It's not just malpractice claims that can cause headaches for your practice.
Posted in Case Studies on Thursday, November 20, 2025
When it comes to lawsuits and chiropractic practices, a malpractice claim is the first thing that comes to mind. But as one DC found out, protecting your practice for other scenarios is also a must.
The Incident
It was a wet, cold, and rainy day as Dr. Haliburton opened his practice. The forecast called for dropping temperatures with the potential for ice and possibly snow later in the day. This reminded Dr. Haliburton that he did not have any salt or ice melt to apply to the sidewalk outside of his practice’s front door. Dr. Haliburton set a reminder to stop at the hardware store over lunch to pick some up.
Unfortunately, the temperature dropped faster than expected, turning Dr. Haliburton's sidewalk into a sheet of ice. Around 10:45 a.m., as Mandi Clark was arriving for her follow-up appointment, her feet slipped out from under her on Dr. Haliburton's sidewalk and resulted in a serious fall.
Ms. Clark suffered a fracture of both her radius and ulna and needed to be transported to the local hospital via ambulance. Ultimately, she had to undergo surgery involving Open Reduction and Internal Fixation. Ms. Clark incurred medical expenses of over $38,000 due to this injury. In addition, she had to miss a significant amount of work as a computer programmer due to her injuries. She ended losing more than $45,000 in lost wages.
The Lawsuit
In order to recoup her medical expenses and wage losses, Ms. Clark initiated a lawsuit against Dr. Haliburton. Luckily, Dr. Haliburton had worked with NCMIC to obtain a Business Owner's Policy which included coverage for general liability to protect his practice. Dr. Haliburton’s carrier was able to reach a settlement with Ms. Clark within his limit of liability that resulted in no out-of-pocket expenses for Dr. Haliburton.
What Can We Learn?
As the seasons change and temperatures get colder make sure you are prepared to keep your sidewalks, entryways, waiting room etc. clear of ice, moisture and any other tripping hazards to protect yourself, your patients, and your employees.
Make sure you have the appropriate commercial insurance coverages in place to protect your practice. In this scenario, Dr. Haliburton had a Business Owner's Policy in place that included coverage for General Liability as well as business personal property and loss of income coverage.
If you do not have this important coverage in place for your practice, NCMIC can help! Our agents assist doctors every day in obtaining the various coverage necessary to protect their practices. Contact us today at 1-800-394-1466 or learn more and request a quote online.
The above scenario is not based on a single case. Instead, it’s an example of what can easily happen without adequate insurance coverage, based on claims we’ve encountered.