Specialist Lawyers Secure Settlement From Newport City Homes After Farmer Fell Down ‘Poorly Maintained’ Drain

A farmer who was left unable to work for several weeks after he suffered ankle injuries in a fall down a ‘poorly maintained’ drain near to his Newport home has won a legal battle.

Michael Croft, from Gwent in Wales was walking near to his home on 11 June 2012 when he fell and injured his right ankle after stepping onto a flight of steps which were partly engulfed with water and grass following heavy rainfall.

After the accident the 47-year-old instructed expert personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his accident and the law firm has now secured him a four-figure settlement from Newport City Homes who are responsible for the surrounding land and maintaining its upkeep.

Michael was taken to the accident and emergency department at Royal Gwent Hospital as his ankle was extremely painful and had swelled due to his fall. After examining x-rays doctors believed he had fractured the bone in his foot and he was fitted with a cast to his right foot and given crutches.

However a month later Michael went back to hospital where scans showed that he had not actually fractured his foot but had suffered severe ligament damage and he began to undergo physiotherapy to help with his recovery.

Expert Opinion

“Michael suffered a painful foot injury after falling down the steps near to his home as the nearby drains were not maintained to a suitable standard. We argued that had Newport City Homes acted appropriately, identifying that residents' safety could be compromised by the poorly maintained drains overflowing, then Michael’s accident could have been avoided.

“We are pleased that we have been able to secure a settlement for Michael despite Newport City Homes disputing their responsibility for this particular incident. Hopefully they will learn from this accident and make sure that all public steps and walkways are properly maintained to prevent other residents being injured in a similar way.”
Kerry Hadley - Senior Associate Solicitor

Commenting on his case, Michael said: “I am relieved that the case has now come to an end. I live an active life but because of my injuries I was unable to work at the dairy farm where I am employed or drive for many weeks as my ankle was incredibly painful and I had to keep my leg elevated to help with my recovery.

“I still suffer from on-going pain every now and then in my right foot, especially when walking across uneven ground – but as I work on a farm it is something I can’t avoid as I spend majority of my day walking across fields and this can aggravate my injury.

“I hope that my accident helps to highlight to need for the authorities to make sure that the land and public walkways in the surrounding area are properly maintained so that no further accidents can happen.”

If you've been injured in an accident in a public place (such as a street or park), our personal injury lawyers could help you claim compensation. Visit our Accidents In Public Places Claims page for more information.