injury to my son. what should i do?

Cucullan

my 4 year old son was out in dunnes stores today with his grandparents doing some shopping. A 2ltr hard plastic bottle of bleach fell on him hitting him in the face causing bruising and swelling to just under his eye and cheek.

The bottle fell from a high hight .They were stacked on the 5th shelf up.
A young employee came over to see what happened and the grandparents looked for the manager to inform him what happened. The manager came over and did apolagise and said that if there was a problem later on to call back in. I am just wondering what i should do any advice from any one would be great as to where I stand on this.

I do feel my son should be compensated in a small way but am not sure how to approach the matter. the bottle should never have fallen especially on my son. as i said any advice would be greatly appreciated.

cheers all!

Karoma

What caused it to fall?
Where there any medical bills for the "bruising and swelling" ?

irlrobins

A few nice selection boxes coming up to xmas would be nice... I'm sure ur son would love that.

RE*AC*TOR

did you bring him to a doctor?

nesf

Probably best off in personal issues mate.

Moved.


My reaction would be based on how badly your son was hurt. If it's just a minor bruise I wouldn't worry about it. If it's more than that then I would think about possibly suing them.

I would get a GP to have a look at him though.

Kernel

Well, if you want to file a compensation claim, take a picture of your son's injuries and contact a local solicitor.

Big Nelly

Cucullan wrote:

I do feel my son should be compensated in a small way but am not sure how to approach the matter. the bottle should never have fallen especially on my son. as i said any advice would be greatly appreciated.

cheers all!

Why? sure isnt he ok?? a bit if bruising on his face!! thats nothing! sure he would prob get that from falling over!! probably what happened was someone was taking something down off the shelf and didnt bother to replace the bottle back correctly onto the shelf!! anyway why does everyone in this country think it is ok to sue for anything!! this annoys me alot this atitude of sue for any sort of injury!!!

If you do go ahead and sue which you probably will just get one of those stupid no win no fee thing and they will be able to help!! the would love something like this....also keeps all the dodgy doctors in there lifestyle....que neck brace on kid and everything!!

HelterSkelter

Jeez,is your son seriously injured? Doesn't sound like it. It was an accident for God's sake, don't be such a money grabber.

edit: ok, re-reading your post it doesn't sound like you plan to sue, people sueing for stupid stuff just really gets to me. I think it would have been good customer relations for the Manager to offer your son something on the day it happened. You could write a letter to the company expressing how annoyed you are. They will probably send you out a hamper or something.

ferdi

are you litigious? here is your opportunity to earn a few bob and increase insurance rates, what are you waiting for????

edit: how does this belong in PI?

dudara

I'm not entirely sure that this is a Personal Issue, but I'm damned if I can figure out where else to put it? Consumer Affairs maybe?

CombatCow

Cucullan wrote:

the bottle should never have fallen especially on my son.

Accidents do happen! If he's not that badly hurt then I dont see any reason to go looking for compensation tbh.

CC

audge

Your son was not seriously injured, and if compensation where given, I would hope that it would take the form of something that would interest him. (toy etc)
I personally don't think you are entitled to anything, not for slight bruising, and definately not if there were no medical bills as a result of the accident. I must say, it does sound like your looking scamming.

Turner

If your son is ok I dont see what the fuss is about.

If he suffered a broken bone or was confined to a wheel chair or permanantly disfigured yeah id go ahead and seek your options.


And people wonder why insurance is so expensive nowadays.

joejoem

I think relax and let it go. What is it about our culture that we all feel the need to screw eachother. My father borrowed my car recently and had an accident with a cyclist who was in his blind spot. While they collided at speed and the cyclist was injured (not seriously but shaken and bruised) the cyclist was good enough to admit that he was lucky as my father admited his resposibility. As this was going on some wagon got out of her car and started screaming that my father was driving reclessly in and out of traffic at speed (completley untrue) and told the cyclist to lie down as she called for an ambulance. The cyclist refused and said he was ok, my father went to move the car in to let traffic pass fully and as he did (the cyclist told us later) the woman was telling him to lie down and pretend he had injured his neck that he could claim and make a fortune. She did not let it go, left him with a phone number and said if he wanted she would "gladly stand up in court" for him. My car is an old Fiat Punto, not a convertable BMW.

In short, your son wasnt injured, be greatful of that and move on. Dont tempt fate.

ferdi

joejoem wrote:

story about his dad and cyclist

what a ****ing bitch, she sounds like the type of poisonous hag that has this country where it is./

now, back on topic

Cucullan

i not going to sue or any thing like that.

Big Nelly and HelterSkelter i take it ye dont have kids.

and i know accidents happen i would just rather they didnt happen to my son. but the fact of the matter is he was injured because some idiot didnt put it on the shelf properly. and i feel he should of got something for it im not talking thousands or even hundreds just some thing small . trust me if i was a money grabbing person out to make a quick buck i wouldnt be discussing it here i would be down to casualty then my solicitors. all im asking for is a bit of advice

Oriel

THIS ISN'T ****ING AMERICA. Wise up.
Brush him off and let him carry on. What kind of example is that to set to your child?
Get the shop manager to get *your son* a box of chocolates for Christmas, and end it there.

Christ, there are some arseholes in this country nowadays...

ferdi

a bit late there sinecurea

HelterSkelter

Cucullan wrote:

i not going to sue or any thing like that.

Big Nelly and HelterSkelter i take it ye dont have kids.

and i know accidents happen i would just rather they didnt happen to my son. but the fact of the matter is he was injured because some idiot didnt put it on the shelf properly. and i feel he should of got something for it im not talking thousands or even hundreds just some thing small . trust me if i was a money grabbing person out to make a quick buck i wouldnt be discussing it here i would be down to casualty then my solicitors. all im asking for is a bit of advice

I edited my post above after re-reading your first post. Yeah you're right, I don't have kids (yet!).

BTW, maybe it was some other customer who put the bottle back on the shelf, not the shop's fault at all.

BoozyBabe

Hurray!!!
Thank God to see so many replies saying not to sue!!
That's why we're all nearly afraid to fart in this bloody country, bloody money grabbers!!!!
Accidents happen, especially in places like a shop where customers are constantly moving things & don't really care where or how they put them back.
how do you know your son wasn't pulling on the shelf like kids do which caused the shelf to slightly shake which caused the bottle to fall on him.

Like someone else said, it'd be nice for the shop to offer & for you to accept a few selections boxes or something like that for the few tears your son would've had, for them to say sorry, for you to say thankyou & move on.

DO NOT SUE!
That's just for people who give the rest of us a bad name, when no serious harm came to your son, there's no reason to sue.

Cucullan

exactly a box of chocs or a small toy is all im hoping for i just dont know how to go about it. im not after money. trust me i hate money grabbers as much as any hard working person does. im just pissed off that it happened to my son.

Big Nelly

Cucullan wrote:

Big Nelly and HelterSkelter i take it ye dont have kids.

Yeah I do have kids....well 1 anyway....he is 5 and believe me he gets more cuts and bruises and so on!!! has fallen over in shops.....ran in trolleys....you name it....every 5 year old in the World does it.....I did it when I was his age as well.....dont run around looking for compo everytime something happens in a place where some people would sue!!

Also how did the bottles fall off the shelf? they dont just jump off the shelf when they see a target!! either someone was taking something off the shelf or someone was putting something back up??? explain fully!! if they are 2 ltr bottles they wont just hop off!! strange as well that they have 2ltr bottles on the 5th shelf.....I used to work in Tesco and any large products like that where always placed on lower shelf so problems like this wont happen...or when an elderly person trys to get them down there is no chance of it falling.....from my point of view it sounds dodgy!!wat was in the bottle???

HelterSkelter

Cucullan wrote:

exactly a box of chocs or a small toy is all im hoping for i just dont know how to go about it. im not after money. trust me i hate money grabbers as much as any hard working person does. im just pissed off that it happened to my son.

As I said, write a letter. Preferably to their head office.

Oriel

ferdi wrote:

a bit late there sinecurea

Better late than feckin' never.

BoozyBabe

Glad to hear it!

As for how to go about it, I don't know!!
The manager asked for you to phone him, so phone him & say your son's a little shaken (if even) but it's nothing serious, he'll live to tell the tale etc, etc.
See what the response is from the other side, more than likely the manager will be really relieved that you're being so understanding & will say something like we'd like to give him something for his ordeal & for your consideration, then you can say well really, we're not looking for anything, but maybe a little selection box etc, would cheer him up.
You're not being cheeky, he asked, he'll be relieved, & your son will be delighted!

Well, that's how it played out in my head, not sure how it'll play out in reality, but I'd imagine something along those lines

Big Nelly

HelterSkelter wrote:

As I said, write a letter. Preferably to their head office.

Ok as shown you are not after big compo!! but I would find out what was in the bottle.....then write the letter but ask what there policy is on placing large products on tops shelfs??? they will have loads of people working on layouts for the shelfs in all there shops(well Tesco used to so I guess Dunnes is the same)....mention it might be an idea when they do up these designs to remember that larger products should be placed on lower shelfs....save someone else getting hurt again!!

Cucullan

quote from big nelly
Also how did the bottles fall off the shelf? they dont just jump off the shelf when they see a target!! either someone was taking something off the shelf or someone was putting something back up??? explain fully!! if they are 2 ltr bottles they wont just hop off!! strange as well that they have 2ltr bottles on the 5th shelf.....I used to work in Tesco and any large products like that where always placed on lower shelf so problems like this wont happen...or when an elderly person trys to get them down there is no chance of it falling.....from my point of view it sounds dodgy!!wat was in the bottle???

i work in a shop to .it fell from a ladder rack you know the ones at the sides of the main shelves there not very secure. that is what makes me even madder as i know it should not of been stacked there either.

now can any one honestly tell me that if something like that fell on them it would not hurt??? now imagine your a little kid.
i presume he turned the aisle and hit off the ladder rack causing it to fall and hit him. but them kind of things should not be packed so high

what if it had been a women with a buggy with a small baby in it that had hit it. what kind of damage would it of caused the baby?

stevenmu

Cucullan wrote:

The bottle fell from a high hight .They were stacked on the 5th shelf up.

Being bleach it has to be stacked high up because, well, it's bleach. Imagine if it was on the bottom shelf and he had a different type of 'accident' with it . As was said by others, it was probably stacked properly and some customer left it hanging over the edge, or knocked it off as your son passed. I think the best thing to do is to set a good example for your son by not making a big drama out of a non event.

jetsonx

sinecurea wrote:

THIS ISN'T ****ING AMERICA. Wise up.
Brush him off and let him carry on. What kind of example is that to set to your child? Get the shop manager to get *your son* a box of chocolates for Christmas, and end it there.

well said! its absolute PATHETIC what cucullan is trying to do. what a horrible example to set for a kid so early in life.

How low is this country getting with the likes of Cucullan and his ilk skulking around the supermarket ailes looking for easy money.

It is no surprise insurance premiums are so high in this country.

Get a job - maybe earn some honest money for a change.

BoozyBabe

jetsonx wrote:

well said! its absolute PATHETIC what cucullan is trying to do. what a horrible example to set for a kid so early in life.

How low is this country getting with the likes of Cucullan and his ilk skulking around the supermarket ailes looking for easy money.

It is no surprise insurance premiums are so high in this country.

Get a job - maybe earn some honest money for a change.

Jetsonx:- I'm completey against money grabbers & all things like that, but read all the posts before you make comments like this!!!
Cucullan said she is not on for compensation but would like something small like a box of chocs for her son. I think that's reasonable considering.

There's no need to insult her

LegacyUser

We’re increasingly becoming a litigious society. It seems that with the slightest opportunity to sue for damages, a legal letter is soon to follow. It’s high time that this attitude was eradicated, it does no one any good, and as a previous poster said, hikes insurance premiums.

I personally have no issue with someone receiving compensation for loss or earnings or medical bills relating to an accident, but for someone to look for damages for an incident as frivolous as this is absolutely ridiculous. It was obvious that your son had nothing more than a scratch, and while I would think that a small gesture from the store would be nice, you’re not necessarily entitled to anything in my book. Legally as far as I know it comes down to where the duty of care lies with the store. They could probably argue that you son should not have been running around the store unsupervised (I’m not suggesting this was the case)

I would take the general advice and be thankful that he has nothing more than a bruise, and leave it be. Perhaps an amicable letter to the store complimenting the staff on their conduct when it happened would be a way of drawing attention to it? I would imagine they would probably make a small gesture for the inconvenience to you and your son then...

Big Nelly

Cucullan wrote:

i work in a shop to .it fell from a ladder rack you know the ones at the sides of the main shelves there not very secure. that is what makes me even madder as i know it should not of been stacked there either.

now can any one honestly tell me that if something like that fell on them it would not hurt??? now imagine your a little kid.
i presume he turned the aisle and hit off the ladder rack causing it to fall and hit him. but them kind of things should not be packed so high

what if it had been a women with a buggy with a small baby in it that had hit it. what kind of damage would it of caused the baby?

Not saying it wouldnt hurt! never said it wouldnt hurt!! from your original post it sounded like you where out for a fast buck....this annoys me!! I was just trying to clear up how it happened.....anyway as I mentioned above....write to management and ask them what the story is with this and placing these products so high up!!! prob will get more from head office(hamper or something and an explanation) that you will get from manager!! he will just try and get out of it!!

Being bleach it has to be stacked high up because, well, it's bleach. Imagine if it was on the bottom shelf and he had a different type of 'accident' with it . As was said by others, it was probably stacked properly and some customer left it hanging over the edge, or knocked it off as your son passed. I think the best thing to do is to set a good example for your son by not making a big drama out of a non event.

anyway I know from Tesco where I do my shopping there large tubs of bleach are on the bottom shelf!!!!

Edit....yes I am going Blindf......going to sue the manufacturer of this monitor:-)

Cucullan

jetsonx wrote:

well said! its absolute PATHETIC what cucullan is trying to do. what a horrible example to set for a kid so early in life.

How low is this country getting with the likes of Cucullan and his ilk skulking around the supermarket ailes looking for easy money.

It is no surprise insurance premiums are so high in this country.

Get a job - maybe earn some honest money for a change.

eh hello i work full time have done since i was 17 i have never claimed a penny in my life have no intention of doing so im just saying my son deserves a box of sweets or a toy. the bleach was to heavy to be packed so high. dunnes were wrong to pack it so high.
and this is not directly cucullan its his partner, my sons father who also works full time and has done since leaving school.
jetsonx read the first post before posting your bull s**t.

stevenmu, boozybabe and big nelly thanks for the advice.

stevenmu

Cucullan wrote:

what if it had been a women with a buggy with a small baby in it that had hit it. what kind of damage would it of caused the baby?

Presumably a mother pushing a buggy with a baby in it would be more carefull of what she pushed it into. Tbh if she pushed it into a rack of bleach bottles and one fell, I'd say it was her fault. Her baby's safety is her responsibility. Altough I have had women push their buggies out in front of my car and then hurl abuse at me as if I did something wrong, maybe I'm wrong, maybe it's everyone's responsibility but their own.

LegacyUser

Cucullan wrote:

what if it had been a women with a buggy with a small baby in it that had hit it. what kind of damage would it of caused the baby?

Lets stop hypothesising, it would be a different advice you were seeking if your son was a newborn or infant.

Was you son rambling around the store while his grandparents were shopping? You know as well as I do what a 4 year old is like, running around exploring, bored and waiting until he is called to go. I would be amazed if he was standing patiently beside his grandparents for the entire duration of the visit!

Cucullan

look as i said im NOT SUING im not looking for money just a toy or something small to say sorry. it should not of happened period.

thanks for all the advice. i will go see the manager tell him im not happy with what happened and see what his response is.

and maybe if he dosent seem to care to much i might just sue to piss some of you guys off, those of you who dont seem to give a s**t that a kid was injured and then ill have the pleasure of listening to you all moan about the price of insurance. while i spend all my sons money on booze and shopping( not from dunnes mind you)
some of you are so quick to judge people and presume that we all want easy money.
i work very hard every day and i also work very hard at protecting my son from dangers in life as i am sure every parent does.if my son is not worth a measly box of chocs then too blody right that dunnes will pay for it some how.

stevenmu it dosent take a whole pile of nudging or shoving to rattle a ladder rack any one in retail will tell you that. they stick out like a sore thumb in very sill places with left over stock on them that shops are trying to get rid of

Cucullan

bruachain wrote:

Lets stop hypothesising, it would be a different advice you were seeking if your son was a newborn or infant.

Was you son rambling around the store while his grandparents were shopping? You know as well as I do what a 4 year old is like, running around exploring, bored and waiting until he is called to go. I would be amazed if he was standing patiently beside his grandparents for the entire duration of the visit!

of course he probably was. but heavy goods like large bottles of any thing shoud not be palced on flimsy shelves.

HelterSkelter

Cucullan wrote:

those of you who dont seem to give a s**t that a kid was injured

Oh come off will you, it's not like he was seriously maimed, he got scratched & brusied. The same could happen if he was out playing in the street and tripped. Would you going to go to the council then looking for something? Where does it stop? I think you are going a bit overboard here.

Miss Fluff

It's a disgrace that we live in such an overly litigous society so it's to be commended that you don't want to make a quick buck out of this and use your son as a pawn to see what you can get.

Cucullan wrote:

my 4 year old son was out in dunnes stores today with his grandparents doing some shopping. A 2ltr hard plastic bottle of bleach fell on him hitting him in the face causing bruising and swelling to just under his eye and cheek. QUOTE]

I would definitley go to a doctor or casualty and get the little chap checked out though. He may have suffered mild concussion and you want to make sure there isn't any more serious damage. Then I would send the doctor's receipt to the Manager in question (phone and get his name today while it's still fresh in their memory) with a note saying that you felt compelled to get the little guy checked out and that you're sure paying the doctor's fee and lots of yummy chocolates to help cure him should do just the trick

Cucullan

no he wasnt seriously maimed but he was hurt frightened and upset by it all.
and just for the record my son dosent play one the streetas we live in the country hes just turned 4 dont you think he's a bit young to be playing on the street. any how a car could come along and splash him with a puddle then i would have the hassle of suing for that!!!!

WhiteWashMan

im surprised you werent asked to fill out an accident report or something to note that the incident happened in the store.
If you are looking at any legal recourse, then this would defiantely be of benefit.
I would look at going back to the store to report it officially.

i suspect a small voucher towards christmas shopping would come in handy, but unless there is actually some proof, and some admission of guilt on the part of the store, your son could have hurt himself anywhere...

LegacyUser

Cucullan wrote:

look as i said im NOT SUING im not looking for money just a toy or something small to say sorry. it should not of happened period.

thanks for all the advice. i will go see the manager tell him im not happy with what happened and see what his response is.

and maybe if he dosent seem to care to much i might just sue to piss some of you guys off, those of you who dont seem to give a s**t that a kid was injured and then ill have the pleasure of listening to you all moan about the price of insurance. while i spend all my sons money on booze and shopping( not from dunnes mind you)
some of you are so quick to judge people and presume that we all want easy money.
i work very hard every day and i also work very hard at protecting my son from dangers in life as i am sure every parent does.if my son is not worth a measly box of chocs then too blody right that dunnes will pay for it some how.
stevenmu it dosent take a whole pile of nudging or shoving to rattle a ladder rack any one in retail will tell you that. they stick out like a sore thumb in very sill places with left over stock on them that shops are trying to get rid of

While most of the rational people here can appreciate that you are not happy with what happened, going complaining about it in that way is pretty petulant. If you getting a box of chocolates makes you feel better than you really haven't got a sense of perspective. Your son got a bruise, and probably a fright, but otherwise he is fine from what you've told us.

From what I can see the staff acted very accordingly and I can't see what more they could have done. Beyond you wrapping your son in cotton wool, you cant protect him from everything. Put it down as an experience, and while you are perfectly entitled to go and speak to the manager, and I think you should, please don't be an over-reacting moan like more and more people seem to be. If you're fair and rational with him and explain your concerns, without complaining, then I've no doubt he will profusely apologise and offer something in the way of an apology.

Dave

Alot of people here seem to have some sort of selective reading skills? Read her posts fully, and point out where she intends to start some sort of litigation against the company. Seriously, some people just love a good old witch hunt, even when there's nothing to hunt. Cop the fcuk on people.

Cucullan

ya will definatley go and see the manager and hopefully they will remove the products and repack them somewhere safer as im sure my son is not the only kid running around out there . and hopefully the manager will see that im being resonable about it and not being a cu*t about it. a box of sweets or a small toy and seeing the products reapcked would be a good result. and id be more than happy with that.
i know what kind of world we live in and what kind of scroungers are out there and being like one of them is not on my agenda.

Cucullan

i was being sarcastic!!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cucullan


and maybe if he dosent seem to care to much i might just sue to piss some of you guys off, those of you who dont seem to give a s**t that a kid was injured and then ill have the pleasure of listening to you all moan about the price of insurance. while i spend all my sons money on booze and shopping( not from dunnes mind you)
some of you are so quick to judge people and presume that we all want easy money.
i work very hard every day and i also work very hard at protecting my son from dangers in life as i am sure every parent does.if my son is not worth a measly box of chocs then too blody right that dunnes will pay for it some how.
stevenmu it dosent take a whole pile of nudging or shoving to rattle a ladder rack any one in retail will tell you that. they stick out like a sore thumb in very sill places with left over stock on them that shops are trying to get rid of

LegacyUser

Cool, sure let us now how you get on - obviously there are enough people interested!

Cucullan

you know what i will....

Bluetonic

Cucullan wrote:

.....as im sure my son is not the only kid running around out there .

Can't you keep your son under control? Be careful if he's 'running around' he might bump into things.

astrofool

Cucullan wrote:

i was being sarcastic!!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cucullan


and maybe if he dosent seem to care to much i might just sue to piss some of you guys off, those of you who dont seem to give a s**t that a kid was injured and then ill have the pleasure of listening to you all moan about the price of insurance. while i spend all my sons money on booze and shopping( not from dunnes mind you)
some of you are so quick to judge people and presume that we all want easy money.
i work very hard every day and i also work very hard at protecting my son from dangers in life as i am sure every parent does.if my son is not worth a measly box of chocs then too blody right that dunnes will pay for it some how.
stevenmu it dosent take a whole pile of nudging or shoving to rattle a ladder rack any one in retail will tell you that. they stick out like a sore thumb in very sill places with left over stock on them that shops are trying to get rid of

Do you KNOW it was a ladder rack? As was said, bleach is packed high so as to stop young kids from getting at it. Were it on the bottom shelf and your kid drank it, it would be alot worse. Glass jars can also be packed high, and would hurt alot more if they fell. As you have said however, you're assuming your kid was running around, and knocked into the shelf.

Also, seeing as there was no form filled out, there is also no proof of the incident, your kid could have been hurt anywhere.

And what the hell difference does getting a box of chocolates or not make? Will that not just encourage your kid to go running into all sorts of things in the hope of getting a reward?

Cucullan

no sure why would i control him the more he runs around the more danger he is in and that means lots of oppertunities yo sue.....
come on get with the programme!!!!

Cucullan

astro fool i think your name says it all!!!!