Recent Cases - Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury
Some examples of the many cases we have acted on include:
Clinical Negligence
- A cerebral palsy case which came about because of the alleged negligence of the multi disciplinary team who treated a mother in intensive care during her pregnancy. The case settled for several million pounds after a long and hard battle on liability. Leading Counsel said this was the most difficult case on the medical facts that he had ever dealt with. One expert on the case wrote to Helen Goatley and congratulated on her “sensitive and careful management of the expert witnesses” without which he believed the result would not have been achieved for a very needy and deserving little girl.
- We represented a young man who struggled with significant learning disabilities as a result of brain damage at birth. The allegations surrounded the use of syntocinon during the claimant’s delivery. The claim was fought for many years but we eventually settled it and the Claimant received a lump sum of £1,750,000 as well as periodical payments.
- A clinical negligence claim for a claimant who had suffered a serious leg fracture with associated ligament injuries following a motor cycle accident. He was admitted to hospital where there was a failure to treat the ligament injury which meant the claimant needed corrective surgery. Settlement was reached at £30,000.
- An unusual case involved a young woman who suffered a severed ureter during a routine sterilisation operation. Liability was strenuously denied but the clinical negligence claim eventually settled.
- A clinical negligence claim for a Claimant who suffered a left-sided stroke and was admitted to hospital. The Defendants failed to recognise that the claimant had developed a severe infection which escalated into Fournier’s gangrene which is a life threatening disorder. The claimant underwent emergency surgery but he was left with a significant disability and now requires 24 hour care. The claim was fought for a number of years but eventually settled for £115,000.
- A clinical negligence claim for an elderly gentleman who sustained an ankle fracture which was treated incorrectly. This resulted in a permanent deformity which left him housebound. We received an early admission of liability and the claim was settled shortly afterwards.
- We acted for a 75 year old lady who sustained deep lacerations to her ankle during a knee replacement operation. The claimant also suffered a nerve entrapment as well as significant psychological problems. Settlement was achieved at an early stage.
- A claimant negligently received a double dose of chemotherapy. We received an early admission of liability.
- The Claimant acquired an infection due to failure to remove packing after a laparoscopic abdominal resection and an early settlement resulted.
- A clinical negligence claim against a GP for the failure to diagnose a Deep Vein Thrombosis in a 33 year old female even though there was a family history of the condition. The claim settled for £84,250.
- A clinical negligence claim for a 38 year old woman, who was admitted to hospital following an acute episode of confusion. Whilst in hospital, the claimant crawled under her bed and caught her hand on the metalwork underneath. She and sustained a serious injury. The claim settled for £6,000.
- A clinical negligence claim for a 34 year old woman who was negligently prescribed medication even though it was known she was allergic to it. She developed breathing difficulties, a rash and psychological problems. The claim was settled for £3000.
- A clinical negligence claim for an 80 year old lady who suffered a perforated bowel following a colonoscopy. She subsequently suffered pain and loss of amenity. Her clinical negligence claim settled for £6,000.
Personal Injury
- A personal injury claim for a soldier who was rendered paralysed and wheelchair bound following a road traffic accident. The claim settled for several million pounds.
- A personal injury claim for a female driver who sustained a head injury following a head on collision with a vehicle driven by an uninsured driver. The claimant also sustained a fractured vertebrae and an injury to her ankle and foot. The claim settled for £84,250.
- A personal injury claim for an elderly client who sustained a fractured arm after tripping over a carpeted step in a hotel. The defendants fought this claim for a lengthy period of time but the claim eventually settled for £6,000.
- A personal injury claim against the claimant’s employer after he fell from the back of a lorry whilst it was being unloaded at a depot. The claimant received £50,000.
- A personal injury claim against the claimants employers after the claimant sustained a knee injury after pushing a large heavy trolley down a ramp during the course of his employment. He was rendered incapacitated and he received compensation of £48,000.
- A personal injury claim for a man who fell 8 feet from a car which had been prematurely raised onto a ramp for an MOT. The claimant sustained a fractured pelvis and although liability was disputed for some time, settlement was eventually reached with contributory negligence. It settled in the sum of £16,500.
- A personal injury claim for an elderly disabled female who was injured when her mobility scooter went out of control after the breaks failed. She suffered multiple injuries but later died from another unrelated medical problem. The claim settled for £17,500.
- A personal injury claim for a female reaching retirement age, who had been a keen tennis player and gardener, slipped in a neighbours tiled porch and sustained lasting injuries to her shoulder. The claim settled in the sum of £95,000.
- A personal injury claim for an assistant teacher who sustained a head injury after being hit by a vehicle being driven in the school car park by a colleague. The claimant received £116,000.
- A personal injury claim for a 16 year old boy who sustained a severe eye injury at school when a fellow pupil shot him with a BB gun. There was a failure to supervise at the school and the claimant received the sum of £25,000.
- A personal injury claim for an elderly client sustained burns by scalding water from a faulty tap. The claim was brought against the owners of the sheltered accommodation and the claimant received the sum of £13,000.
- An elderly couple were struck down and buried under hoarding surrounding a building site blown down by gusts of wind. Injuries included a hip fracture and ankle fractures. The claim was against two defendants but liability was accepted presumably claiming contribution from the other. Liability admitted and negotiated settlements of £57,000 for one claimant and £47,500 for the other.
- A personal injury claim including an occupational accident when a piece of steel severed the client’s achilles tendon. Liability was admitted and the claim settled for £50,000.
- An infant was struck down by motor vehicle while crossing the road and injured by a hit and run driver. Liability admitted. Suspected head injury and leg fracture. Infant settlement agreed at £17,500
- A taxi driver travelling along a road struck a raised manhole cover and crashed into a tree. He sustained severe brain damage and a fractured arm. Both defendants, the highway authority and utility company, denied liability. The utility company later accepted 15% liability. The case was settled for £872,000.
- One client was bitten by dog at horse show. Liability admitted and settled fairly quickly for £5000
- RTA case complicated by hospital failing to note fracture to leg. The case settled for £21,500
- Two high profile personal injury cases involved substantial media coverage when a huge scaffolding tower collapsed and two men working on the 14th floor fell to the ground. One died and the other suffered spinal injuries. Three defendants were prosecuted by the Health and Safety executive. Both cases settled before trial with an agreement made between the defendants on apportionment of liability.
If you would like to contact us online, please complete our online enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
