We secured a four-figure settlement for our client who was seriously injured whilst volunteering as a chaperone on a school ski trip.
The accident
Alex, from Rotherham, volunteered as a chaperone on a school ski trip and was skiing in Italy when he was injured. He was one of six adults who were voluntarily supervising 43 students from the school on a trip to the Courmayeur resort.
The travel party went to the ski shop the day they arrived at the resort. Alex was given hired ski equipment, which included skis and ski boots.
Alex noticed the ski bindings had been set to a binding release value of eight. Remembering that the value setting had been lower on previous trips, he asked the ski shop employee if this setting was right. The employee confirmed that a binding release value setting of eight was correct.
On the first day of the trip, Alex was skiing in a group of eight students, who were led by an instructor. At around 10am, he was skiing on a blue-graded run called Checrouit. When Alex tried to stop, he fell, and his left ski didn’t release from its bindings as it should have.
Alex sustained a serious injury to his leg fracturing his left tibia, which needed surgery. He had repeated episodes of wound infection which further delayed his recovery. He needed ongoing treatment and rehabilitation to recover from his injury.
How we helped
Alex contacted us to help him secure compensation for his injuries. The ski resort denied that it was responsible for Alex’s injuries, so it was our job to prove it.
As the resort continued to deny responsibility, the case progressed to trial. To support Alex’s claim, we collected evidence from technical ski experts and medical experts. We made a claim that would consider his current and future loss of earnings as well as treatment needs.
We were able to reach a compromise with the resort shortly before the trial was due to start. This meant we were able to spare Alex the stress of going to court and help him move on from this difficult period in his life.
The settlement
We secured a significant four-figure sum in compensation for Alex, which accounted for his loss of earnings. It also took into consideration the fact that he’d sought medical and psychological treatment to improve his condition.
Alex can now put the accident and litigation behind him and focus on moving forward with his life.
Expert quote
Alex’s claim was initially handled by James Riley, an associate solicitor in our International Serious Injury team.
However, after a shift in caseloads, the claim was taken over by Jayne Murphy, who saw the case through to trial. Jayne has since spoken of Alex’s case:
“The complete disregard for safety shown by the ski resort is baffling. This is a prime example of how negligence can result in serious injuries that can have a devastating impact on someone’s life.
“It's disappointing that the resort wouldn’t take responsibility for its own carelessness. However, I’m very pleased we’ve been able to secure compensation for Alex. This money will help him to move forward with his life and make a proper recovery.”
Client quote
Alex recently left us a five-star review online. He praised both James’s and Jayne’s work in handling his claim:
“James Riley provided me with excellent legal services when I first started my legal process for a skiing injury that I sustained in February 2018. He was meticulous in his approach and highly professional in his conduct. He kept me informed at every stage of the process, and I felt supported throughout the initial period of my case.
“Later, following a caseload shift, my case was handed over to Jayne Murphy to continue forward. The service I received from Jayne was exemplary. She went above and beyond to ensure that I was well-informed and felt at ease throughout the entire legal process.
“Jayne's exceptional communication skills were particularly noteworthy, especially as the case began approaching trial. She kept in continuous contact and was very clear every step of the way, making what could have been a very distressing process much more relaxing for me….Her level of professionalism and dedication is unmatched, as she was able to secure a fantastic payout for me in the end.
“I am extremely grateful for the outstanding legal services that I received from both James and Jayne, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who is in need of legal assistance.” Find out about making a skiing injury claim for compensation.”
Find out more about how we can support you after a skiing injury
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