Recently, Michelle Meigan, Senior Associate and expert in public liability claims, concluded a claim for a young man injured at high school. Michelle’s client attended his local high school here in NSW. On one day a week, his class were able to play sport. His chosen sport was basketball. The children were separated into several teams and supervised by teaching staff. Unfortunately, the area dedicated to basketball games was extremely dangerous. It was an outside court which was covered in loose gravel and the slab itself was uneven. As our client attempted to retrieve and pass the basketball, his foot got caught in the loose gravel and he suffered a very serious hyperextension injury to his knee and leg. He fell to the ground in excruciating pain. An ambulance was called and he was rushed to the hospital. He was scanned and admitted. He then underwent surgery and remained in the hospital for about three weeks. He had suffered a series of fractures to his leg. As well as the fractures, he had suffered serious nerve and ligament damage.
Following the initial surgery, he has required several further operations performed by plastic surgeons and a neurosurgeon. Unfortunately, the serious nerve damage is now permanent. He had further surgery performed by a specialist foot and ankle surgeon who actually performed a tendon transfer. Following intense therapy after this surgery, our client has been left with a number of ongoing problems. He now suffers from constant aching in his knee. At the end of the day, it becomes very painful. He has suffered a number of falls due to knee instability. He also has problems with his ankle. It remains painful and he notices difficulty when walking over uneven surfaces. He has to be very careful, particularly on building sites where he now works.
Because of his ongoing pain and the fact that his leg/ankle problems now appear to be permanent, he and his parents approached Taylor & Scott Negligence Lawyers seeking advice.
HOW TAYLOR & SCOTT NEGLIGENCE LAWYERS HELPED
Our team of expert compensation negligence lawyers met with the young man and his parents. Having received instructions, Michelle agreed to investigate a negligence claim on a no-win/no-pay basis, meaning that Taylor & Scott would guarantee all costs and no costs would be payable to Taylor & Scott unless and until the negligence case was successful.
Michelle gathered together the medical evidence from all of the specialists who had treated her client. In due course, Michelle arranged for her client to be assessed by a specialist in occupational medicine. This specialist prepared a very detailed report focusing on how the permanent injuries and ongoing disabilities from which our client was suffering would impact on him over his working life.
Michelle also obtained an expert opinion on liability. This expert focused on the negligence of the school in failing to ensure that the surface of the court was safe to play basketball on. Clearly, having loose gravel on the court and having depressions in the hard surface of the court, made the court dangerous to play on. Michelle also found out that there had been a number of previous accidents prior to her client’s accident on these courts.
Michelle then launched a claim in negligence under the Civil Liability Act in the District Court of NSW. Having answered the defendant’s particulars and having presented her client for various medical examinations, Michelle then arranged a settlement conference prior to the matter coming on for hearing.
We are very pleased to report that Michelle has been able to negotiate a very satisfactory settlement of her client’s negligence claim compensating him for the injuries he has suffered and also providing him with lump sum compensation in case the injuries come against him in the long term.
TAYLOR & SCOTT’S OFFER TO YOU
If you, a member of your family or someone you know is injured at school, whether at pre-school, primary school, secondary school, college or university, you are welcome to have a Free Case Assessment with one of our expert lawyers in public liability compensation claims. Following on from your Free Case Assessment, if Taylor & Scott acts for you, it will be on a no-win/no-pay basis meaning that Taylor & Scott guarantee your costs and you do not pay Taylor & Scott any costs whatsoever unless and until you win your case.
Please contact our team of expert lawyers by ringing us on FreeCall 1800 600 664 or email us at info@tayscott.com.au
Our team of dedicated experts in compensation, negligence and public liability claims will do everything they can to ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
At Taylor & Scott, We Care For You.
