Personal injury specialists secure compensation for hotel guests

Posted: 15/07/2016

Penningtons Manches LLP’s personal injury team has recently settled two separate claims against hotels.

The team represented a hotel guest who was booked to stay at an internationally renowned hotel in North London for five nights in order to attend work-related training. One evening she was walking through the hotel car park when she tripped over a parking bollard, which was in a lowered position and camouflaged by the paving stones. As the guest tripped, she fell heavily onto her right knee. After an initial period of investigation, a claim was submitted to the hotel and liability was admitted. Unfortunately, the woman was diagnosed with a tear to a tendon in her right knee for which she underwent surgery. She made a good recovery from her injuries and once medical evidence was obtained, a settlement was negotiated.

In the second incident, the team represented an elderly lady who had been holidaying in Devon. On the day of her departure, she emptied her wardrobe. As she was doing so, the wardrobe, which had been placed in an unstable position before her arrival, toppled over. The lady was knocked to the floor and she suffered injuries to her ankle, shoulder and back. Liability for the accident was admitted by the hotel. Penningtons Manches’ team took steps to investigate the injuries and obtain medical evidence, subsequently putting forward an offer of settlement to the hotel. This was agreed in full.

Charlene McAuliffe, an associate in the firm’s personal injury team, commented: “We are pleased to have obtained a successful outcome in both these claims. In each case, the defendant responded to the claims very quickly, which enabled us to focus our time on addressing the injuries and ensuring appropriate rehabilitation was obtained. Both our clients suffered injuries which were easily avoidable. We hope that defendants in cases like these recognise the need to ensure that their premises are regularly inspected and kept free of hazards that are likely to cause injury to their visitors.”

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