Difficult life for seriously injured
An elderly 74-year-old Maltese woman who was seriously injured in a traffic accident last December has been unable to leave her home on the second floor at will as a result of her injury, and she has not yet received any payments from the insurance company used by the driver who hit her.
Maria (a pseudonym given to protect her identity) was walking towards her house last December, when she, and another woman, was hit by a vehicle.
She has, as a result, suffered extensive injuries to her leg, and has been unable to leave her home at will ever since returning after her stint in hospital. She has been unable to leave at will as she lives on the first floor of her home, and cannot currently use the stairs leading down to her ground floor.
This newsroom met with Maria, who manages to move around on the first floor despite her injuries, but has to literally fall back onto a chair to get into her kitchen, due to a slight change in room level and her being unable to step upwards because of the injury. She is an independent woman, and looks to have been quite active prior to her injury.
Maria’s pension income is under €500, and she doesn’t have much saved, she said. She lives alone, and has no family locally.
She said that she doesn’t want to be a burden on anyone. Describing the accident, she said: “I was returning back home from the butcher, and another woman was walking on the pavement on the opposite side of the road. I was carrying my bag and had a carrier bag with me. I knew the woman on the other side of the road, and told her not to get off the pavement. At that moment, I was hit and scraped along the wall. I saw the other woman sitting on the pavement holding her head.
“By this point other people came. My hands were shaking and I had blood coming down from my head. I remained conscious. The police came and I was yelling for one of my neighbours, who I know well, to come over.”
The ambulance then took her to hospital. Where she received some treatment for the injuries she suffered, mainly in her hand and leg.
This newsroom was told that the driver of the car was given a €250 fine and had her driving licence suspended for one week.
Just after her accident, she spent two months at Mater Dei Hospital and another two at the Karin Grech Rehabilitation Hospital, she said. She then wanted to go home, and did. “I wanted to go home, and didn’t realise how complicated it would be.”
Thus far, she has undergone two operations, but is unable to conduct another on her leg due to an infection. After a biopsy was taken, the doctors told her that her best option was to travel to the UK for an operation there. She told this newsroom that the Maltese doctors informed her that if the operation fails, they might need to amputate.
“I’m an active woman, and now find myself in this position...” she said as she became slightly worried.
She said that prior to having the leg operation, she needs to fight off an infection she currently has, which is being treated through antibiotics. In October, she will check whether her infection is gone.
The Housing Authority, her as well as a friend of hers explained, has agreed to provide the funds required to install a stair lift so that she will be able to head downstairs, as well as a swivel chair she requested, which would make life easier for her when getting into the kitchen and which she would be able to use to help her when bathing. They argue however, that she would rather not have to take money from the state for this. Her friends who represents her also said that they want to pay it back it back when the insurance payments are eventually made.
When in hospital, she was offered the meals on wheels service once she arrived home and support from social services. When going home, she told the meals on wheels service that she didn’t require them, opting to cook for herself. Someone she knows helps her out with the grocery shopping.
She said that the insurance agency of the driver who had hit her with a car want to know her percentage disability before making any payments. “If I don’t even know what is going to happen with the operation for my leg, how can I give an answer for that?”
This newsroom asked the insurance agency to explain why no funds have been given to the accident victim, and if it is due to them requiring information, why a small amount cannot be given until the final amount is settled.
The agency would not speak about the specific case due to data protection regulations, however answered in general terms.
“When a person suffers loss or