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£17,500 for Holidaymaker Who Slipped on Wet Stairs

It can sometimes take time to establish the severity of a person's injuries so that a fair compensation settlement can be reached. In a case involving a woman who suffered an injury while on holiday, it was necessary to wait two years for a medical assessment.

The woman was on a package holiday in Benidorm. She was walking through the lobby of her hotel when she slipped on some wet stairs. She injured her hip and had to undergo surgery.

She brought a claim against the company through which she had booked the package holiday. The company admitted liability, but a medical report concluded that a definite prognosis in respect of her injuries could not be made until two years after her accident. A further examination was carried out at that point: fortunately, she had made a good recovery and was unlikely to need further surgery.

The company offered to settle her claim for £13,750, but she was advised to reject this offer. She subsequently accepted an increased offer of £17,500.