Back and spinal cord injury claims

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According to the Spinal Injuries Association, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a spinal cord injury every two hours. In total, 4,400 people are either injured or diagnosed with a spinal cord injury every year. It is estimated that around 105,000 people are currently living with an injury, whether it be from a health condition, an infection or an accident.

A spinal cord injury can be life-changing for both you and your family, whether it’s caused by an accident or medical negligence.

Common causes of back and spine injuries include:

How much will it cost to make a spinal injury claim?

In most cases, we offer a no win no fee agreement for back and spinal cord injury claims. You won’t have to pay any upfront costs, and you won’t pay any fees if your claim is unsuccessful. Your solicitor will be able to advise once we understand your case.

If your claim is successful, you will contribute towards your legal costs from the compensation you are awarded - this is usually capped at 33%. Your solicitor will be able to advise you once we have gathered all the information. 

Rehabilitation for back and spine injuries

If you need rehabilitation, it’s important you start quickly. We will work to get you a rehabilitation package from the start of your claim. This includes applying for interim payments so adaptions can be made to your home and workplace where possible.

We can also make sure that any long term rehabilitation is identified and included in the claim for compensation. 

Compensation ranges for spine and back injuries

The value of a spinal injury compensation claim depends on the severity of the injury and the amount of pain, loss and suffering it has caused (or is expected to cause). 

There are many factors that will affect how much compensation you can claim. As well as asking you about the extent of your pain and what long-term impact the injury has had on your life, your solicitor will find out if:

  • the injury is temporary or permanent 
  • you need further medical treatment 
  • you have lost independence or have care and rehabilitation needs 
  • you can return to work 
  • there’s been an impact on sexual function
  • you've lost income because of your injury
  • you've had to pay expenses because of your injury
  • you need adaptations made to your home
  • you need any aids or equipment

How compensation is calculated

How to claim for a back or spine injury 

After we’ve taken some details, you will be offered a free, no obligation consultation to discuss the circumstances of your case and details of your injuries. We’ll then be able to tell you if you can make a spine injury claim.

Understanding your case

Our claims advisers will call you to take basic information about the accident or negligence, details of your injuries and any financial loses. They will then be able to tell you whether we think you have a good case.

Taking on your claim

Once you have instructed us, you will be assigned a case handler that will be your main point of contact throughout your claim. They will outline the next steps, how long it will take and what information they will need.

We start by working to establish who is at fault straight away. We gather the evidence that will be needed to support your compensation claim, to encourage an admission of liability (fault) from the other side.

We will identify who the claim will be against and notify them of the claim on your behalf.

Gathering evidence about the value of the claim

We instruct appropriate experts, including medical examiners, to assess your injuries and their impact on you. We will gather details of any losses and expenses you’ve had to pay because of your injuries, including any predicted losses in the future.

Explaining your options

After we have gathered and reviewed the evidence, your case handler will be able to give you advice about the potential value of your claim and explain your options. This may include negotiating a settlement or starting court proceedings.

Finalising the case

Your case handler will discuss your options depending on how the other side responds to your claim. This will usually result in either offers being made and agreed or by beginning court action.

Once you confirm what you'd like to do, you will either receive your settlement damages or continue to the court process, which will then resolve the dispute.

Contact us about your claim

Medical negligence claims for spine injuries

Medical negligence is when the actions or oversight of a healthcare professional cause an injury or illness to a patient. Examples of medical negligence include:

  • misdiagnoses
  • delay in diagnosis
  • offering the wrong type of treatment
  • surgical mistakes

Patients who experience medical negligence are legally entitled to make a claim for compensation. This usually covers rehabilitation support, future care needs and loss of earnings.

Cauda equina syndrome claims

When a spinal injury occurs, clinicians should diagnose the injury quickly to prevent further damage.

For example, if an injury, infection or herniated disc compresses the nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord, a delay in diagnosis and treatment can cause a serious condition called cauda equina syndrome.

The nerves at the bottom of the spine are responsible for communicating with the lower limbs and organs. If a spine injury is not treated and a patient develops cauda equina syndrome, there is a risk of causing irreversible damage, such as:

  • incontinence of the bowel or bladder
  • reduced sexual function
  • foot drop and mobility issues

Cauda equina syndrome can mimic other conditions, including urinary tract infections, sciatica, general back pain or fibromyalgia. Symptoms can include:

  • weakness and numbness or tingling to both legs which is severe or getting worse
  • bowel or urinary incontinence is this is not normal for you
  • sciatica on both sides
  • lower back pain or leg pain
  • difficulty passing urine if this is not normal for you

If you are worried about anything out of the ordinary, or any of the symptoms above, you should go to your GP, even if you only have one of these symptoms.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends patients should be referred immediately for a cauda equina syndrome check 'where a patient has ‘severe lower back pain radiating into the leg and new-onset disturbance of the bladder, bowel or sexual function, or new-onset perineal numbness.'

The patient will then have MRI scans to confirm if there is spinal compression or cauda equina syndrome.

If there is a spinal compression, this should be treated urgently. The British Association of Spine Surgeons advise that patients should receive surgical decompression within 48 hours of the start of symptoms to have the best chance of stopping future damage.

If a spinal injury is misdiagnosed, or if there's an avoidable delay in the diagnosis, patients can seek compensation. Contact our cauda equina syndrome solicitors to see if you can make a claim.

Learn more about medical negligence claims.

Common questions about back and spine injury claims

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About Co-op Legal Services

As part of the largest Co-operative organisation in the UK, Co-op Legal Services works to ensure that our clients receive the best legal advice and support services available from our teams of personal injury and clinical negligence solicitors, legal executives and staff.

We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and several of our Personal Injury Solicitors are members of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

Co-op Legal Services has over 800 staff working in different businesses with offices in Manchester, Bristol, Stratford-upon-Avon, Sheffield and London.

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