From a stroll in the park to life on ice: Dave’s story

It started as an ordinary spring afternoon.

Dave was out walking the dog. Just some fresh air, a stretch of the legs - nothing unusual.

Until it was.

A sudden tug on the lead. A slip. A fall. And a sickening crunch as his shoulder hit the ground.

At A&E, the scans confirmed a dislocation. Painful, yes - but supposedly straightforward to fix. Dave expected a bit of recovery, a short break from his job as an HGV driver, then back to normal.

But weeks turned into months, and the shoulder didn’t heal. Surgery followed. Then more pain. More waiting. And no sign of a return to work.

And that’s when the real struggle began.

No sick pay. No support. But the bills didn’t wait

There was no employer sick pay. No benefits package. Just a mortgage to repay, household bills stacking up, and no income to cover any of it.

Dave’s world was turning upside down - but thankfully, three months earlier, something had clicked into place.

Enter Waddle

Back in January, Dave had sat down with one of our advisors.

On the surface, he already had some cover. But when we looked closer, the gaps were glaring:

• Income protection with a 52-week deferment - no help at all for short-term injury

• No cover for fractures or dislocations - despite the physical nature of his job

• No mortgage protection whatsoever

We quickly got to work, building a smarter, safer plan - tailored to Dave’s real risks, and his real budget:

• Multi-fracture cover (including dislocations)

• Income protection with a short deferment period

• Mortgage liability protection

• Simple, straight-talking policies - no fluff, no confusion

Once the cover was in place, our Welcome Team walked Dave through every detail, making sure he knew exactly what he had and how it worked.

Not just a policy. A proper plan.

When things went south, he knew who to call

When the injury happened, Dave rang us.

Thanks to the multi-fracture cover, we got his claim moving immediately. And when the pain meant he couldn’t even sign forms, we sorted it digitally - no fuss, no faff, no pressure.

A few weeks later, £4,000 was in his bank account.

But things weren’t getting better. In fact, they were getting worse.

The injury didn’t heal - but the protection held firm

Recovery dragged on. Dave wasn’t going back to work anytime soon.

So, we shifted gears. Our Claims Team supported him through a full income protection claim, and helped him apply for a waiver of premium - meaning he didn’t even have to pay for his cover while off work.

That policy has now been his main source of income for over two years. Month after month, it’s kept his mortgage paid, his lights on, and his stress levels down.

Then came news no one wants to hear.

A life-altering diagnosis - but a safety net already in place

Parkinson’s.

A shock. A storm. But not a financial disaster.

Because Dave already had mortgage protection. Already had life cover. Already had peace of mind.

His cover was locked in - no exclusions, no "sorry, not covered", no loopholes. Just solid protection when it mattered most.

I didn’t think I’d ever need it.

A fall that changed everything. A diagnosis that changed even more.

But through it all, Dave had support, structure, and security - because he had Waddle.

In his own words:

“I didn’t think I’d ever need it. But thank goodness I had it. I don’t know where I’d be otherwise. Thank you.”

Support Under the Umbrella

The help didn’t end when the money landed.

Legal & General went beyond the payout - staying in regular contact with Dave throughout the claims process. Their team offered calm, clear reassurance at every stage, making sure he never felt lost in the system.

Even better, they brought in their clinical rehabilitation specialists to help with recovery. From checking in on his progress to sharing practical advice and support tools, they made sure Dave had everything he needed to get back on his feet - physically and emotionally.

It wasn’t just about settling a claim - it was about genuine care, ongoing support, and making sure the road to recovery felt less lonely.

That’s the Waddle way

At Waddle, we don’t sell products. We build protection around real people.

We listen. We ask the right questions. And we plan for the things that could happen - so you’re not caught off guard when they do.

If you’re self-employed, work with your hands, or just aren’t sure what cover you’ve really got in place - don’t go it alone.