Damages of €20,000 for woman hit by pallet in Dublin shop

A financial assistant who was hit by a pallet in a Dublin shop has been awarded €20,000 in the Circuit Civil Court for personal injuries.

Vaiva Siupiniene (40) told the court that on May 24th, 2015, she was shopping at Polonez on Moore Street when she was suddenly hit by the pallet which was being pushed by an employee.

Ms Siupiniene said the employee only stopped moving the pallet, which was “higher than her,” when he heard her scream. She had been trapped for some time and had been in shock.

She told her barrister, Conor Kearney, that the pallet hit her on her left side just centimetres away from her spine. She had felt pain on her body.

Ms Siupiniene, of Mount Olive Road, Kilbarrack, said the employee did not apologise and continued working. She followed him and had asked him “how could you do this to me,” to which she said he had answered “you are not dead.”

The court heard she then went home and started to feel pain all over her body later that day. She had a strong headache and pain in her left shoulder, arm, hip and leg.

‘Lost sensation’

She had attended her GP the next day as she had lost sensation “from head to toes” and had a low mood. She was referred to hospital where X-rays and MRI scans were carried out.

The court heard she suffered soft-tissue injuries and had needed to undergo physiotherapy sessions. Siupiniene said she had ongoing pain and had not been able to return to her aerobics, dancing and hill walking activities.

She sued the store owner, Rezmerita Ltd, of Cloverhill Industrial Estate, Clondalkin, Dublin, for negligence.

Mr Kearney, who appeared with Blake Horrigan Solicitors, told the court that Ms Siupiniene had already obtained a judgment in default of appearance against the defendant, and her case was now one of assessment of the damages only.

Judge Groake awarded her €20,000 damages along with her legal costs. The defendant did not attend court today nor were they legally represented.