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£30,000 Compensation Payout For Carer Assaulted At Work
Overview Of The Claim
Our client was working as a carer when she was assaulted by a service user with a known history of violent behaviour.
Despite previous incidents, appropriate safeguards had not been put in place by the employer to protect staff.
As a result of the assault, the client suffered both physical and psychological injuries, which ultimately led to her changing career.
JF Law pursued the claim on her behalf and successfully secured £30,000 in compensation. The case was handled by Beverley Faulkner.
Background To The Case
The claimant was employed as a carer and was carrying out her duties when a service user’s behaviour escalated, resulting in an assault.
Crucially, the service user had previously assaulted other members of staff, yet sufficient preventative measures had not been implemented. At the time of the incident, the claimant had also been paired with an untrained colleague, increasing the risk.
Following the assault, the claimant suffered physical injuries alongside significant psychological trauma. Due to the impact of the incident, she felt unable to return to care work and was forced to seek alternative employment.
How We Investigated The Claim
We obtained medical evidence to assess both the physical and psychological injuries sustained.
While the physical injuries were relatively straightforward, the psychological impact required more detailed investigation.
- Medical evidence confirmed the extent of the physical injuries.
- Specialist psychological assessment was arranged.
- An independent psychologist provided expert evidence on long-term impact.
- Evidence confirmed the claimant could not return to her previous role.
- We built a case reflecting both injury and career impact.
The Result We Secured
- £30,000 in compensation
- Recovery of therapy costs for psychological treatment
- Compensation reflecting career change and loss of enjoyment
- A significant increase from the initial £5,000 offer
This ensured the claimant received fair compensation without the need to proceed to a full court hearing.
Our Analysis Of The Case
We did not accept the insurer’s position that the claimant’s psychological injuries were not significant or that she was not entitled to compensation for future losses.
By securing strong medical evidence and expert opinion, we demonstrated the long-term impact the assault had on her life and career.
The claimant was awarded compensation that recognised not only her injuries, but also the fact she had been forced to leave a profession she had previously enjoyed.
This case highlights the importance of employers taking appropriate steps to protect staff, particularly where there is a known risk of violence.
To protect our client’s privacy, certain details in this case study have been amended while preserving the overall circumstances and outcome.