How we supported a young tree surgeon after a 30‑foot fall at work

Our clients story demonstrates the real impact of unsafe working practices, the long-term consequences of serious injury on a young worker, and the importance of specialist legal support.

In this case study we discuss:

• How a failure on a safety harness caused a 30‑foot fall.
• The extensive injuries sustained from significant fall from height.
• How the accident affected the client’s life.
• How the legal team built the case and secured a significant settlement.
• The role of interim payments in supporting the client during recovery.
• Why a Personal Injury Trust was essential for protecting his financial future.
• How specialist solicitors help clients navigate life-changing injuries with compassion and expertise.
• A training day that went terribly wrong

While carrying out his normal duties on the ground, he was instructed by a colleague to climb a tree for on-the-job training, despite that colleague knowing he was not qualified to do so. He was required to use ropes and equipment that had been prepared by another colleague. While secured in the tree, a knot on his harness failed, causing him to fall approximately 30 feet to the ground in an instant.

The impact left him with multiple traumatic injuries and marked the beginning of a long, painful recovery but this wasn’t just a physical battle, the accident brought significant emotional strain and financial pressure, affecting both him and his young family.

Falling from such a significant height left our client with multiple traumatic injuries. These included:

• Serious fractures to his dominant wrist and hand, which later developed complications.
• A broken bone in his other hand, affecting grip and everyday tasks.
• Two fractured ribs, causing severe pain and breathing difficulties.
• A fractured pelvis, impacting mobility and stability.
• Fractures to bones around the eye and cheek, with possible nerve damage.
• Psychological trauma, including anxiety and distress linked to the trauma of the event.

Although initially treated him without major surgery, the damage to his wrist will have lasting consequences. He has since developed osteoarthritis and a non-union fracture, meaning the bone has not healed properly. This has left him permanently disabled in his dominant hand and he now faces the likelihood of a full wrist fusion. a procedure that would remove all wrist movement.

The injuries to his dominant wrist have had a significant effect on his future employment. He is no longer able to carry out the physically demanding tasks required of a tree surgeon, and roles involving manual handling or the use of specialist tools are now likely beyond his capability. As a young man, who was early in his career, this has been especially difficult. He loved the outdoor nature of the work and was motivated by the physical, hands-on aspects of the job.

The accident has left him facing real challenges in the job market, and he now has to consider retraining for work that is less physically demanding.

The accident reshaped every part of our client’s life, his career, his physical abilities, and his home environment. The emotional strain from his sudden loss of work, along with the financial pressures this brings, naturally impacted his wellbeing.

He received psychological support, including CBT, which helped him in the early stages as he tried to process the trauma of the fall. But the impact of his injuries, combined with personal pre-existing vulnerabilities, added further challenges to his recovery and affected his day-to-day stability. 

This sudden change in his circumstances placed understandable pressure on his family life, and adjusting to this new reality has been an ongoing challenge for him. 

Our team worked closely with him to ensure he received the specialist assessments, support and financial stability he needed throughout the claim. He received over £10,000 in interim payments, which helped him manage immediate daily costs during the most difficult stages of his recovery.

When the case concluded we secured our client a gross settlement that was in the region of £280,000. His final settlements funds will be placed into a Personal Injury Trust to protect his long-term financial security and ensure he can access future treatment and support.

Workplace failures can have lifelong consequences for young workers. The outcome of this case demonstrates the importance of strong legal support, compassionate guidance in securing the right financial protection.

While his injuries will affect him for the rest of his life, the settlement, which has been safeguarded within a trust, gives our client a stable foundation to rebuild and move forward with greater stability and confidence. 

No worker should suffer serious injury because of unsafe equipment or poor workplace practices. If you’ve been hurt in a fall from height, speak to us today, our dedicated solicitors are here to guide you through the claims process and help you access the compensation and support you deserve.

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in the workplace – so much so that the Work at Height Regulations 2005 were introduced to help reduce the risk by ensuring working at height is properly risk assessed and carried out safely. Gravity will always work against anyone working from a height, so even relatively low falls can have serious consequences.

Falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries in the workplace – so much so that the Work at Height Regulations 2005 were introduced to help reduce the risk by ensuring working at height is properly risk assessed and carried out safely. Gravity will always work against anyone working from a height, so even relatively low falls can have serious consequences.

An employer cannot dismiss an employee for the sole reason that a claim is being made (Employment Rights Act 1996 s.104). This would usually be considered an automatically unfair dismissal.

There is potential, however, for an employee to be dismissed if it is clear that an incident giving rise to a claim was entirely their fault, due to misconduct, for example, though this would be dismissal for a separate and legitimate reason, not just because a claim has been made.”