Injuries to the spine and neck can be among the most severe trauma a person can face. Damage to the spinal cord can cause permanent damage to the body, including paralysis in some or all of the limbs and loss of function in internal organs. Even where the injury is less serious, such as a slipped disk or whiplash, there can be significant long-term effects for the victim including chronic pain and mobility issues. If you have been involved in an accident and suffered spinal trauma as a result, you could be entitled to compensation.
What are the causes and types of spinal injuries?
Spine and neck injuries are most usually caused by vehicle collisions, or by a trip or fall. Often a break to the spine or neck is the result of major and obvious trauma, such as a fall from great height, though even a seemingly minor accident can lead to spinal damage.
Spinal injuries include damage to the bones (vertebrae) of the spine, such as slipped or ruptured disks or trapped nerves. When the damage is severe and a break occurs, this can cause the spinal cord itself to rupture or break. Any damage to this connection can cause partial paralysis (paraplegia) or complete loss of limb and body function (quadriplegia or tetraplegia). People with serious spinal injuries often need round the clock care for the rest of their lives, and even less serious injuries can lead to many years of rehabilitation.
How much compensation can I claim for a spinal injury?
The amount of spinal injury compensation you can claim varies between each individual case. There is no limit to the amount of damages that can be claimed. The compensation will take into account a great many different factors, and include an award for ‘general damages’ in most cases.
Factors include the level of negligence involved in the case. Even if you were partly to blame for the accident, you could still be entitled to some compensation. The highest awards are made when the accident was not the victim’s fault and where the negligence of an individual, company or public body can be proved.
The court will also consider the extent of the injuries, the impact the injury has on you, and the likelihood of long-term care. It a person is not expected to recover from their injuries and if they will need ongoing care, then the award should reflect this. The cost of specialist treatment might also be factored in if this would improve the victim’s condition or quality of life.
No win, no fee spinal injury claims
With a no win, no fee spinal injury claim, you only pay us if your claim is successful. There is no risk to you, so you can take your case to court and know that it will not leave you worse off than before. Even if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not have lost anything. We also provide honest advice before your claim is launched, so you don’t have to go through the stress of a claim for no reason. If we do not think you have a reasonable chance of success, we will not advise you to take your case forward.
How do I make a spinal injury claim?
It is important that you act quickly if you want to make a claim. Claims for personal injury can be brought for up to three years following the accident (or three years after the injuries from that accident become apparent to the claimant, if this is later). Delayed trauma to the spine from an earlier accident is possible, especially where an issue such as a hairline fracture, slipped disk or spinal cord rupture goes untreated or undiagnosed. The sooner you bring your case to court following the accident or subsequent injury, the better your chance of success.
Contact the personal injury specialists at Mackrell & Thomas Solicitors right away. We understand the complexities of personal injury cases where spinal trauma is involved. We know the importance of compensation to spinal injury victims and their loved ones, especially where long-term treatment and care is required. We aim to help you get the financial support you need following your accident, and we support you at every stage of the claim process. Start your claim today on 0800 0730160.
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