Woman Awarded $300,000 After Slip at Coles Supermarket

A woman has been awarded $292,335 in damages in the NSW District Court after she sustained an injury from slipping over at a Coles supermarket in Western Sydney. Ms Hill had been wearing thongs when she walked past a refrigerated cabinet filled with fruit and vegetables and suddenly “hit the ground with a thud” (SMH) suffering a serious injury to her left ankle, which later required surgery.

Although the defence (Coles) argued that Ms Hill had sustained the injury due to her own negligence of not avoiding an obvious hazard, Judge Mahony ruled that “…there was a breach by the defendant of its duty of care to the plaintiff, and that “but for”such breach, the plaintiff would not have suffered the injury she did,” he said (SMH).

In assessing damages, Ms Hill’s surrounding circumstances were measured including the effects of the injury upon her mobility and her ability to appropriately carry out domestic, recreational and social activities. Her husband’s disability was also taken into account in respect to his inability to assist Ms Hill with domestic chores.

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