.

hocuspontas · 12/09/2010 17:09

It's like a toddler tripping over outside, cracking head open on the concrete then suing the council for having pavements not made out of foam. Hmm You wouldn't do that, would you?

lottiejenkins · 12/09/2010 17:09

Im sure the hotel chain who be delighted to hear their staff are encouraging their customers to sue!!! Shock

wrinklyraisin · 12/09/2010 17:09

Accidents happen. It's awful for everyone concerned but it's just one of those things. If you took action, the hotel could easily argue your DH was at fault as despite having your child on reins he failed to stop your child falling and then getting blood everywhere. See how ridiculous that sounds??? Give your little one lots of cuddles and tlc and move on.

Gay40 · 12/09/2010 17:10

It won't ever prevent it happening again, because it was an accident.
Can I suggest you never leave your house again, for fear of an accident happening.

And your friends who work for the chain are obviously legal advisers.

sapphireblue · 12/09/2010 17:13

Really sorry your DC was hurt, however the hotel have done nothing wrong.....they didn't do anything to cause the accident other than own tables. You can't expect a hotel to babyproof it's lobby and if there are sharp table edges it's your job as a parent to prevent accidents. You would be laughed out of a solicitors office.

unavailable · 12/09/2010 17:15

Perhaps you could sue your husband, as he was in charge of your ds when he fell?
... Just a thought, as you seem so keen to blame someone.