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.

YABVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVU!

Tbh, I think this will be the last time I use MN!, this thread is evident that people cant say you are BU in a adult manner, and one that I dont wish to participate in further.

Im feeling down already as it is, never mind the overwhelming childish attitude this thread has generated, it was a simple question, to stop further children being scarred, as he will be due to the accident.

Im sorry that I want to protect this happening to other children, and I am sorry that I took the time in posting this here, some of you do need to see that although this might be AIBU, it really is unnecessary at times with all the rudeness, and insults.

Thanyou for making me feel worse than I already do, its not even the "advice" that's done it, but the childish and immature attitudes from so called adults.

Oh grow up you sound like a spoilt petulant brat! jog on!

Oh and shut the door on your way out .....carefully we wouldn't want you to jam your fingers or anything.

mad, absolutely mad, of course YABU. Sorry your dc bumped his head but really, accidents happen.

What would you do if a friends dc hurt themselves in your house, maybe fell bumped their head on the corner of a plug socket or tripped on a door step, grazed their knee in your garden.
Would you think it reasonable for them to sue you?

Playgrounds are child-friendly places, yes?

So when my ds1 fell off a climbing frame I actually cocked up big time in not sueing the council for providing feather mattresses under all play equipment.

Oh and the time my dd tripped over when she was toddling and hit her head on the side of a roundabout? I mean, at the time I thought it was an accident. She was only toddling after all. But now on reflection perhaps I should have just gone after the council for making the insane decision to, you know, put things in the playground???

OP - can you not see that people are posting like that as the idea of you suing is ridiculous? Really it is. Lots of people have acknowledged how upsetting it must have been for you but wanting to sue is crazy and completely ott.

Children come across risks all the time and we cant wrap them up in cotton wool.
Not many people want to live in a world where everything is child proofed. I know I wouldnt. Hence why we have to supervise which on this occasion you didnt.

Accidents happen to us all. None of us are perfect parents but to then want to sue with no reason is silly.

Saying that - while YABU I do hope your dc heals well and you were right for feeling uneasy about suing.

The OP reacting in the way she has is exactly the sort of thing which results in restaurants preventing children being welcome and then we all suffer.

It sounds as if the friends who work for the chain are either humouring her (this reaction may not be out of character) or have an existing gripe with their employer and are looking to stir things up.

If the OP is genuine about wanting to prevent the same sort of accident what better way than to tip off the head office that this happened and then in a measured manner warn other mumsnetters about the ACCIDENT so they can judge for themselves whether extra care is needed at this particular venue or whether they want to avoid it all together.

This thread has restored my faith in my own sanity . Clearly I am not as mad as some people.

Was this the FIRST time tosuehotelchain used MN as well as her last.

Bonkers as conkers with donkers on them for extra measure

Suing doesn't prevent further accidents it just puts premiums up!
You offer a bit of feedback if you like & they can choose to take it or ignore it... or could ask for a public enquiry & they would have to act on the findings

OP - if you are genuine about not wanting to sue and just want to draw attention to the accident so it doesn't happen again, why call your thread and yourself to sue hotel chain, why ignore my brilliant advice and why get so upset about peoples comments?

People started off with sympathy and tried to make you see sense, you chose to ignore them all and kept banging on about the same nonsense.

So people stopped believing you tried making your unreasonableness clearer. Yet still you refused to consider points offered and instead throws a hissy fit.

So, as we're all horrible anyway, I'm going to say what I've thought from the OP but thought not really relevant to your question:
You sound a bit like a drama queen to me anyway. OP says GA was required. Yet later you say they thought it would be less traumatic for ds not to have it. So really, I don't think it was required at all, this is just your take on it. It's a horrible accident, yes, but it's just that. Don't make a bigger thing out of it that necessary. Children pick up on these things way after the pain from the fall has gone away. Hold your ds and kiss and cuddle him, and let this go.

"You say you don't want to sue. So dont!!It's simple"

Why are you sat arguing here? You should be cuddling your dc and making a fuss of them, I know it's really judgy pants but if my dd had gone through what you described there's no way I'd be fannying about on here 2 hours after!!

OP - if you desperately need to blame somebody for your child's accident, then blame yourself. He's your responsibility and he was injured in your care.

I don't actually think you're to blame because toddlers have accidents all the time - but as you seem so eager to pin responsibility on someone, pin it on yourself - your his mother.

I'm sorry for your pooor DS, OP, who must be feeling bad, and for you and DH for the shock you've been through.

It does sound unreasonable though, which - to be fair - is what your thread asks. What kind of tables were they? Can you find a picture?

I've seen lots of posters
post after children have had accidents (not usually a couple of hours later - try days but heh anyway...all those posters get sympathy, advice and support. Those posters usually blame themselves - even when as in this case they are not to blame and they need a bit of handholding. The op here though is not as other posters and needs locking in a darkened room till she has found her misplaced sense of proportion.

How is suing the hotel going to prevent accidents in future? The hotel will have even less money if you successfully sue them (not that I think you have any kind of case.)

Why not just write a letter explaining the problem and suggest that they change their decor?

Hahahahaha.

You are mad. The OP was merely misguided, and was treated as such, with suitable care and gentleness, but subsequent posts have convinced me that you are actually insane.

Maybe you had better sue MN while you are at it?

oops slipped too many ooos in there "poor DS"

As so many others have said, to be able to sue successfully, you would have to prove that the hotel had been negligent.

If you had been at a children's party, or in a child-themed room when the accident happened, you might have a case, as it would be reasonable to expect that such a room would be safe for children, though you would still have a duty to supervise your dc even then.

However, it is unreasonable to expect the entire world to be toddler-safe. I'm afraid that life is full of sharp corners and other hazards, and it is our job as parents to supervise our children adequately. We also have to accept, I'm afraid, that sometimes no-one is responsible for an accident - as someone else said earlier on the thread, that's why they are called accidents not on purposes.

I would be very interested to hear your answer to the question posed by another poster:
If your dc fell over at your friend's house and cut their forehead, would you consider suing your friend??

Perhaps I should sue my mother since my 13 months old DS smacked his head off the side of her conservatory door last week and needed stitches... what a load of tripe

From the OP I got the impression this was more of an 'if we threaten to sue then they will prioritise safety rather than bin our complaint' sort of thing, in which case I would say yay go ahead.

If it's money you're after though OP I would add a note of caution.... long term your child thankfully will be OK but I have seen so many people trying to sue for negligence because they face lifetime care costs dismissed by people becuase of the so-called 'litigacy culture'. We all have tor elaise that oura ctions have repercussions for otehrs, in this case the more vulnerable. I personally have turned down the chance to sue (my disabled son was left unattended and fell, neeeding many stitches inside and out, and sustaining permanent scarring that affects his already severe speech issues) becuase I believe sueing should be for the worst cases only. One day, God forbid, we might really need to sue and then the system should be there to support and not have become a defensive minefield because of minor claims.

Give your LO a huug; poor thing. I hope they sort their safety soon, a table cap isn;t much to ask.