Case Study: £7.6 Million Settlement for a Paralysing Spinal Injury at Work

Ben Posford

A fall from height at work can cause some of the most serious injuries we see. When an employer fails to put basic safety measures in place, a worker can be left paralysed, unable to return to their job and facing a lifetime of care.

Our catastrophic injury team secured £7.6 million for a client who suffered a spinal cord injury and a brain injury when he fell while building a barn on a farm. The claim settled in summer 2024.

This case study explains how the accident happened, what the injuries mean for our client, and why an employer’s duty to prevent falls from height matters so much.

What happened

Our client, a Romanian national, was helping to build a barn on a farm. As part of that work, he was working at height.

He fell about four metres to the ground. His employer had not provided a fall-arrest system, which is the safety equipment such as harnesses, nets or airbags designed to stop a fall or break its force. Without it, a fall from that height can be catastrophic.

The injuries our client suffered

Our client sustained a T10 complete spinal cord injury. This is an injury at the tenth thoracic vertebra, in the middle of the back, where “complete” means there is a total loss of movement and sensation below the level of the injury. The result is paralysis.

He also suffered a moderate-to-severe brain injury. Combined, these injuries mean he needs ongoing care, specialist equipment and accommodation suited to a wheelchair user.

The employer’s safety failures

Employers have a legal duty to protect workers who carry out tasks at height. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, they must properly plan and supervise the work and use suitable equipment to prevent falls.

In our client’s case, his employer was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for failing to provide a fall-arrest system. A prosecution like this confirms that the employer fell short of the standards every worker is entitled to expect.

How we resolved the claim

A spinal injury claim has to capture the full lifetime cost of paralysis. That includes care, adapted accommodation, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, equipment, therapies and the earnings our client can no longer bring in.

The claim settled in summer 2024 for £7.6 million. A settlement at this level reflects both the severity of the injuries and the decades of care and support our client will need.

The case was led by Ben Posford, head of catastrophic injury, with Laura Swaine, a partner who specialises in spinal cord and brain injury claims. You can read more results like this on our spinal injury settlements page.

What this case shows

Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of serious workplace injury in the UK. Many are preventable, which is exactly why the law places clear duties on employers.

If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury or paralysis in an accident at work, you cannot be dismissed simply for bringing a claim. Taking early advice helps put rehabilitation and interim financial support in place quickly.

How we can help

Our personal injury lawyers handle the most serious accident at work and spinal injury claims, including cases involving paralysis and lifelong care. We act on a no win, no fee basis.

We also have solicitors who speak Romanian, Polish, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Slovak and Spanish, and we are regularly instructed in serious workplace injury claims by workers from across the Eastern European community.

Call us on 020 7485 8811 or fill in the contact form below.