Roger’s Story.
A public injury is an injury resulting from an accident in a public place like a park, shopping centre or even a rented property. Some accidents involve faulty equipment, but many public injuries happen because of hazards, obstacles or spills that cause slip, trip and fall accidents. Over the years our solicitors have helped many thousands of Australians claim compensation for public liability, and Roger’s story is a typical example of an unexpected fall that had a significant impact on his life.
Roger, a retired veteran, was doing his weekly supermarket shop when he slipped and fell on some orange juice that had spilt on the floor. He fell forwards onto his left knee, twisting his back in the process. This accident stopped the active 69 year old in his tracks. He was unable to walk or stand for any longer than 15 minutes and couldn’t sit for extended periods of time.
Getting to know Roger and his family
When Roger came to Law Partners he was in a vulnerable state. We took the time to get to know Roger and his wife, Donna, to really understand how his life had been impacted by the accident. Roger was a handyman and also took great pride in his contribution to the housework. After the accident, Roger could no longer cut the hedges, lift shopping bags, paint the house or even mow the lawn without experiencing pain through his knee and back. He confided in his solicitor that although he was struggling with his inability to help his wife, the thing he missed most was bending down and picking up his 2 year old granddaughter.
Roger’s successful claim
We supported Roger and Donna through this difficult time and successfully claimed compensation for all of Roger’s treatments costs, including hydrotherapy to help rehabilitate his muscles. We also claimed compensation for domestic assistance, so that Donna didn’t have to take on the burden of maintaining their family home on her own. The accident also brought back some pre-existing anxiety symptoms from Roger’s time serving in the Vietnam War. This distress resulted in a significant interruption to his sleep and recovery, and in light of this we made sure Roger received the maximum compensation he was entitled to.
Clients' names and images have been changed to protect their privacy.
