Back Injury Compensation Claims

Back Injury Compensation Claims

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors for Back Injury Compensation Claims

No Win No Fee Claims for Back Injury Compensation

Duncan Lewis is one of the UK’s leading firms of personal injury and Legal Aid solicitors – and can advise on how to make a no win no fee claim for back injury compensation.

What are Back Injury Compensation Claims?

The spine is the main skeletal support system for the body comprising 33 vertebrae from top to bottom which protect the spinal cord. Nerves in the spinal cord transport messages from the brain to the rest of the body.

Back injuries can involve pain, numbness, stiffness and paralysis – and any part of the back can suffer injury, from the lumbar region at the base of the spine to the ribs and neck and shoulders.

Referred pain from a back injury can affect other parts of the body, causing pain in the groin and limbs or chest – and even headaches. Tender muscles and damaged ligaments can also take weeks or months to heal.

Back injuries may recur – or be permanent, diminishing quality of life and affecting mobility and the ability to carry out even simple daily chores, such as getting dressed, going shopping, or even raising your arm or putting on your socks.

In cases of traumatic injury to the spinal cord, patients may be left with permanent paralysis to some degree.

Claims for Back Injury or Spinal Injury compensation can be made if the injury is caused by the negligence of an employer or other party, including:

• Back injury accident claim (accident at work, school or college)
• Balcony fall back injury claim (poorly designed/unguarded balcony)
• Criminal injuries back injury claim (knife attacks, firearms injuries)
• Falls from height back injury claim (roofs, scaffolding, ladders)
• Holiday accident back injury claim (falls, slips and trips, sports)
• Horse riding back injury claim (falls, crush injuries from horse rolling)
• Industrial disease back injury claim (Spondylosis, osteoarthritis)
• Medical negligence back injury claim (accident in care home or hospital, undiagnosed spinal tumour, surgical error, birth injury)
• MoD back injury claim (training, live combat, RTAs)
• Office staff back injury claim (poor seating/desk height, lifting)
• Performers’ back injury claim (poor training, production accident)
• Public liability back injury claim (accident in a public place)
• Road traffic accident back injury claim (cars, cycles, HGVs, motorbikes)
• Sports accident back injury claim (rugby, skiing, climbing)
• Work-related back injury claim (RSI, lifting/carrying, poor seating).

The sort of back injuries which compensation claims can be made for include:

• Cervical spinal injury (flexion, flexion-rotation, extension injuries)
• Coccyx injury
• Fractures (fractured collarbone and vertebrae, broken ribs and neck)
• Frozen shoulder
• Ligament damage (torn ligaments)
• Lower back injuries (lumbar region)
• Misdiagnosed spinal tumour
• Muscle damage to the back
• Nerve damage to back (lumbar, sacral and coccygeal nerve damage)
• Paraplegia/quadiplegia/tetraplegia
• Penetrating back injuries (knives, gunshot wounds, machinery, tools)
• Slipped disc
• Spinal cord injury (SCI) (compression, severed/crushed spinal cord)
• Whiplash injuries (neck, shoulders, upper spine, referred pain)
• Work-related osteoarthritis of the spine (Spondylosis)
• Vertebral column injuries.

Back injuries require immediate and often ongoing treatment – and in cases of severe back injury, long-term Rehabilitation. As part of our personal injury claim services, Duncan Lewis can advise further on getting the treatment you need for your back injury.

If your back injury is work-related and has caused permanent disability, information about Industrial Benefit Disablement Injuries and how to claim is available online – Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise you further on this.

How long do I have to make a Back Injury Compensation Claim?

Claims for back injury compensation fall under the area of law known as personal injury.

Personal injury claimants usually have three years from the date of the injury to make a claim for back injury compensation.

Claims can sometimes be made outside the three-year limitation period, however – and minors have three years from the age of 18 to make a claim.

Because of the limitation period for personal injury claims, it is important to seek legal advice from Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors as soon as possible if you wish to make a back injury compensation claim.

Family members can call Duncan Lewis for advice on making a claim if a loved one has sustained a serious back injury and is recovering in hospital.

How much compensation can I claim for Back Injury?

Compensation for Back Injury Claims includes:

• General Damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity
  The exact amount will be assessed according to the extent of injury, estimated recovery time and rehabilitation needed – and whether further medical treatment or even lifelong care is needed.
• Special Damages to cover medical fees and out-of-pocket expenses
  Expenses might include physiotherapy, loss of earnings, travel expenses to hospital or damage to personal items. In more serious cases, ongoing care, loss of future salary and pension or adaptations to your home would be included.

Who pays my back injury compensation claim?

If your back injury is work-related and your employer is liable, your employer’s insurer will settle any claim.

Otherwise back injury compensation is paid by the insurer of whoever is liable for the injury, such as a tour operator in the case of holiday accidents causing back injury – or a car insurer if a motorist caused an accident resulting in a back injury.

Back injuries resulting from criminal assault are compensated under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, but a no win no fee personal injury claim can also be made.

MoD claims for back injuries are paid by the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, but a no win no fee claim against the party liable (such as a motorist) can also be made.

Will I have to go to court to claim compensation?

Your Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitor will keep you fully informed at all stages of the case.

Most claims for back injury compensation are settled out-of-court – Duncan Lewis personal injury lawyers negotiate hard to get the best settlement for you.

But if a court hearing is necessary, Duncan Lewis instructs leading barristers who specialise in personal injury cases, to make sure you have the best legal representation possible.

Why Duncan Lewis is the best solicitor for Back Injury Compensation Claims

• Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors understand just how traumatic and debilitating back injuries can be – we believe in putting you and your family first to obtain the best results for you
• Duncan Lewis is one of the leading firms of Personal Injury and Legal Aid solicitors in the UK
• Our initial advice on making a claim for back injury compensation is free
• Duncan Lewis accepts back injury compensation claims on a no win no fee basis, so you will not have to worry about legal fees
• We will visit you at home if you are recovering from serious back injuries – and can arrange expert medical opinions to help back up your claim
• Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors will make sure you understand every stage of your back injury compensation claim
• We will handle negotiations for you, so you do not have to worry while you are recovering your back injury.

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors have a successful track record in personal injury claims, including back injury compensation claims.

Contact Duncan Lewis for free advice on making a claim for back injury compensation by calling 020 7923 4020.