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Holidaymaker helped by Thompsons after initially turned down by ‘no win no fee’ lawyers
Injured in airport
A holidaymaker who was badly injured after falling down a flight of stairs on the way to board her flight has received compensation after help from her trade union lawyers.
Sheila Gilling, 69, from Badby in Northamptonshire had to take 9 months off work following the fall after she badly dislocated her shoulder.
She had initially approached a ‘no win, no fee’ solicitor for help pursuing a compensation claim but after initially pursuing the claim for six months they refused to progress the claim further saying she wouldn’t win.
She was advised by her trade union, the GMB, to use its legal services. The union’s lawyers Thompsons Solicitors pursued the claim against Thomson Airways Ltd and settled it out of court for £28,000.
Dislocated Shoulder and Torn Hamstring from fall
Mrs Gilling, suffered a dislocated shoulder, torn hamstring and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after she fell head first down a flight of stairs at Birmingham International Airport en route to board a flight to Lanzarote.
The stairs were temporary as the umbilical usually used between the boarding gate and the plane was out of order. The stairs were faulty, with the top section not meeting up properly with the bottom section. The steps and handrail were also wet due to a leak in the roof.
The couple never made their flight and instead Mrs Gilling ended up in hospital. She needed two operations on her shoulder and intensive physiotherapy. She is also receiving counselling after suffering from flashbacks and anxiety.
Thompsons Solicitors were able to claim under the Montreal Convention, which covers accidents during international carriage by air, and Thomson Airways admitted liability.
Thompsons have considerable experience in holiday-related injury claims
Mrs Gilling said: “I was devastated when the first solicitor I approached turned down my claim. I knew the accident wasn’t my fault but they said they couldn’t win. In the end the GMB said their lawyers would take it on and I’m so glad I followed their advice and absolutely delighted with the result achieved. I am extremely grateful to my union and Martyn Gywther at Thompsons”.
Joe Morgan regional secretary at the GMB said: “We are delighted that our legal services have been able to support Mrs Gilling in her claim. The ‘no win, no fee’ lawyers she initially approached simply didn’t have the specialist knowledge needed to progress this claim, which was complicated by the fact the accident occurred whilst boarding a plane. We’d advise all our members to consider using our legal services first if they are unfortunate enough to become involved in an accident like this.”
Martyn Gywther from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Thompsons used its considerable experience in holiday-related injury claims to ensure that Mrs Gilling received justice. Her accident was covered by the Montreal Convention which provides protection in appropriate circumstances to passengers who travel, or who intend to travel Internationally by air and it is only right that she is compensated not only for her pain and suffering but for the time she missed at work and also the holiday which she and her husband had to abandon.”
Compensation Claim Advice following a Holiday Accident
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury on holiday or developed an illness on holiday, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for holiday injury compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a holiday injury claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.
If your claim has to be pursued outside the Courts of England and Wales, we cannot guarantee a no cost service because different rules apply. Each case will be reviewed on its own merits and appropriate advice will be provided before any costs are incurred.
Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
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