I am about to pursue a personal injury claim against the pub who run the ferry from which I fell and broke my foot at the beginning of October.
Initially I had no intention of doing this as I assumed that I would be in plaster for 6-8 weeks and then be fine. However, now that a second slow-to-heal fracture has been found and it looks as though I am facing several more months before I am able to walk, and also the possible prospect of surgery with several months recovery from that, I took a different view.
We have incurred lots of expenses: replacing our car with an automatic (we live on a very steep hill in the midle of nowhere and without the car I am trapped at home - OH has PD and can drive but does not like to do so any more than necessary), hiring a knee trolley, adaptations to the crutches, other adaptations in the house, private MRI and private consultant consultation (necessitated by huge NHS delay) etc. Aside from the expenses there are of course the considerable effects on my life and that of my OH.
I also see it as a way of getting the pub to take passenger safety more seriously - there was no provision for helping people off the boat when the river was very high.
The agreement before me is a "no win, no fee" which includes an insurance against costs if the case is lost.
I am assuming that there will be no court action, as this is likely to be "bread and butter" stuff for insurers - I presume the pub (which is a very busy and popular one) will have 3rd party liability insurance.
Does anyone have personal experience of such actions? If so I would be glad of their comments.
Lots of thanks.