Case Study

Case Summary

Incident

Veronica worked at a restaurant as a waitress. One morning, she was going up a spiral staircase carrying dishes, when her left shoelace caught on a nail that was sticking out one of the stairs. Veronica tripped and fell forwards.

During the fall, Veronica’s left foot struck the edge of one of the steps. She immediately felt severe pain in her foot, so her manager sent her to the nearest A&E.

At the hospital, x-rays revealed that Veronica suffered multiple fractures to her left foot. She was discharged home with a boot and arrangements were made for further treatment.

Two weeks later, Veronica underwent surgery on her left foot. She was required to wear the boot for 12 weeks and attend physiotherapy as further treatment. Veronica was unable to work for four months.

This accident impacted Veronica’s daily lifestyle. She continues to feel pain throughout the day. She is unable to run and hike and cannot wear heels or other types of dress shoes, as she would have before the injury.

Furthermore, Veronica’s doctor noted that the injury is likely to lead to post traumatic osteoarthritis in her foot. This would require injections and further treatment.

Every employer has a duty of care to ensure a safe work environment for employees. In this case, the staircase at the restaurant was unsafe and it should have been properly maintained. As a result of this negligence, Veronica suffered a serious foot injury and financial hardship.

Case progression

The Injuries Resolution Board assessed the injury at €60,789.81. Solicitor Elaine Hickey reviewed the Injuries Resolution Board assessment and felt that it did not properly compensate Veronica for the injuries incurred. Elaine instead instigated Court proceedings, and the case was brought to a successful conclusion.

Case settlement

The case was settled on the 12^th of March 2025 for the sum of €75,000. This was a great result for our client, we are proud of all the work put in by Elaine and her team to achieve this outcome.

 *Note: Client name changed for GDPR reasons.

Information updated January 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I report a workplace accident?

   It is important to immediately take the following steps after the occurrence of an accident at work.

   • Report the accident immediately to your superior and ensure that an accident report is completed and you are given a copy of it.
   • Seek medical attention immediately and ensure that your doctor or hospital personnel keep detailed records of the accident.

   There are strict obligations on employers under the Health & Safety Acts together with other legislation to ensure that employees have a safe system of work and that employees are properly trained in the tasks that they are carrying out and that they are provided with proper equipment in the course of their employment.

2. What to do after an accident at work?

   After an accident at work and before making a work related claim, your first priority should be to seek medical attention. In minor workplace incidents whereby you have a slip, trip or fall, you may feel as though you are fine, but what you don’t realise is that the minor injury you have suffered could develop into a bigger health issue for you. Assessing your health after an accident is a critical first step.

   Once you have had a medical assessment there are a number of steps you will follow:

   1. Report the accident to your superior

   Before making work related claims it is important that you notify your manager at work as to the accident that occurred. You need you to inform them of the injuries you suffered and the cause of the accident. It is advisable for you to seek confirmation from your superior that you have reported the accident, whether it is written or electronic.

   2. Seek legal advice from a personal injury solicitor

   Once you have reported the accident, it is important that you seek advice from a personal injury solicitor who has experience with accidents in the workplace. They can then talk you through the next steps as to what is involved when making work related claims.

   In the event that you do decide to take a personal injury claim, you are not obliged to personally tell your employer. Your solicitor can write to your employer and notify them of the claim. Some of our clients have told us that they feel that it would be better for them to inform their employer that a claim was being made and that their solicitor would be in touch. This is a matter for each client. Generally, we would advise that all communications regarding the case take place between the legal representatives.

3. What information will my solicitor need to make a claim?

   In order for your solicitor to proceed with a personal injury claim for you they will need the following information:

   • Details of the person who caused the accident.
   • Names, addresses and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
   • Where available, photographs of the location of the accident, paying particular attention to the item or area where the accident happened.
   • Name of Gardaí/police and station where the accident was reported – names of any Gardaí who attended the scene of the accident (where applicable).
   • Medical records detailing any injuries/treatment following the accident.
   • Details of any costs incurred following the accident (keep your receipts).
   • Details of any loss of earnings and details of any future loss of earnings if you are to be out of work for a long period of time.
   • Cost of medical treatment – details of future medical treatment needed.