Slips, Trip and Falls Compensation Awarded to Leicester Shopper

A woman, who sustained shoulder and hip injuries when slipping on the access bridge to a Leicestershire shopping centre, has secured a slips, trips and falls compensation settlement against the owners of the site.

Gweneth Bowler from Quorn in Leicestershire was visiting the Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester with her daughter when the accident happened in January 2011. The 64-year old grandmother was crossing a covered walkway which connects the shopping centre car park with the stores, when she slipped on a wet surface and fractured her rights shoulder and hip in the fall.

While recovering from her injuries, Gweneth wrote to Leicester City Council about the hazard, prompting the council to initiate a health and safety inspection. The inspection revealed several areas where the owners of the shopping centre – Hammerson PLC – were failing in their health and safety obligations including a lack of cleaning to prevent the floor surface of the walkway from becoming slippery in bad weather.

After taking legal advice, Gweneth filed a claim for slips, trips and falls compensation against Hammerson PLC and, with negligence by the owners already established, the claim was quickly resolved for an undisclosed sum.