Irvings obtain £100,000 in tripping claim dropped by previous solicitors
Mr G suffered a very severe injury to his leg when he tripped over a small inspection cover which was open on a pavement. He consulted a firm of solicitors who started a claim for him. However, these cases can be difficult legally. The defendants, the local authority, predictably defended the case on the basis that they had recently inspected the pavement and had found no defect and had therefore complied with their duties and were not responsible. At this point the previous solicitors advised Mr G that he would not win his claim and dropped the case.
Irvings took over the claim, pursued it very strongly and expertly and eventually settled it for £100,000.
Disabled lady slips on dangerous grid cover
Mrs T was disabled and suffered from numerous challenging medical conditions including multiple sclerosis and diabetes. She was only able to walk with the aid of calipers yet she tried to live as active a life as possible.
She lived in a local authority owned house which had been adapted for her needs a few years before the accident. The adaptation included an extension to house a shower unit. A water inspection point had been installed in the back yard, outside the back door and a grid cover was placed over it.
Mrs T had complained on numerous occasions to the local authority that the grid cover was slippery. She covered it up with a rubber mat so that she could walk over it if she wanted to go into the back garden. However some time later workmen at her property removed the mat without informing her and when she stepped into the yard she slipped on the grid cover, causing injury.
The local authority denied that the grid cover was dangerous and that Mrs T had ever complained to them about it. Irvings issued court proceedings. The local authority continued to deny liability and case went all the way to a trial where the judge agreed that the grid was indeed dangerous and that the local authority was responsible.
Mrs T was awarded £4,950, but for her the main success was in Irvings proving that the grid cover was dangerous. As a result the local authority agreed to look into the possibility of changing it to a safer, non slip grid cover.
