Woman Who Fractured Hip in Fall Wins £9,500

A woman who tripped over an uneven road surface and fractured her hip has won compensation of £9,500.

The woman was walking to the shops when the accident happened. Her foot became caught in a sunken drainage grate and she fell to the ground. She immediately suffered excruciating pain and was unable to stand up.

She called her son, who took her home and then called an ambulance. She was taken to the Accident and Emergency department at her local hospital, where X-rays were taken. She was discharged from hospital, but three days later was told that the X-rays revealed that she had fractured her hip.

After undergoing an operation to repair the hip using screws, she had to use crutches for the next six weeks and was not able to put any weight on her leg nor move her hip until four months later. Her injuries have resulted in a permanent loss of rotation and flexibility in her hip joint and she continues to experience stiffness and soreness.

She will also require further assessments in the future, and may eventually need a hip replacement.

A claim for compensation was brought against the local council. The council admitted liability for the accident, and agreed a settlement of £9,500. The poorly-maintained drainage grate was repaired within six weeks of the council being informed of the accident.