Compensation Payments Following Injuries from Drunken Horse-Play

Recently David Tomlinson was approached by two, separate clients. They had both suffered alcohol related injuries in unusual, but remarkably similar accidents. Unfortunately, both Lorna and Leon were injured accidentally by people they knew, after those people had drunk too much alcohol. In the first accident Lorna had returned home from a night out with her then boyfriend. He was somewhat the worse for wear and, for reasons best known to himself, he decided to give Lorna a Fireman’s lift. They were in the kitchen at the time. This meant that, when he lost his footing and slipped, he dropped her onto the hard concrete floor. Sadly, Lorna sustained a significant shoulder injury.

In a similar incident, Leon was babysitting one evening. The householder/father returned from the pub rather the worse for wear. He too tried to attempt a Fireman’s lift on Leon and he also managed to drop Leon onto a hard floor. This resulted in another shoulder injury. By further coincidence, these separate events took place within 5 miles of each other.

Lorna and Leon approached us separately after they were independently recommended to David Tomlinson by former clients. Initially they were both reluctant to claim compensation, despite the serious nature of their injuries. They were both worried because the claims would be brought against friends or acquaintances.

We carried out our initial investigations and discovered that both Defendants were insured. Once we had established this, we sent letters of claim to the insurers. In both cases the insurers fully investigated the accident circumstances and made a speedy admission of liability. Both of our clients made reasonable recovery from their injuries but both were likely to continue to have some ongoing symptoms for the rest of their lives. Between them they received over £50,000 in compensation.

Alcohol Related Injuries and Other Injuries in Someone’s Home

These cases both highlight the ability to claim compensation if you are injured in somebody else’s home where the accident was caused by the home owners fault. Although we realise that many people are reluctant to bring compensation claims in such circumstances, they are reassured when they remember that these householders took out insurance to cover them in the event of claims being brought.