Slip and fall injury settlement

[TheSharpOlive]

I slipped on some spillage in Asda last summer. I was injured quite badly and wasn’t able to get up the floor. It was quite dramatic but the staff were very helpful and comforting. They even suggested to make an injury claim and took pictures of the floor, my leg etc.

Long story short, I was required to have a spinal surgery and lost my dream job! I’m currently recovering from surgery (4 months post surgery), but I still don’t feel as my usual self and I’m in pain.

My question here is, and I know no one can give me an accurate figure, but how much do you think I could receive? Has anyone been in a similar situation?

According to my solicitor, Asda has taken full responsibility and there’s CCTV footages and witnesses that gave their statements.

NHS covered the surgery cost. Approx £1000 in total has come out of my pocket for travel, physio, etc. BUT, I lost my high profile job, which I’ve worked so hard for for years! Also, was just going to buy my first property as a single parent, and did not go through it as I wasn’t sure what my near future would look like after the injury. Im very upset and depressed over that my life took such a big turn and I feel I lost everything I’ve worked hard for so long, over a silly slip!!

I had to leave my home and moved to my mums as I can’t afford supporting myself and my child as I’m unemployed and unwell.

You and your solicitor will have to sit down and do the sums. Is your solicitor a specialist in this type of case? It will be a long process. When you say you lost your dream job, were you already employed in the job and for how long? Are you in a union? Will your employers support your claim? These are just a few things that need clarification and your solicitor should advise you.

I did ask my solicitor a few times but she said she doesn’t want to give me an estimate but said I’ll definitely win the claim as asda admitted they were liable.

Yes I was employed, was there just under 2 years. I’ve studied 6 years in order to qualify for that job role, and I’m in deep student debt, which I thought it was worth having in return to work my dream job.

I was in a union yes but not anymore. However my solicitor only required payslips and bank statements in order to see when the last payday was.

She'll be hesitant to give a figure because it's normally a barrister that does that, but right at the end of the claim.

You may be able to get private counselling paid for from the claim as you adjust to life post-accident. You can also ask for interim payments if you're struggling for money, although these will be small and come off the final figure, as the claim is a certainty.

I had both the above when I was in a car accident with a drunk driver and his insurance admitted liability immediately.

What reason did your employer give for dismissing you? If it’s not linked to your injury this may well result in a lower pay out.

I think being in the job less than 2 years might be a problem.

I had to resign eventually due to the injury. Work were very understanding and sympathetic but unfortunately in order for me to go back to my job, I must be very fit which I don’t see in the near future or at all.

The solicitor is amazing and she has taken into account that I’ve studied for 6 years in order to qualify for this job role, not to mention I’ve spend nearly £100k on my studies.

But my question here was if anyone have had a spinal injury due to an accident which required surgery. And how much was roughly compensated for ‘personal injury’ and not for ‘loss of earning’ and ‘future loss of earning’, as that is something only I can tell.

I would expect hundreds of thousands

But you will have to show your mitigating your losses by showing a pathway into getting back into your career I think

If you're PERMANENTLY disabled then you're going to need to show that and maybe the gap between what you can't do and what you can do financially - ie. I can now only do this job because it doesn't require travel at £20k rather than this job which I trained for at £60k

DISCLAIMER - I'm not a solicitor, above is just guesses

We have just been down the Personal Injury claim rabbit hole. My husband was hit by a car whilst in a footpath. The car didn't stop. There were multiple injuries and he has never worked again . (Previously a software contractor salary over £100k) . There were even two eye witnesses.

It took 4 years and 5 months. With a PI solicitor. Not a claims company and not no win no fee. The claim was made through the MIB motor insurance bureau who are a private organisation set up in the 1940s to compensate those affected by uninsured or untraced drivers. They are a living nightmare to deal with. Are possibly the slowest organisations on Earth to deal with and certainly one of the most chaotic.

We had 7 'case managers' . They lost multiple medical reports . In the end we settled at £650k of which £525k was loss of earnings. Just because the stress after so long was too much. To prove the loss we had to show 5 years back and proof of next contract which luckily he had secured the day before the accident. The process was horrifically stressful because the MIB call the shots and can't be taken to court. A supermarket is a different entity but I would still bank on 3 years minimum.

No one mentioned any figures to us until the last fortnight of the whole process. My DH has been permanently disabled, will never work again, lives on morphine which has caused all kind of additional medical problems. I am now his carer.

If you are going for it be prepared for a long slog.