Millionaire Settlement Following Undiagnosed Spinal Fracture

Hugh Johnson

Millionaire settlement secured following paralysis caused by an undiagnosed spinal fracture

Hugh Johnson, Head of Medical Negligence at Osbornes Law, acted on behalf of Rose, a 63 year old retired social worker, following a failure by her local hospital to recognise serious spinal fractures.

Background

In September 2021, Rose fell down a flight of stairs. Although she had fallen heavily, Rose had thought that she had avoided any serious injury. However, Rose did not improve, so she sought medical attention. Around 2 days after the fall, a CT scan was undertaken of Rose’s whole spine, which was reported to be normal. In the days that followed, Rose lost the ability to walk and became completely paraplegic. She subsequently underwent spinal surgery, but made no physical improvement. Her treating surgeon advised her to take legal advice.

Legal Investigations

At the point of Hugh’s instruction, Rose had been discharged from a specialist rehabilitation centre to her home, which was unsuitable for her needs. Rose lived in a period cottage, which could not be adapted for her needs; a number of rooms were too small for a wheelchair and she had no access to the upstairs or to a bathroom. It was clear that Rose had an urgent need for an interim damages payment.

Hugh instructed a radiologist to review the original scans, which revealed that 5 separate fractures had been missed. Neurosurgical expert evidence was then obtained. The expert confirmed that had the scan been correctly reported the multiple fractures, Rose’s treatment would have been different. She would have undergone surgery before losing the ability to walk and would have made a complete recovery. On the strength of that evidence, Hugh secured early admissions of fault and requested interim damages, before securing a Court Judgment.

Supporting Rose’s rehabilitation

During the course of Rose’s claim, Hugh secured £700,000 by way of interim damages payments. This meant that Rose was able to commence specialist physiotherapy, to receive psychological support and to buy more hours of care than the NHS could provide to her in the community. A specialist property finding team were retained to locate a suitable property that Rose could rent and adapt for her injury needs.

Settlement

In March 2025, the Claimant and Defendant teams met to negotiate settlement terms, shortly before trial. An agreement was reached for Rose’s damages to be paid in part as a periodical payment. This means that she will always be able to meet the costs of her care for the rest of her life. The capitalised total value of the award, is expected to be £6.2 million.

Rose will continue to live long-term in her rental accommodation while she is able to meet the costs of her preferred care team. She has recently purchased a new wheelchair accessible vehicle. A case manager has coordinated all care and accommodation arrangements, so that in August 2025 Rose can take her first holiday since her injury.

How can we help?

Thanks to Hugh Johnson’s meticulous approach and unwavering advocacy, Rose secured a life-changing compensation and the support she needed to rebuild her life. At Osbornes, we pride ourselves on standing by our clients through the most challenging times, delivering results that truly make a difference. If you or a loved one has suffered due to medical negligence, don’t wait to seek expert legal advice. Hugh Johnson and the Medical Negligence team at Osbornes Law are here to fight for the justice and support you deserve. Contact us by:

• Filling in our online enquiry form; or
• Calling us on 020 7485 8811

*The Claimant’s name has been changed in this article to protect client confidentiality