personal injury advice please

[ohdearwhathappened]

around 18 months ago I had an accident, I fell over on the pavement outside a large hospital A&E (the pavement was in a terrible state) I broke my glasses, smashed my face up (have a small scar on one side) smacked my teeth on to the pavement (thankfully they seem OK now and long may it continue) but there was a dentist bill. the pain was awful and I had to eat soft food for days including over Christmas.

This was a very difficult time because my child was an inpatient and seriously unwell (so I also had to spend quite a bit of time away when I didn't want to) clearly I was sober.

It is difficult for me to disect the stress of his illness from the accident IYSWIM so if I close my eyes I can get a flash back to the pain which makes me feel like I'm going to vomit, I was walking down the stairs carrying him earlier and I found myself 'imagining' the fall all over again and clutching the bannister IYSWIM.
As a result of all of this I have had a terrible sense of my own mortality which I am having difficulties dealing with.

even just writing this makes me want to cry

I don't want to sound nuts I know the illness/admission was difficult and I have asked my GP for counselling but I am as yet unable to get any

I do however feel that outside an A&E is perhaps an area where the pavement should be safe to walk

I would like to see if I can get some compensation from someone for the glasses/dentist etc presumably the local authority

Does anyone have any idea how I go about this?
am I likely to be successful?

You could make an appointment to see a solicitor - a lot of them will offer the first half hour free, which should give you enough time to explain what happened so that they can give you an idea of how likely you are to suceed.

There are also various no win/no fee companies who you could contact, but Im not sure if they are all reputable, or how you would go about finding one that was OK.

thanks
I was hoping to sort it out without using a solicitor
is that possible?
failing that I was hoping for a recommendation, it's only a few hundred pounds so I don't really want to spend money chasing it IYSWIM

yet having lost my job those few hundred pounds would be very useful!

You are only likely to succeed if there was a problem with the pavement.
Did the pavement cause you to fall?
Or did you just trip?

Sorry I'm not sure I get the difference

the pavement was in a terrible state ?dug up lots with cracks and really uneven ie big differences in height

right outside A&E!

I presume I just tripped over one of the cracks where the pavement was higher IYSWIM

It was terrible I can totally see why some old ladies who fall just take to their chairs

If you have a reasonable case a solicitor will take your case on for free.

Not sure the evidence to prove the state of the pavement may still be around though

Did you take photos of the pavement at the time? Probably not as the last thing on your mind If its still bad get some photo evidence. Did you have any witnesses? Your A&E records are OK I'm sure. Were there any warning signs on 'use other pavement' signs?

If the pavement was in poor condition and caused you to injure yourself the hospital owners (ours is one of those PPI things and balfour beatty own our hospital!) are liable. Get advice from one of those no win no fee solicitors, not nice but you suffered significant injury. You could try writing to the hospital owners first and tell them of your intention, they may be willing to compensate you, especially as court costs for them are astronomical.

PS Woolworths sent my Mum a bunch of flowers when the 'W' fell off and just missed her! Hilarious.
PPS hope your LO is OK and fully recovered.