Hospital fall claims

Falls and fall-related injuries are an increasingly common and serious problem for older people. Although some are unavoidable, when a person at high risk of falls is in hospital or in community care, there should be measures in place to protect them. Yet often this fails to happen.

At Penningtons Manches Cooper, we can advise you if you believe that you or a relative have suffered injury from a preventable fall while under medical or nursing supervision. Such incidents can have devastating consequences, including disabling fractures, brain injury and even death. They may result in prolonged hospital stays or hospital admissions that would otherwise have been avoided. For the injured person, this can mean a premature loss of independent living. 

As experts in hospital fall claims, we will assess the situation, advise you as to what steps you can take and pursue a compensation claim against the appropriate defendant. We have helped patients in many parts of the country and have also represented bereaved relatives. In a high proportion of cases, simple yet effective measures to minimise the risk of falls occurring – such as providing adequate mobility aids, ensuring access to patient call bells, accompanying patients to the bathroom and installing lowered beds and crash mats - are not put in place. 

Recognised for our sympathetic yet practical approach, we are committed to ensuring patients are awarded adequate compensation to fund the care or treatment which may be needed to help them recover from injuries. Our lawyers also support campaigns to promote the services and interventions that can help reduce the risk of a fall and encourage older people to get active in later life.

Our experienced team specialises in: 

• pursuing claims for individuals for personal injury following hospital falls
• representing bereaved families at inquests following deaths from hospital falls
• obtaining damages for bereaved families following the loss of a relative from a hospital fall
• investigating claims for injury and death arising from inadequate social care provision for the vulnerable and elderly in the community
• assisting with complaints and reviewing serious incident reports
• liaising with the HSE where appropriate