If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury due to someone else’s negligence, understanding how to sue for spine injury compensation can be a crucial step towards recovery. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about starting a spinal injury compensation claim, including eligibility criteria, how compensation is valued, and how our panel of solicitors at How To Sue can help.
Suffering a spinal cord injury can result in life-altering consequences, from chronic pain and mobility issues to permanent disability. Whether your injury occurred in a road traffic accident, an accident at work, or a public place, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
This guide aims to demystify the claims process, providing free advice and explaining complicated legal terms in an accessible way. You’ll learn about the evidence you’ll need, the time limits for bringing legal action, and how a No Win No Fee agreement could ease your financial concerns.
What You Need To Know
- You may be eligible to claim spine injury compensation if someone caused your injury.
- Employers, occupiers, and road users all have defined legal responsibilities to prevent accidents.
- Compensation can include damages for pain and suffering, lost income, medical expenses, and home modifications.
- Most claims must be made within 3 years, but exceptions apply for children and those lacking mental capacity.
Contact Us
Our expert advisors offer a free initial consultation and can quickly assess your case. Start your journey today with How To Sue, and see how we can help you. Contact our team now by:
- Contacting us online
- Calling us on 0800 408 7827
- Using the live chat feature
Jump To A Section
- How To Sue For Spine Injury Compensation
- How Much Spine Injury Compensation Can I Get?
- What Are The Signs Of A Spinal Injury?
- What Conditions Can Spine Injury Claims Cover?
- Will I Need Evidence To Support An Injured Spine Claim?
- What Is The Spinal Injury Claim Time Limit?
- No Win No Fee Spine Injury Compensation Claims
- What How To Sue Can Help Me With
- More Information
How To Sue For Spine Injury Compensation
To make a spinal injury compensation claim, you must demonstrate that another party is liable for your injury. This generally involves showing that:
- A third party owed you a duty of care.
- They breached that duty.
- You suffered a spinal injury as a direct consequence.
You could be owed a duty of care in a number of situations, including:
- Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their employees.
- Occupiers of premises, such as supermarkets, restaurants, gyms or any party in control of public or private spaces, owe a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. They must ensure that visitors are reasonably safe when using the premises for their intended purpose.
- Road users, including drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, owe each other a duty of care to comply with the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
If you suffered a spinal injury as a result of an accident at work, a public place accident, or a road traffic accident, then you may be able to claim.
Contact our advisors to discuss your situation in detail and confirm your eligibility for a spinal injury compensation claim.
Suing For Fatal Spinal Injuries
In cases where a spinal cord injury results in death, the deceased’s dependents or family members may be eligible to make a fatal accident claim. These claims can be brought under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 and the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.
Compensation may include:
- Funeral expenses
- Bereavement award
- Loss of financial dependency
- Loss of companionship and services
Our team provides sensitive and expert support to families and loved ones pursuing justice in such cases. Contact us to learn more about your rights and the process for making a fatal spinal injury claim.
How Much Spine Injury Compensation Can I Get?
The value of a spinal injury compensation claim can vary significantly depending on the severity and long-term effects of the injury. Compensation is typically split into two heads of loss:
- General Damages – for pain, suffering, and loss of amenity
- Special Damages – for financial losses such as medical costs and lost earnings
General damages are assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that lists guideline compensation amounts for different injuries, including spinal and back injuries. We’ve included some examples of these brackets in the table below, but please keep in mind that these amounts aren’t guaranteed, and the first entry in this table isn’t from the JCG.
Injury | Compensation |
---|---|
Multiple severe injuries including spinal damage and financial losses like lost earnings | Up to £1,000,000+ |
Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) | £396,140 to £493,000 |
Paraplegia | £267,340 to £346,890 |
Severe Back Injuries (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
Severe Back Injuries (ii) | £90,510 to £107,910 |
Severe Back Injuries (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 |
Moderate Back Injuries (i) | £33,880 to £47,320 |
Moderate Back Injuries (ii) | £15,260 to £33,880 |
Minor Back Injuries (i) | £9,630 to £15,260 |
Minor Back Injuries (ii) | £5,310 to £9,630 |
Examples Of What Compensation Can Cover
Often, spinal injury claims generate more compensation under the special damages heading than for the actual injury. This is because these injuries are often life changing, and can result in expenses such as:
Medical Expenses
Spinal cord injuries often require surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. You can claim compensation for:
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Hospital stays
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Surgery costs
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Private physiotherapy
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Medical appointments
Loss Of Income
If your back injury has kept you from working, you can claim for:
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Lost wages
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Missed bonuses
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Future lost earnings if you’re unable to return to work
- Pension contributions
Travel Costs
You may need to travel to:
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Medical appointments
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Physiotherapy sessions
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Legal meetings
Cost Of Home Adaptations
A severe spinal injury may require:
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Installing stair lifts
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Widening doors to allow a wheelchair
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Accessible bathrooms
Cost Of Care
Whether family or professionals provide care, you may claim for:
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Home carers
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Nursing support
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Family support time
- Home medical equipment
Contact us now to find out how to include care costs in your spinal injury claim.
What Are The Signs Of A Spinal Injury?
Spinal injuries can be life-changing. Common symptoms include:
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Loss of movement: Partial or total paralysis in limbs
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Numbness or tingling: Often in hands, feet or extremities
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Loss of bladder or bowel control
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Chronic pain: Particularly in the spinal column or neck
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Breathing difficulties: If the cervical spine is affected
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention and then speak to our team to learn more about how to sue for spinal injury compensation
What Conditions Can Spine Injury Claims Cover?
Common injuries in spine injury compensation claims include:
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Fractured vertebrae
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Herniated discs
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Soft tissue injuries
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Damage to the spinal cord
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Cervical, thoracic or lumbar trauma
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Loss of bowel control
Our panel of solicitors can help you make a spinal injury claim for these and other conditions. Call now to discuss how to sue for spine injury compensation in more detail.
Will I Need Evidence To Support An Injured Spine Claim?
Yes, having strong supporting evidence is essential for making a successful spinal injury compensation claim. The responsibility to prove that negligence occurred lies with the injured person, so it’s vital to demonstrate that a duty of care was owed, that this duty was breached, and that the breach caused your spinal injury.
The most effective claims are supported by a range of documentation and records, including:
- Medical records from your GP or hospital, including treatment notes and prognosis
- Imaging reports such as MRI scans or X-rays confirming the spinal damage
- Photographs of the accident scene and any visible injuries
- Witness contact details so their statements can be taken later
- CCTV footage, where available, capturing the incident
- Official accident reports from the police, employer, or business premises
- Financial documents such as payslips, receipts, and invoices
The more comprehensive your evidence, the stronger your case will be. Our panel of solicitors can help you gather and organise all the necessary proof to support your spinal injury claim.
Contact our team today for expert help with gathering evidence and starting your claim.
What Is The Spinal Injury Claim Time Limit?
If you’re thinking about making a spinal injury compensation claim, it’s important to act within the legal time limit. In most cases, the Limitation Act 1980 gives you 3 years from:
- The date of your accident, or
- The date you became aware of your injury and its cause (known as the date of knowledge)
There are exceptions to this rule:
- If the injured person is under 18, the time limit is paused until their 18th birthday, because minors cannot claim for themselves. They then have until their 21st birthday to claim.
- If the person lacks the mental capacity to make legal decisions, the time limit is suspended indefinitely and only begins if mental capacity returns.
In both situations, a litigation friend (such as a parent, guardian or trusted solicitor) may make a claim on their behalf.
If you’re unsure how the time limits apply to your case or the process of how to sue for spine injury compensation, contact our advisors for free advice today.
No Win No Fee Spine Injury Compensation Claims
If you’re concerned about the cost of legal help, a No Win No Fee agreement can help ease the financial burden. Also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), this legal funding option allows you to:
- Begin your claim without paying any upfront solicitor fees
- Avoid paying solicitor’s fees if your claim does not succeed
- Only pay a success fee, which is a small, legally-capped percentage of your compensation, if your claim succeeds
This arrangement enables people from all financial backgrounds to access expert legal representation, particularly when facing the added pressures of lost income or high medical bills.
Our panel of solicitors are highly experienced in handling spinal injury claims under No Win No Fee agreements. They will assess the strength of your case, explain your options clearly, and handle every aspect of the claim, giving you peace of mind and confidence in pursuing justice.
Speak to our advisors today to learn more about starting a No Win No Fee spinal injury compensation claim and how our panel of solicitors can support you throughout the process.
What How To Sue Can Help Me With
At How To Sue, our mission is to support injured individuals in navigating the claims process with confidence. We work with a panel of specialist solicitors who are highly experienced in dealing with spinal cord and back injury claims.
When you choose to work with our panel, you can expect:
- A free initial consultation to assess your eligibility
- Clear and compassionate legal advice, free from complicated legal jargon
- Help collecting strong evidence, such as medical records and witness statements
- Professional valuation of your claim to ensure fair compensation
- Access to a No Win No Fee service that removes the financial burden
- Representation from legal experts who are committed to securing the best possible outcome
Contact Our Advisors
From the first call to the final settlement, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how to sue for spine injury compensation by:
- Contacting us online
- Calling us on 0800 408 7827
- Using the live chat feature
More Information
To learn more about making a personal injury claim:
- Find out how to sue for hearing loss or deafness
- Learn how to make a construction accident claim
- Get help with making a claim for multiple injuries
Or, to get further resources:
- Learn how to request CCTV footage of yourself
- Find out when to call 999 from the NHS
- Get more information on back pain from the NHS
Thank you for reading our guide on how to sue for spine injury compensation.