Children deserve the same protection, if not greater protection, than adults because as children their perception of risk is different as they do not have the life experiences which adults have.

Nezire Turkan of Thompsons Solicitors

Union membership can often benefit the whole family, as this week’s 'Case of the Week' shows.

We acted for the son of a union member who suffered injuries while attending a drama course operated by the local council. While acting out a scene from the script they were rehearsing, the child suffered a friction burn to his lower back as well as an adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Council denied it was in any way at fault stating that our client was a willing participant and would have contributed to the script that was being acted out. They stated that the adult supervisor would not have known the details of the script until after the injury.

We were able to gather and analyse supportive evidence which demonstrated that there should have been ongoing and rigorous supervision and risk assessments – had that occurred the supervising adult would have stopped the script before the injury had been sustained.

Following our presentation of the case the local council conceded it was at fault, although the amount of compensation remained in dispute resulting in proceedings being issued. Settlement was subsequently agreed and approved, which will be invested on the child’s behalf.

Nezire Turkan, from Thompsons’ Dagenham Office, who represented the family, said: "The law surrounding personal injuries does not differ just because the injured person happens to be a child. Children deserve the same protection, if not greater protection, than adults because as children their perception of risk is different as they do not have the life experiences which adults have."