The accident
A 59-year-old man was out on his Vespa motorbike, having come back from his scooter club, when he approached a junction on a wet evening. As he rode over a triple manhole cover embedded in the road surface, his tyres lost traction. Our client came off the bike.
The injuries
The accident resulted in multiple injuries, including fractured ribs and a dislocated left shoulder joint. He required hospital treatment and was kept in for a week. He needed surgery on his shoulder and plenty of physiotherapy.
The claim
Believing the accident was not his fault, JK Lawyers pursued a claim against the local council, which was responsible for maintaining the road and BT, who were responsible for the covers. Our legal team conducted detailed investigations into highway maintenance standards and regulations concerning manhole covers. We gathered evidence showing that the cover did not meet required safety standards, particularly in terms of skid resistance.
The covers were replaced after our client’s fall. Our client worked with us to reach out on social media, and we were able to identify that other road users had identified that the covers were dangerous.
The outcome
Based on this evidence, we successfully argued that the Defendant had breached its duty of care. Liability was eventually accepted, and the client was awarded £50,000 in damages. This compensation reflected his physical injuries, loss of earnings, rehabilitation costs, and the wider impact on his quality of life.