Back Injury Compensation for Back Injury Claims & Spinal Cord Injury Claims

What factors are involved in Calculating Back Injury Compensation?

The value of your back injury compensation claim will vary with the circumstances, including the degree of negligence shown and the severity of your injuries.

The types of compensation you may be entitled to claim are:

• Pain & suffering - Damages may be claimed not only for the pain and suffering caused by the physical injury but also for the psychological impact of the incident.
• Medical treatment – You can claim for medical expenses incurred as a result of the injury, as well as for future medical costs
• Loss of earnings – Compensation for any loss of earnings, present, and future, incurred as a consequence of the physical injuries sustained.
• General damages – Physical pain, mental stress, and anguish, as well as other general damages.
• Travel costs – Travel expenses incurred as a direct consequence of the accident, i.e. travel to appointments

How much compensation can you expect for a Back Injury Compensation Claim?

Our team of Back Injury Claim Specialists will consider every aspect of your injury and the financial losses sustained in order to determine the level of compensation you are entitled to claim. This figure is calculated using the criteria detailed above.

Ordinarily, most people consider their physical injuries and financial losses when thinking about the value of their compensation claim but many forget to factor in the psychological impact of the initial incident and the long-term implications of a back injury.

PSR Solicitors are Back Injury Claim Experts and have a long-standing track record of success in settling a varied range of back injury compensation claims.

As previously stated,  back injuries vary from person to person but to try and offer a degree of consistency regarding the levels of compensation awarded, a body called the Judicial College compiles guidelines for all types of injuries, and whilst they have no legal basis, they do form a well-respected framework for calculating injury compensation payouts. 

See below for back injury compensation claim amounts. The figures above are for general damages only and do not factor in additional losses as a direct result of your injury, which you may also be entitled to claim for.

Speak to the Personal Injury team at PSR to discuss your specific case. 

What Constitutes a Back Injury?

Injuries to the back can be complex, particularly those involving spinal injuries. This is down to the significant debilitating effects such injuries can have on the individual and the long-term implications of the injury.

Back Injury Claims are often associated with road traffic accidents but they can occur as the result of a multitude of other incidents including slips and trips, work-related accidents, sports injuries, or any number of other traumatic accidents.  They can also vary significantly in severity from instances where a full recovery is made in a relatively short period of time, to incidents that result in life-changing injuries, such as paralysis, severe pain, and disability. There are often secondary psychological issues with more severe back injuries, with many people suffering from depression.

The most severe back injuries, with the most serious long-term implications tend to occur when the body is subjected to an intense external force, caused by an incident such as a road traffic accident, a sports injury, or a fall from height. 

Moderate back injuries tend to include instances where there is deformation, normally in the form of compression or crushing, causing fracturing of the lumbar vertebrae, or displacement - known as spondylolisthesis.
Less serious back injuries, such as sprains, strains, and herniated discs, tend to result from poor body positioning when lifting heavy objects and frequently occur in the workplace.

If you have suffered a back injury as a consequence of the actions or negligence of a 3rd party, then you deserve compensation. 

Common Causes of Back Injury

Whilst there are many things that can result in a back injury, the most common causes include:

• Road Traffic Accidents
• Falls from Height
• Slips and Trips
• Heavy Lifting
• Accidents at Work
• Sports Injuries
• Medical Negligence

Common Back Injuries

Back injuries can occur as the consequence of a multitude of different incidents, some more common than others and some with more serious implications than others.

Some of the most common types of back injury are outlined below.

Soft Tissue Injury

Often caused by strain to muscles, tendons, or ligaments, normally affecting the lower or middle back. An injury of this sort can be painful and can impede the individual’s ability to carry everyday tasks effectively. Because of the nature of this type of injury, it is often difficult to detect on x-rays or scans, but the pain can be severe and long-lasting. A common example of this type of injury is whiplash, normally caused as the result of a road traffic accident.  

Herniated Discs

Often referred to as a ‘slipped disc’, it is more accurately described as a ‘prolapsed’ or ‘herniated' disc. Potentially extremely painful, prolapsed, or herniated discs can often occur as the result of lifting heavy objects, causing the disc to bulge or even rupture. The deformation of the disc causes the internal material to press on a nerve or the spinal cord itself, resulting in extreme pain, loss of sensation, and sometimes weakness in an arm or leg. This is not always the case, with many people experiencing no significant symptoms and the majority of individuals requiring no surgery to correct the injury.  

Fractured Vertebrae

This occurs when a bone in the spine is compressed against another, causing the spinal cord or spinal nerves to be pinched or damaged and sometimes causing debilitating spinal cord damage. They normally occur as the result of a high-impact incident, such as a road traffic accident, sports injury, or a fall from height. This is potentially the most serious type of back injury with the most significant consequences. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may experience pain, difficulty with walking and mobility, or suffer the paralysis of a limb or limbs. Whilst many fractures heal with conservative treatment, more severe fractures may require surgical intervention to realign the affected vertebrae.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The consequences of Spinal Cord Injury can be devastating and potentially life-changing. Depending on the severity and location of the injury, you could suffer from paralysis and lose control of a number of body systems.

A major challenge in assessing the extent of a spinal injury is that a phenomenon called spinal shock occurs immediately after the injury, this stops the central nervous system from sending signals and so it is difficult to qualify which effects are permanent and which are temporary, so it may take 6-8 weeks for the spinal shock to subside.

Spinal Cord Injuries can be categorised into two groups, complete spinal injuries, or incomplete spinal injuries.

An incomplete Spinal Cord Injury is classified as an injury where the spinal cord has only been partially damaged and that the possibility of recovering some motor and sensory function still exists. This type of spinal injury contains four classifications:

• Anterior Cord Syndrome - Where the spinal cord damaged at the front
• Central Cord Syndrome - Where the core or central portion of the spinal cord is damaged
• Posterior cord syndrome - Where the rear section of the spinal cord is damaged
• Brown-Sequard syndrome - Where the side portion on either side of the spinal cord is damaged

A complete spinal cord injury is where the spinal cord is completely severed causing a complete loss of function below the point of injury. There are numerous types of spinal cord injury:

• Tetraplegia/Quadriplegia
• Paraplegia
• Hemiplegia
• Cauda equina syndrome

Effects of Back Injuries

Whilst most individuals affected by back injuries recover with the passing of time, those impacted by severe back injuries may suffer permanent life-changing complications such as paralysis, impotence, or incontinence. Other potential effects of a back injury include but are not limited to:

• Persistent or recurring pain
• Reduced mobility
• Scarring, both as a result of the accident or as a consequence of surgery
• Persistent bladder and bowel problems
• Difficulty with sexual function

Treatment and Support for Back Injuries

Whilst the treatment required is completely dependent on the nature and severity of your back injury, the common treatment options and support available include:

• Surgery - Nerve Treatment /Spinal Fusion
• Manual Therapy - Physiotherapy, Osteopathy
• Medication - Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Painkillers, Muscle relaxants
• Psychological support - Therapy & Counselling
• Professional care - Nursing, OT’s, etc
• Home adaptations - Stairlifts, Ramps, Hoists, etc
• Injury management equipment
• Adapted vehicle

If you or someone you know is suffering the effects of a Back Injury sustained in an accident caused by third-party negligence, PSR’s accredited Injury Claim Solicitors can help.

Making a Back Injury Claim

If you have suffered a Back Injury through no fault of your own and you feel there is evidence of 3rd party liability, then you are entitled to claim compensation.

By choosing PSR Solicitors to handle your Back Injury Claim, you can rest assured that you have secured the legal expertise and experience to win your claim and receive the maximum compensation that you deserve. We serve all clients with compassion and determination on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning there will be no legal costs to pay and therefore, no risk to you.

All PSR’s Personal Injury Solicitors in Wales and Accident Lawyers in Cheshire are accredited by the Law Society for Personal Injury Claims, giving you the reassurance they have the expertise and tenacity to secure the maximum levels of compensation for you or your family.

Covering North Wales and Cheshire, with offices in Colwyn Bay, Ellesmere Port, Rhyl, Shotton, Wrexham, Wallasey, and Chester, PSR Solicitors are a leading firm of Personal Injury Solicitors, affording you the peace of mind that we will manage the entire claim to its conclusion and allow you to concentrate on recovery.