A woman who was seriously injured when one of her work colleagues fell against her has obtained substantial compensation.
She was providing manual handling training when the accident happened. She fell to the ground and suffered a serious back injury. She was initially able to continue working, but her condition deteriorated significantly and she eventually underwent cauda equina decompression surgery.
She brought a claim for damages. Her employer disputed that her injury had been caused by the accident, so medical evidence from a number of experts was obtained in support of her claim.
Her employer made a settlement offer, which was rejected as it did not reflect the severity of her injury or the ongoing impact it would have on her life. The case was listed for trial, but a settlement of £1.4 million was agreed before the hearing was scheduled to take place. The settlement will allow her to purchase a suitably adapted home and will enable her to retire early if her condition deteriorates further.