Our client visited her local McDonald’s restaurant with her husband and 2 young granddaughters. They were sitting at the table when she suddenly fell to the floor as her chair had collapsed. She injured her lower back.

When the chair was turned over and inspected it became clear that the metal leg had rusted through and broken clean off from the frame of the chair. Our client’s husband immediately fetched a Manager who told him that the chair leg had corroded through as a result of the local sea air. When they looked underneath other chairs around the restaurant they were also found to be suffering from rust in the same location.

The Manager was helpful at the scene and took full details of what had happened as well as some photographs of the defective chair. But when our client later asked for copies of those photographs and a copy of the Accident Report details, the Manager was less than forthcoming.

Our client was going to leave it there as she did not think that she could take things any further but she called us to see if we might be able to help. After discussing the claim with her, we agreed to act for her on a no win, no fee basis.

We sent a detailed letter of claim to the local branch of McDonald’s as well as to the Company Secretary at their head office. The matter was eventually passed to their insurers and, after some negotiation, we obtained a full admission of liability for our client’s injuries.

We arranged for her to undergo an examination by an independent medical expert, who provided us with a report detailing her injuries.

She was diagnosed as having suffered a soft tissue injury to the bottom of her back, from which she was expected to recover within about a year of the accident.

On the basis of the medical report we were able to negotiate a settlement of our client’s claim in the sum of £2,500, together with payment of our costs by the insurers.

When she received her cheque, she said “I would like to thank you for all your efforts relating to this matter and the friendly professional way you have conducted your business”.

If you have been injured in a restaurant, contact us to see whether you may have a claim.