Slip and Fall Compensation Lawyers Win Sydney Shopping Injury

A Sydney mum has won $285,000 in damages after a Sydney shopping injury. The mother of three has suffered soft tissue injuries when a shopping trolley carrying her toddler and groceries hit a pothole and fell on top of her.

A report from the Sydney Morning Herald said that the mum, also a high school teacher was injured while walking back to her car at the Northbridge Plaza on Sydney’s north shore in June 2011. She suffered enduring pain in her neck, back, left shoulder, left hip, leg and knee when the trolley suddenly jerked when it hit a pothole and fell on top of her as she tried to shield her young daughter and her three-year-old son who were both walking beside her.

Although the x-rays only showed damage to her knee, an ortheopaedic surgeon diagnosed her with soft tissue injuries, a term which refers to the damage of muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, nerves and other connective structures throughout the body which results in pain, swelling and bruising of the affected area. A soft tissue injury may sideline an individual from their normal life for a few days or even months at a time.

Because of her injuries, she was unable to work and continue with the house chores which she loved doing before the accident. She tended to be less social and less enthusiastic which was very different from what her personality used to be. Even her relationship with her husband has become strained. In addition, she became short-tempered with her children and has been very upset that she was unable to hold her daughter.

Since the car park was a public road, the judge found the city council to be responsible for the accident as it’s their duty to ensure that the public roads are safe for the people.

The judge ruled in favour of the victim and with the help and guidance of a slip and fall compensation lawyer, was awarded a total of $285,915 in damages after a long legal battle with the City Council who was found to be accountable for negligence.

The court also ordered the council to pay the mother of three the legal costs for the trial and the appeal.