27th July 2006

Wheelchair user forced to access disabled toilet on foot

Compensation awarded due to inadequate disabled facilities

A disabled woman from Sheffield has been awarded compensation after she was forced to access the disabled toilet of an ice hockey rink on foot as it was of an insufficient size to facilitate the use of her wheelchair.

Ann Grayson fell and fractured her left leg and ankle as a result of using the disabled facilities at the Virtual Ice Inline Roller Rink in Rotherham.

Mrs Grayson, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, went to access the disabled toilet in the hockey rink only to find that it was not big enough to accommodate her wheelchair. Consequently she then had to try and walk the distance from her wheelchair at the toilet door, to the toilet itself, however she did not have the strength to make it and fell to the ground. Mrs Grayson was in a severe amount of pain and an ambulance was called which took her straight to hospital.

Due to the poor level of disabled facilities provided by the rink and the considerable amount of pain that Mrs Grayson was suffering as a result of her injuries she decided to pursue a personal injury claim for compensation.

In addition Mrs Grayson's husband was the manger of a local hockey team based at the rink therefore Mrs Grayson continued to visit the rink with her husband. To add insult to injury when the manager of the rink was notified of the claim against him he asked both Mr and Mrs Grayson to leave the premises and not to return.

Clear Answers Solicitors were able to recover £8, 500 for the claimant under The Disability Discrimination Act due to the injuries caused and poor level of service she received.

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005

The Disability Discrimination Act applies to all employers and indeed everyone who provides a service to the public.

The Act states that disabled people have a right to access goods facilities and services provided to the public and if this is not the case then they have the right to expect reasonable adjustments made to the premises.

For more information on The Disability Discrimination Act visit www.direct.gov.uk.

Compensation Claim

Have you or a member of your family suffered from an injury in a public place through no fault of your own?

If so call Clear Answers on 0800 783 9019 and speak to an advisor or fill out an online claim form.

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