Things you should consider before having a party
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If you’re planning a birthday party, drinks with friends or even
just inviting someone to your house, you should be aware of your
legal obligation as a home owner or tenant. By law under the
Occupiers Liability Act 1957, visitors to a person’s property must
be reasonably safe during their visit, but what does this actually
mean?
A recent case concluded by David Voyle of top UK 100 law firm
Hugh James Solicitors highlights how guests who are seriously
injured due to entering an unsafe environment may be entitled to
claim compensation. This case involved a young girl who fell off
the side of an unguarded staircase whilst attending her friend’s
birthday party. The young girl landed in the hallway suffering a
fracture to the left wrist, a dislocated elbow and a fracture of
the right radial head, rendering her disabled.
The resulting injuries highlight how a simple birthday party can
turn disastrous after an oversight by the home owners to ensure the
staircase was fully guarded. The young girl suffered serious
injuries as a result of her fall and was awarded compensation.
This case highlights how a simple birthday party can result in a
visitor injury which could subsequently result in you as the home
owner or tenant being liable under the Occupiers Liability Act
1957. If you are planning to invite guests to your house our advice
would be to check for any obvious hazards which may cause
injury.