An electronic barrier gate smacked me in the face today...

[Kelly1978]

and my top teeth went through my lower lip. There is a deep cut inside my mouth and one tooth went all the way through and came out 1cm below my lip, and the tooth has chipped too. Sorry if TMI! It bloody hurts, my lip is going numb, and I'm wondering what to do about it. I'll prob have to go to the GP on mon in case their is tooth embedded in it and maybe need ABs.
I can't believe how much damage the barrier caused. I pushed the pram under it and went to go round it when it swung up into my face unexpectedly, no cars or anything nearby to set it off. There were no warning signs or anything (although there were on other gates we saw on the way out). Nothing indicated it was electronic. It is really dangerous and I can't help thinkign what it could do to a child. I'm wondering whether to complain to the council or even possibly sue.

Where was the barrier ? Did anyone witness the incident ?

At a council run car park in windsor, my partner saw it, not sure if anyone else did. Saw people around straight after it happened, but they ignored us so not sure if they actually saw it or not.

Bloody hell!
Get onto them-it must be recorded on CCTV.
Terrible story in the paper last week of a child crushed to death by a similar thing.

Thank god it did'nt knock your teeth out, the mouth area is the quickest part of the body to heal, but I would get it cheched out, you may need butterfly stiches.

These gates are supposed to be secure. I hope you are ok, Thank god it didn't do more damage. There was an item on watchdog this week about how unsafe barrier gates are, they killed a father a 3 by smashing into his car.
I would definately take action.
Good luck.

Ooh, poor you. Take photos of the damage and contact the council.

If you are thinking of making a claim, try & get a photo of the barrier & of your injuries.
It may have been the pram that set it off - some are triggered by metal
There should have been warning signs though - was that the only route or should pedestrians really go via another route ?
(that might be the councils defence, in that people were not supposed to go that way - although there shoudl have been clear signs)

We've taken some pics of the injuries, will have to go back to the car park and get some of the barrier. There was a possible alternative route but it would have been difficult to get the buggy over it, it was kerbed and not very wide, so I would have had to lift a very heavy double pram over. So I had planned to push the pram under the barrier and then go round that way myself. There were defo no signs at all, or proper walkway - the kerbed bit was just to stop cars really.

Thanks for the concern, everyone.

I would definately contact the council ASAP & see what they say. Sounds as though they are liable. CCTV is a possibility too as Moondod suggested

Hope you are OK

Moondog even !

went up hospital this morn as it has really swollen. The local one only does minor injuries and couldn't x ray it. So I had the hcoice to go to the nearest A&E and wait or leave it and go to the gp tomo and they would refer me if need by. I thought it would prob be a lot better by now, feeling increasingly p$ssed off!

Sue girl.

Did you see watch dog just this week? it was about how dangerouse some of these gates are as they have been blown into peoples windscreens cause they were not properly secured etc etc

one poor person even died when smacked in the face through the windscreen and others had seriouse head injuries.

You poor thing, what a nightmare. Id get legal advice (many do you win no fee for personal injury, and if you do win then they recover their fee from the guilty party anyway so youve got othing to loose)

Please be wary of no win no fee - as they do take their fee from the 'winnings' thereby leaving you with very little for your actual injury

I was wondering about that. I have called someone jsut to get an idea of whether or not I would have a case. It's ironic really, I'm in the third year of a law degree right now and the current topic is negligence and I think I might have a chance. A lot say they don't touch any compensation so I thought maybe their fees are covered under costs?

Possibly - I've had experience at work though where as an example £7000 has been awarded & person has actually only got £1000 themselves.

Guess if you just look around & be wary of clauses. Does sound like a case of negligence & there was an injury. You would need to prove that you were not partly to blame (ie could go no other route perhaps) but sounds like a good case to me - do keep us posted.

God kelly that sounds awful hope you're still well chocked up on painkillers - OUCH!

Definately kick up a fuss how dangerous

I had £2500 for a nasty back injury that still gives me problems 5 years down the line. My solicitor didn't take any of his fees from my compensation instead the people who I sued had to pay for him!

nt, did you have to do much to get that? Just wondering what pursuing a case would involve.

I just contacted a locally based injuries lawyer, had a meeting with him (in his office although he was quite willing to come to meet me at home) and got the ball rolling. He sorted out most things but kept in contact with me whenever something new had happended, I had to see a surgeon to review how severe my injury was and if it had any lasting effects. It took 2.5 years to complete the whole claim and get my compensation. The only thing I had to pay out for was the request from my GP for my medical notes (standard practice to have to pay for your medical records) which was about £35 I think, but the compensation more than covered that! I asked the lawyer about his fees and he told me that defendants had to pay for him. I never had to go to court, much of the conversations were had were over the phone. It was really easy to do, but just make sure you don't sign a credit agreement which is their way of making sure they get paid by you if your not successful, if you go for a no win - no fee company, you shouldn't have any hastle.