It is estimated that 35 people every week – around one person every four hours – suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI). The most common cause of spinal injuries is trauma, including road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, and falls. Importantly, many of these injuries are preventable and occur wholly or partly due to the actions of others.
The effects of a spinal injury depend on its severity. However, in many cases, the consequences are life-changing, affecting mobility, independence, and quality of life.
In this article, we explain what a spinal injury is, how to make a spinal injury claim, and what compensation you may be entitled to receive.
What Is a Spinal Injury?
A spinal injury occurs when the spinal cord or the bones of the spine sustain damage. If the spinal cord is injured, it can disrupt communication between the brain and the body. As a result, paralysis and loss of sensation may occur.
The severity of a spinal cord injury varies. For some people, it leads to complete paralysis. For others, it causes partial paralysis or limited movement.
In addition, serious spinal injuries can arise from damage to the bones of the spine alone. Even when the spinal cord remains intact, these injuries can still have a significant and lasting impact on everyday life.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Spinal Injury?
Every spinal injury claim is different, as no two injuries or circumstances are the same. For this reason, compensation amounts can vary significantly. However, spinal injury compensation may include:
- Pain and suffering caused by the injury
- Rehabilitation and ongoing medical treatment
- Current and future loss of earnings
- Care and support needs, both now and in the future
- Home adaptations to improve accessibility
- Specialist equipment and mobility aids
At NJS Law, our specialist spinal injury solicitors will carefully assess your case and accurately calculate the compensation you need to support your recovery and future quality of life.
How We Can Help With Your Spinal Injury Claim
If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal injury due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to make a spinal injury claim.
By taking action, you may access early rehabilitation, financial support, and the compensation required to adjust to the impact your injury has had on your life. Crucially, timely management, specialist care, and rehabilitation play a vital role in restoring function and reducing long-term disability.
At NJS Law, we understand this urgency. Therefore, we work proactively from the earliest stages of your claim to secure the support you need.
Furthermore, if the organisation responsible admits liability early, we will seek interim compensation payments. These payments can ease financial pressure while your claim progresses.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Spinal Injury Claim?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of your spinal injury to start a claim. However, there are exceptions, particularly in cases involving children or protected parties.
That said, starting a claim as soon as possible is always advisable. Early action allows rehabilitation and financial assistance to begin sooner and makes it easier to gather evidence, such as witness statements and medical records.
Why Choose NJS Law?
At NJS Law, our specialist spinal injury team focuses on the individual. We recognise that every spinal injury claim is unique, which is why we provide a supportive, personalised service tailored to your needs and objectives.
Ultimately, our goal is to secure the compensation the law allows for your injury and losses, ensuring the best possible quality of life both now and in the future.
Hayley Yates
Solicitor
Thinking about a claim? Read about Serious Injury Claims and how No Win No Fee works, or send us your enquiry.
No Win No Fee: The law limits our success fee to 25% of the compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity and for past financial losses, after any state benefits are repaid. Compensation for future losses is not counted. If you win, our success fee is deducted from your compensation. It is a percentage of our basic charges, and the law limits it as set out above. Any After the Event insurance premium is payable only if you win, and is never charged upfront. Your letter of engagement sets out exactly what you will pay for your type of claim, and we explain it before you sign. If you lose, you pay us nothing. This applies as long as you keep to your responsibilities under the agreement. You may have to pay costs if you end your claim early, fail to beat an offer the other side made, or a court finds your claim dishonest or exaggerated; where we have arranged After the Event insurance, it covers some of these costs if you keep to the policy's terms. See exactly what you pay.