Pensioner Wins Compensation for Faulty Pavement

Posted on Jul 02, 2009 
 

A pensioner has received compensation from her council, described as a "substantial sum", after injuring her jaw and teeth in a fall on a faulty pavement in Sheffield. 
 
75 year old Joan Heppenstall is still receiving treatment two years after she tripped on a raised paving slab in Greseley Road, Low Edges, Sheffield.  
 
She was returning to her car after visiting a friend when she tripped on the raised edge and fell, hitting her jaw on the ground. The accident resulted in Mrs Heppenstall smashing her dental bridge, knocking out one tooth and chipping several other teeth. She also required several stitches to her chin.  
 
At the time of the accident, Mrs Heppenstall was caring for her terminally ill husband. He died in 2008. Mrs Heppenstall says of the accident: "I was returning to my car after visiting a friend when I tripped and fell on my chin. The pavement was raised and it was dark so I was unable to avoid it. It couldn't have happened at a worse time. I wanted to get home to my husband but instead I ended up in hospital. It has been almost two years and I am still receiving treatment from the dentist. He couldn't believe the state of my dental bridge and suggested I claim compensation to cover the cost of the dental work I needed."  
 
Mrs Heppenstall sought legal advice from Thompsons Solicitors and, after seeing photos of the pavement in question, the local council admitted liability and settled Mrs Heppenstall's claim out of court. Her lawyer, Jennifer Clarke said that the council were liable because they had a responsibility to ensure that roads and pavements were kept in good repair and added:  
 
"We were immensely helped in this case by photographs of the defect, something we always urge anyone involved in a similar type of accident to do before the council rush to put things right so there is visual evidence."