£14,600 Settlement Secured Following a Negligent Care Home Fall

Mrs P, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, was admitted to the care home after being discharged from the hospital following a fall at her assisted living accommodation. Her care plan clearly identified her as being at a high risk of falls and stated that she required the assistance of one person when mobilising.

On 28 April 2023, Mrs P was standing in the dining room of the care home when another resident walked past her causing Mrs P to lose her balance. Without any staff assistance present, she fell and sustained a fracture to her right hip. No member of staff was supporting or supervising her at the time, despite the clear requirements set out in her care plan.

Mrs P underwent surgery to repair the fractured hip but sadly passed away eight days later while recuperating in the hospital. The hip fracture was recorded as one of the causes of her death. During those eight days, she experienced significant pain and suffering, which formed a key part of the claim. Funeral expenses were also recovered as part of the settlement.

We were instructed in October 2023 originally by Mrs P’s sister, with her daughter then taking over the handling of the matter, and Emma was allocated the claim when she joined the firm in July 2024. Expert evidence confirmed that the care home had breached its duty of care by failing to ensure that Mrs P was assisted when mobilising. Our expert advised that, had appropriate assistance been provided, she would either not have fallen at all, or staff would have been able to ease her safely to the floor if she lost her balance, preventing the injury.

The Defendant made an early offer to settle the claim without the need for formally admitting liability, court proceedings or a formal disclosure of evidence. The case was successfully concluded in December 2025, securing financial compensation for Mrs P’s estate and providing her family with a sense of closure.