Tracey Dickinson

Driving instructor, Ms R, had parked in the car park behind the driving test centre on Middlewood Road in Hillsborough, Sheffield.  She decided to go to the row of shops near the test centre.  There is no footpath out of the test centre, so Ms R used a ramp at the back of the New Rooster Chicken and Pizza (defendant): the shop at the end of the row.  The ramp was wet and, as it was covered in algae, it was very slippery.  As she walked, Ms R slipped and fell, hurting her foot and knee.

Tracey pursues owner of fast food outlet

The injuries sustained by Ms R have left her with scarring. She also hurt her neck in the accident, which healed quickly, and was shocked and shaken.  Ms R contacted Tracey who approached the defendant.  The owner denied liability, saying that Ms R should not have used the ramp.  He produced pictures showing signs warning people not to use the ramp.  These signs were not in place when Ms R slipped, and Tracey was able to prove that with images from Google Street View.

Believing that she had a good case, Tracey issued court proceedings, but the defendant failed to respond and failed to instruct a solicitor.  She therefore made a request for judgement and the court set a date for a hearing.  The defendant’s insurer had to investigate to find out whether he had breached the terms and conditions of his insurance policy by not informing the insurer about the claim.  The defendant’s insurer eventually confirmed that he was covered, and Tracey negotiated a settlement of £1,500, which Ms R was happy to accept.

If you have had an accident in a public place, please contact our experts and we will arrange a free of charge meeting in which we can discuss your case.  You can also find out more on our web pages.