Article
23 March, 2021
This was the question in a recent claim that Forbes successfully defended which was brought by a teacher who said that he had injured himself whilst roller skating when taking a group of pupils to a roller rink.
His case was that he was a proficient roller skater, having been roller skating many times previously. He claimed that the skates that were being given out by our client were old and worn and that numerous pairs had been returned to them as they were faulty. He said that the particular skates that he was using suddenly unbuckled and unclipped as he was skating, causing him to fall.
The allegations against our client were that they had given him a defective pair of skates and that these were the cause of the accident. He claimed that there was no system for checking the skates. As a result he claimed that the Roller Rink were negligent or in breach of their duties under the Occupiers Liability Act 1957 for failing to take reasonable care of the claimant as a visitor to the rink.
The judge identified the issues as being whether the boot was in fact defective, and, if defective, did that defect lead to his fall, and if so was the defendant aware, or ought they to have been aware of the said defect?
There were several areas of concern that we identified with our clients from the outset.
A major issue for this claimant on credibility was the contemporaneous accident report and medical records, none of which recorded a defective boot as the cause of the fall, and, potentially more damaging for this claimant, he had failed to tell his medical expert of his previous knee injury.
Having obtained supportive witness statements and in view of our concerns about the records, our clients supported our view that the matter could be defended to trial. The judge dismissed the claim finding that the claimant was skating backwards, when he twisted and fell, and that was the cause of the accident.
Forbes Comment
The claimant had no answer for the documentary evidence which we used to challenge his version of events, in the face of excellent witnesses on behalf of our client. Whilst there are risks in every case, it is important to look beyond simply the witness evidence, to contemporaneous records where issues of recollection, and contradictory statements are concerned.
For more information contact Paul Geldard in our Insurance department via email or phone on 01254 662831. Alternatively send any question through to Forbes Solicitors via our online Contact Form.
Learn more about our Insurance department here
Design Feature of manhole cover not "dangerous" for purposes of a…
Get in touch to see how our experts could help you.
Monday to Friday:
09:00 to 17:00
Saturday and Sunday:
Closed