You might have seen reports of a professional footballer who recently needed surgery after catching his thumb in a gap behind a pitch side advertising board. It’s an unusual incident, but it highlights something we come across far more often than you might think...
You might have seen reports of a professional footballer who recently needed surgery after catching his thumb in a gap behind a pitch side advertising board.
It’s an unusual incident, but it highlights something we come across far more often than you might think.
Where an injury is caused by the environment itself, whether that’s a stadium, a shop, or another public place, responsibility often lies with those in control of that space.
Put simply, people and organisations responsible for a premises have a duty to make sure it’s reasonably safe for visitors. That includes risks that aren’t always obvious, like gaps, or poorly fitted equipment.
In this case, the injury appears to have been caused by something most people wouldn’t think twice about: an advertising board at the side of a pitch.
We regularly speak to people who’ve been injured in similar, unexpected ways, situations where, with the benefit of hindsight, the risk could have been avoided.
What’s important to know is that if you’re injured because a place wasn’t as safe as it should have been, you’re entitled to ask questions and understand what went wrong.
Incidents like this may seem rare, but the underlying issues are surprisingly common.
If you’ve been injured in a public place and aren’t sure where you stand, we’re here to listen and talk things through.