A fall resulting in a hip fracture

On 4 July 2025, Mavis was shopping when she was struck by a large metal roll cage loaded with boxes and knocked to the ground. She sustained a fracture of the greater trochanter, the bony prominence at the top of the thigh bone near the hip.

Before the accident, Mavis lived with her husband in their own home, where they had lived for around 40 years. She was independently mobile and able to manage everyday activities, including cooking, cleaning, shopping and gardening, as well as socialising.

Following the accident, Mavis was initially confined to bed. As she began to regain some mobility, she needed a Zimmer frame to move around indoors and a walker outdoors. She also required carers four times a day, with her family providing additional practical support.

Adaptations were made to her home to help her manage, including a stairlift, an additional handrail and a panic alarm. However, these changes could not fully restore the independence she had enjoyed before the accident.

The longer-term impact on Mavis's independence

As part of the claim, orthopaedic evidence was obtained to assess the effect of the injury on Mavis's mobility and future living arrangements.

Although Mavis's health and independence had been delicately balanced before the accident, the evidence was that she had been reasonably fit and able to live independently. The orthopaedic expert instructed considered that the accident had “tipped the balance”, bringing forward her need for assisted accommodation by approximately one to two years.

Mavis and her husband ultimately moved into supported living accommodation, and their former home was put on the market. This marked a significant change after decades of living in their own home and illustrated the wider consequences of the accident beyond the fracture itself.

Recognising the psychological impact

The claim also considered the psychological effects of the accident. The instructed psychologist, diagnosed an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and mood disturbance attributable to the accident.

His assessment identified clinically significant anxiety and mood symptoms alongside the difficulties Mavis faced as a result of her reduced independence and the need to adapt to a different living environment.

The evidence therefore considered the combined effects of Mavis's physical injury, continuing mobility difficulties, care requirements and psychological wellbeing, rather than focusing on the fracture in isolation.

Reaching a settlement

Charlotte Waller represented Mavis in pursuing compensation for the consequences of the accident. The claim concluded when a time-limited offer of £32,000 in damages, inclusive of interest, was accepted.

The case highlights the importance of considering how an injury affects someone's everyday life, particularly when it changes their ability to manage independently at home. The consequences of a fracture can extend beyond the initial injury, affecting mobility, care needs and future living arrangements.