Asda bakery manager left with one leg shorter than other after fall
Asda bakery manager, 49, left with one leg shorter than the other after ‘falling over when he was startled by the sun’ at work sues the supermarket for more than GBP200,000
- Steve Drew, 49, suffered a ‘nasty break’ after tripping while carrying bread stack
- He is now suing Asda for GBP200,000 because of the severity of his injuries
- Asda has accepted liability for the accident, but now questions whether it caused Mr Drew’s ongoing problems
By Danyal Hussain For Mailonline
Published: 10:07, 10 February 2022 | Updated: 10:16, 10 February 2022
A supermarket bakery manager left with one leg shorter than the other after falling over when he was ‘startled by the sun’ at work is suing Asda for more than GBP200,000 compensation.
Steve Drew, 49, suffered a ‘nasty break’ and had to have a hip replacement after tripping while bringing in a ‘stack of bread’ from the warehouse yard at the supermarket’s store in Sutton, Surrey, in September 2017.
Mr Drew says he was so badly injured that he has been left with one leg shorter than the other.
Suing Asda for more than GBP200,000 over the accident, he claims his employer was at fault in allowing the pallet truck he tripped on to be left where he could fall over it.
The supermarket has admitted it was at fault, but is contesting the size of the payout Mr Drew should get and whether the fall was the cause of his ongoing issues.
Bakery manager Steve Drew is suing Asda for over GBP200,000 after he was left with one leg longer than the other following fall when ‘startled by the sun’
According to documents filed at Central London County Court, Mr Drew had been covering a shift in the store’s warehouse, where he didn’t normally work, when he sustained his injury.
‘He had brought in a fresh delivery and then returned to the warehouse to take in a bakery delivery,’ says his barrister, Elizabeth Boulden.
‘He went out of the warehouse doors to the yard in order to collect a stack of bread.
‘As he walked out, he was startled by the sun, turned to his left, and fell over a pallet truck which had been left in his way in the walk area.
‘As a result, he tripped over the pallet truck, landing heavily, and thereby sustaining injury to his left leg.
‘There was no one around, but he was able to reach his work phone and call for help.’
Mr Drew was left in serious pain, which extended down his left leg, and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
He had suffered a ‘nasty’ break to his left femur and had to have it treated with metalwork being inserted into his hip.
However, the fixation failed to stabilise the fracture and he had to undergo a total hip replacement.
The supermarket has admitted it was at fault, but is contesting the size of the payout Mr Drew should get and whether the fall was the cause of his ongoing issues
‘As a consequence of the above, he sustained a leg length discrepancy, causing him right leg and lower back pain,’ says his barrister.
‘He also suffered from an adjustment disorder, namely a mixed anxiety and depressive reaction, as well as a further bout of adjustment disorder and then some residual anxiety, as a result of the accident and the physical injuries sustained.’
The case reached court last month for a pre-trial hearing, discussing the type of expert evidence which will be allowed at a future trial of the claim.
Judge Heather Baucher heard that Asda has accepted liability for the accident, but now questions whether it caused Mr Drew’s ongoing problems and also the amount of compensation he will ultimately get.
The case will return to court for a full trial of his damages claim, unless the parties can settle it outside of court.