Last updated on August 18th, 2015 at 12:18 pm

On a warm and sunny afternoon on 24 May 2010, Chesterfield resident Clarice McDonnell walked along a path at the side of the new Chesterfield football stadium with her friend, looking forward to meeting her husband for tea at the Donkey Derby pub.  Clarice knows the area well, having lived around it for about 50 years and knew that the football club was building a new stadium, however, what she didn’t know is that her walk today would end up in an ambulance on its way to Chesterfield Royal Infirmary.

The builders had recently erected fencing around the building site, which Clarice had not seen before.  As is normal with this type of fencing, the panels were secured by large concrete blocks, but on this occasion the blocks were dangerously sticking out into the footpath by about 18 inches.   Clarice and her friend walked as carefully as possible, but as they rounded the corner and the path narrowed, Clarice tripped over one of the concrete blocks, falling forwards into the fence and then backwards onto the pavement, banging her head.

Of course this would be a shocking experience for anyone, but for an elderly person, the distress is far more acute.  Laying on the floor, distraught, disoriented and feeling very much like she was going to faint, Clarice could feel a sharp pain in her right foot.  Her friend called the emergency services and the paramedics attended who were also concerned that Clarice was going to pass out.  So, making her comfortable on the floor, they called for an ambulance which took Clarice and her husband (who, having been alerted by her friend, had arrived at the scene) to hospital, where it was confirmed that Clarice had broken her foot and it was put in a cast.

On the following day, Mr McDonnell attended the scene to speak to the health and safety representative at the building site, but was told that no one was available and he would have to come back another day.  The concrete slabs were still in the same position, protruding into the pavement.  He then re-visited the next day to find that the slabs had been turned round.  He obtained the details of GB Building Solutions.

The accident left Clarice in shock and pain and even though she has now recovered from the worst, she has been left with a distressing problem with her right foot, which is now a size bigger than her left foot.

Clarice contacted Graysons WE Solicitors and asked if anything could be done to gain redress from the builders.  Personal injury specialist Lucy Flynn thought immediately that GB Building Solutions must accept responsibility for the accident and began to pursue a claim against them and P & B Paving & Fencing.   The case was successful against both of these parties.

Clarice says:

“Lucy was absolutely marvellous and did all she could for me at what was a very stressful time.  She was kind, patient and guided me all the way so that I was always kept in the picture.  I would be really happy to recommend her to anyone.”