to sue hotel chain

[tosuehotelchain]

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

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.

Also I reckon the thing about the offer of a free stay at the theme park is a tall story. I got compensation in gift vouchers from a well- known chain store but I only got them once a full investigation had been completed. Doling out gifts is akin to doling out compensation and compensation is admitting liability. What company would admit liability before completing an investigation?

Threatening to sue people (even if you have no intention of doing so) is just plain nasty. So many companies these days live in fear of litigation and will do anything to prevent it. removing the furniture proves nothing other than that the company would prefer not to face threats of litigation. So many businesses in this country live in fear of litigation these days that anything posing even a sniffter of a risk is removed just in case idiots like the op come along.

Goodwill gesture is not really the same as admitting liability cupcakes though I was surprised about the value of gesture

Not necessarily, cupcakesandbunting - often companies give freebies as a sign of goodwill. I've left feedback at a posh hotel once (on the card, not internet, it's obviously something small but I thought I should mention it so that they could rectify it) about mould on their cotton wool, and a week later got a call from the manager offering us a free weekend stay ! It's just to keep a good name, as one unhappy customer can spread the word to many.

accidents happen get over it.You sound like someone who looks for something to complain about to get something for nothing as you mentioned another run in with the same hotel chain.If I was you I would'nt give them my custom again and I bet the hotel would be mighty relieved,you would be someone else's problem customer

Ok, am willing to concede that I might be wrong about this. It just seems unusual that in less than 24 hours, OP is being given such a high value "gift". Which she had then donated to a charity

maybe I'm just a terrible old cynic.

Agree cupcakes (the OP is actually a saint).

"It just seems unusual that in less than 24 hours, OP is being given such a high value "gift"."

Over the phone? Without a written complaint? On a Monday morning? A week's stay plus travel so, say, about five hundred quid? I'd love to know the company in which you can get an out-of-process invoice for five hundred quid signed in a couple of hours on the basis of a phone call.

Your child triiped and acidently hid thier head on the table. It was not the hotels fault and it's over the top to sue them.

Now you come to mention it, that does look a bit suspicious, tokyo.

My Bollocks alarm is going haywire here.

well, it looked suspicious to me when posted but i daren't risk calling OP a liar.

Oh God this kicked off a little didn't it?!

Wish I'd have seen it earlier. I work in HQ for a major hotel chain and have to say if it happened in one of our hotels we would be mortified and would take it very seriously indeed, and do all we could to prevent future accidents. Hotels don't want their guests injuring themselves after all.

I think the free accommodation is a very kind offer.

"I actually do have a case for liability, they already have accident reports concerning the table, which my friend will pass give to me."

No it doesn't prove liability. What it will prove is there have been accidents which is a fact but if they're all drunk people walking into a table and a toddler falling there is room for questioning liability.

H&S should have accident reports they have to be sent regulary. I am shocked the HQ which is where H&S and HR would presumably be anyway would JUST take your word for it about other accidents.

I'm ed that by midday you had all this goodwill and made a donation to charity and managed to give DS breakfast, luch, play with him, wash him and dress him.

Your bloody superwoman - go OP.

My baby fell on to the buggy. Sustained a very serious injury which needed an operation under GA which lasted a few hours. We told the shop so they knew to check the products. They gave us a refund for the buggy "as goodwill" and said there was nothing wrong with the buggy. They also gave me a £20 voucher. I would stake my life on my child's injury being much much worse than the OP's child's accident but she has been given a bigger sweetener and much quicker than it normally happens.

I am thrilled to say my baby is fully recovered now. :)

I would say that a one week stay for a hotel group is only a perceived high value. To us it costs very little.

Plus, theme park tickets will be ten a penny if it;s a major group with good relationships with 3rd party theme parks.

Who is thye hotel chain OP. Is it one of the big boys?

My bets been on the Beefeater chain from the start

Think it's a bit ridiculous to consider suing - how action do you want them to take exactly? What would you do if this accident happened at a friend's home - sue them? Can't see any evidence for negligence and suspect a good lawyer would tell you you were wasting your time

Wacky Warehouse.

MacToenails

Well I had a fairly brutal day at work, came home to find next door has put scaffolding in my garden without permission and so seeing the op split hairs about how her friend could get the reports but that didn't mean she would and even if she did the op hadn't discussed using them, has given me much needed light relief.
I'm amazed at her powers of persuasion tbh - a weeks stay agreed in one phone call with very little time for evidence gathering at the site or any consideration as to whether the group want to even partly admit some liability - wow. Plainly the OP has the persuasive powers of Tony Blair combined with the hard nosed negotiating style of a whole den full of dragons.

Whilst in no way wishing to minimise the clear distress of seeing your child hurt, I am bemused at the lengths the op is going to in ensuring someone takes the blame for the inanimate object 'inflicting' injury, whilst the adult charged with caring for the child is probably happily oblivious.

Misdirected anger if ever I saw it.

Impressive negotiating, indeed NL.

I'm wondering did OP mastermind these discussions singlehandedly, as a private individual, without having to get some legal representation? Wowsers.

And did the hotel chain need to see any actual proof of the injury? Wow, the hospital must have been very fast acting to jump to the OPs request and get copies of medical reports to the hotel.

What a world we live in where an ordinary person can achieve all this by elevenses

I'm just going to come out and say it; I think OP is Captain Bullshit.

Sorry OP!